M. l~ Gc 974.402 At46i. 1132019 GENEALOGY COLLECTION / COPYRIGHT 1953 BY WILLIAM G. LORD ATHOL, MASSACHUSETTS PRINTED BY SOMERVILLE PRINTING COMPANY SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS 1132019 HISTORY OF ATHOL, MASSACHUSETTS WILLIAM G. LORD PREFACE In preparing this Athol History I have had at my disposal the results of researches covering more than sixty-five years. Beginning in 1887 as researcher and leg man for my old time friend Rev. John F. Norton in his preparation of the Athol story in Lewis' History of Worcester County I have prepared and published a history of Athol Baptist Church; have in ob¬ servance of the 150th anniversary of the incorporation of Athol prepared and delivered an illustrated historical lecture; have gathered much data used by E. H. Phillips Post A. L. in its history of World War I; have prepared the list of names inscribed in the rotunda of our Memorial Building honoring all the soldiers etc. known to have served to the credit of our town in time of war from Colonial times to November 1 1, 1918. I have also written two serials for Athol Daily News, one "Athol Almanac" giving for each of the 366 days of the year some event that occurred on that day during our long existence, the other "Highways and By-ways" telling the story of all our travelled ways and sub-divisions and lastly as Chairman of our War H storical Committee I published in 1951 "Athol in World War II" telling the story of our town's participation in that war. In addition to all these I have delivered uncounted historical lectures and written many items for the local press regarding local history. Thus I present (anticipating public approval) an exhaustive local history drawn from earlier writers and my over six dec¬ ades of research. I acknowledge great obligation to Rev. Samuel F. Clark who in his address at the Centennial of our First Church in 1850 rescued from oblivion and perpetuated for us a wonderful story of Athol's early days. I also acknowledge deep obligation to my old time friend Rev. John F. Norton (who like Rev. Mr. Clark rests in our Highland Cemetery) for his address "The Home of the Ancient Dead Restored" delivered July 4, 1859 at the re-consecration of the First Settler's Cemetery, Hapgood Road and also for his "Athol in Suppressing the Great Rebel¬ lion" telling of our participation in the War Between the States, and finally for his last local contribution (in which I 7 HISTORY OF ATHOL assisted in a small way) in the Athol Chapters in Lewis' County History above referred to. The Athol Chapter in Jewett's County History ( 1 879) written by George W. Horr, Esq. has also been helpful. Mr. L. B. Caswell's "Athol Past and Present" published in the late nineties is still on our Library shelves and I have en¬ deavored to avoid rewriting much of local interest published therein anticipating that this book will serve as a continuation of that work rather than superseding it. In the Library of Congress, the U. S. Pension Office, the Massachusetts State Library and the State archives I have re¬ ceived valuable assistance as is also true of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and the Boston Public Library. To Athol's efficient Town Clerk, Walter E. Farnum and his assistant Mrs. William E. Routier I express my thanks for the great assistance I have received from that office. The story of Athol Bands (pages 513-516) was written by Sumner L. Morse for Athol Daily News and is incorporated here as he wrote it. To Audrey F. Bartington of Hanover who so ably assisted me in the World War II History, I am deeply indebted. After we finished the war history she did much in co-ordinating notes and preparing copy for this book. My (of recent times) part time Secretary, Ann AA. Murphy has been most helpful in final preparation of copy. I realize that I have transgressed often in the use of the first person singular in telling the stories but my excuse is that in each case the incident is so clearly told from my own personal experience and mine alone that I felt justified in the trans¬ gression. As noted in the genealogical pages I feel that portion of this work to be far from ideal but if my critics can realize the time and effort put into even what is given herein I hope what is given here wili be received as a perhaps feeble attempt to tell something of some of our old families. If every volume of this edition finds ready sale the proceeds will still come far short of covering the cash expense which this work has entailed but if I have written an acceptable and lasting story of this town where I and my ancestors have labored and prospered for almost eleven score years then I shall feel amply repaid. WILLIAM G. LORD, Athol, Massachusetts, October 12th, 1953. 8 CHAPTER I "THAT NEW TOWNSHIP" TrCE, some four or five thousand feet thick, covered this area of the White Mountains of New England many thousands of years ago. Slow in its advance and as slow in its disappearance, this ice cap left drift which produced in some places a fertile soil, while in others great boulders and pebbles hindered our early white settlers in their clearing of this acreage. Scientific beliefs vary as to the cause of these prodigious ice sheets which shaped our hills and valleys, but true it is that the copper¬ skinned Amerind(1) who roamed this forest found good hunt¬ ing ground and soil rich for all that he needed in his hunting stage of culture. How long the Indians had been here before the Pilgrims first came face to face with them in Plymouth, Massachusetts, we know no more than they. Covering this entire region, the virgin forest was marked mainly by an Indian trail from southeastern New England to Canada, passing from the Payquage River a half mile below Athol village to North Orange, thence skirting the foothills of yonder mountain and extending on to the north, where it joined a similar trail leading to Connecticut. Like all the adjacent territory, the land embraced within the limits of this township was to the settlers on Massachusetts and Plymouth Bays simply a part of that great unbounded wilder¬ ness which they could not visualize as ever being inhabited. Soon after the early settlements at Plymouth, Dover, and Boston, a survey was made as far west as Newton and Water- town. Then the work was discontinued because all the territory had been covered that in the opinion of the officials would ever be used. For long ages the Red Man held undisputed control of these lands, migrating here when the shad and salmon came up from (1) The word Amerind was first used by Major John Wesley Powell, the explorer of the Grand Canyon, to define the difference between the autochthonous inhabitants of the Americas and the people of India. For the sake of the sentiments surrounding the American colloquialism, the name "Indian” will be used hereafter. 9 HISTORY OF ATHOL the sea in the springtime, but going to the fertile meadows of the Payquage and the Connecticut to plant their maize. This Payquage River, later known as Millers River, was robbed of its rather euphonious Indian-given name at the time when any¬ thing Indian was an anathema. Legend has it that the name Miller seemed more suitable to the early settlers when a man by the name of Mi Her was drowned in it over two hundred years ago in attempting to cross the river on his way to Northfield. Yet the progressive and aggressive spirit of the Anglo-Saxon race that had gained foothold on this continent saw the pos¬ sibilities concealed in these dense forests. Within a few years of the coming of the Pilgrims, travellers began to journey through this wilderness to far away New Amsterdam (New York City) and brought back glowing reports of the fertile valley of the Great River, the Connecticut. Plung¬ ing into the vast wilderness, a few hardy souls took up their abode at Hartford in 1635. To Springfield in 1636, North¬ ampton in 1654, Deertield in 1669, and Northfield in 1672, came these pioneers. Then followed settlements along the connecting link called the Bay Path, at Lancaster in 1663, Worcester in 1674, and Brookfield in 1673. These newly settled places along the Connecticut River fol¬ lowing those on the coast, and those along the Bay Path — which eventually became the Boston Post Road — left con¬ siderable territory in this vicinity still a wilderness. From the north the Indians swooped down on Lancaster and even aug¬ mented the little marauding band that all but annihilated Deerfield. John Smeed, later to become one of the first five settlers in Athol, took part in the defense of Deerfield, killing two Indians in the meadow fight. To his death in October, 1747, he carried a bullet in his thigh.® It became evident that if the established settlements were to exist in any degree of security, there must be more settle¬ ments begun here. A full century elapsed before any attempt was made to sub¬ due this vast area of wilderness lying between the seaboard and the river towns — a vast area entirely unsubdued and in un¬ disputed control of the aborigines and the wild beasts. The Bearsden at North New Salem was a rendezvous for the braves when on the warpath. There the great King Philip held (2) Thompson's History of Greenfield, p. 89. 10 THAT NEW TOWNSHIP his war council before descending upon Hadley, Deerfield, and Northampton in September, 1675. It is February, 1675. A silent band of Red Men stealthily makes its way southward, allies of the King of France, fired by a religious zeal to harass the subjects of King George. It passes on with deadly intent towards Lancaster and all is silence for days. Then this same band heads northward again but lo! it has many pale faces within its ranks. A young white woman is THE ROWLANDSON FORD— MILLERS RIVER carrying the form of an infant in her arms. It is Mary Rowland¬ son and her daughter, Grace, who have been captured in the Lancaster massacre and are being taken captives to Canada. They approach the river bank and there is much excitement for the "Baquaug" River is swollen. The Indians fall to making a raft for those who cannot ford the icy waters. Crossing safely, the party pushes northward. The young woman exhibits great distress as she is silently prodded on by the Red Man. At length she slips to the earth with her burden; her baby has died in her arms. She knows it is futile to carry the cherished burden further into the wilderness. A kindly Indian assists her in digging a rude grave, and as she reluc¬ tantly leaves this spot, she gazes at yonder hilltop and humbly HISTORY OF ATHOL prays to God that it may hereafter bear the name Mount Grace, in memory of the beautiful child who now sleeps at its feet. Thus, the second historical mention we have of this region is in this narrative of Mary Rowlandson, wife of the Lancaster pastor. The death and burial of her infant daughter at the base of the mountain north of Warwick is commemorated by the name the mountain still bears. Some six years previous, before the turn of the century, a committee of the General Court of Boston had tramped this territory looking for good locations for new homes. As did Mary Rowlandson's group, they too crossed the Baquaug, climbed the easy slopes, and looked back over the fertile val¬ ley. Undecided, they pushed northward with the thought that they might return here. Some slim chance that summer day in 1669 might have hastened the laying out of our township some sixty-four years sooner — but "leaving it," they went on to Northfield. In all the long ages before the Caucasian race descended upon this land to lay claim to and subjugate it, there had de¬ veloped here a multiplicity of land subdivisions each ruled over and claimed as his own by some Indian chieftain who by superior ability or physical prowess had come to be recognized as dominant. A/\uch like our laws of inheritance, except that primogeniture prevailed, this title passed from father to son. The area which is now northwestern Worcester County as well as much of the eastern half of Franklin County was at the opening of the eighteenth century the domain of the Sachem Wawalet. (Parsons in his excellent story of Northfield gives it Nawelet). His headquarters seem to have been around the fertile meadows of the Great River at Northfield. But that val¬ ley was susceptible to attack, sometimes by the Massachusetts' tribes on the east and again by the Mohawks on the west. Consequently, the meadows of the Millers, being much more unlikely to be raided, were utilized for the raising of much maize. Seeing he must abandon the land and the bones of his ancestors, the Indian began to bargain with his oppressors, seeking some slight recompense for what he considered his rightful holdings. Wawalet went to Northampton on August 13, 1686 and effected the sale for forty-five pounds hard money of some seventy-two square miles of his domain, comprising the present 12 THAT NEW TOWNSHIP area of Northfield and much land in southwestern New Hamp¬ shire and southeastern Vermont. Our information about this man is decidedly sketchy but we do know that he and his tribe continued to live along the banks of the Payquage and thrived quite extensively by barter with the strange pale faces. At length Wawalet passed to the Happy Hunting Ground and his son, Pompanoot, reigned in his stead over a tribe depleted in numbers and constantly crowded by the coming of more and more white men. One of the outstanding men of this section in those early days was Capt. Zachariah Field of Northfield, a valiant soldier of the King, who had joined in the pursuit of the perpetrators of the Deerfield massacre. These invaders were truly alien hosts and not in favor with the local tribes. Taking advantage of a time when Pompanoot was in low spirits, perhaps because of financial stringency, Capt. Field made no inconsiderable purchase of this Sachem's territory. He bought some 30,000 acres along the Millers River, paying therefor twelve pounds of the coin of the realm — perhaps sixty dollars in today's values. Purchased in 1720, this area was bounded on the east by the large falls in the river and extended seven miles down stream, running four miles southerly and two miles northerly from the river. Today this tract may be defined as bounded on the east by the falls at the Starrett Factory, extending down stream to perhaps Wendell Depot, southerly well towards South Athol and North New Salem, and northerly to Red Stock Farm in Orange, and Pinedale in Athol. Complying with a Colonial law, Capt. Field turned over his purchase to the provincial government. Thus the land both by conquest and by purchase became the property of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. This territory is said to have been the last land of any value within the limits of the Province to be held by the Indians as original proprietors. Twelve years elapsed after this purchase before any attempt was made at development of the land. The administration of Governor Jonathan Belcher, 1730- 1741, was a period of prosperity and comparative tranquility in Massachusetts. With most of the population depending upon agriculture for a livelihood, Governor Belcher felt there was a need for expansion, and was continually urging that new ter¬ ritory be opened up. Probably a hundred towns in what was then recognized as Massachusetts territory date their beginnings from his administration. 13 HISTORY OF ATHOL Settlers were easy to find in 1730. There were living in Massachusetts, this "place of great hills," many veterans of the Indian Wars who were claiming what in this day we know as a "bonus" for their military services. Their claim was not without justification, for Army officers in their zeal to mobi¬ lize an army had made many promises of special gratuities. When the soldiers were mobilized on Dedham Plain in 1 675, they were told that "if they played the man, took the fort, and drove the enemy from the Narragansett country they should have a gratuity of land besides their wages." Although the soldiers did their full part, it was more than fifty years before the promise was fulfilled. Early in the eighteenth century the General Court made large grants of land to these soldiers and their heirs. Six town¬ ships were granted to the veterans of the war against the Narragansetts. Westminster was Narragansett No. 2, and Templeton, Narragansett No. 6. Winchendon was granted to the soldiers from Ipswich who served in the expedition to Canada in 1690, and was known as Ipswich Canada. Warwick was allotted to the heirs of the resi¬ dents of Roxbury who under Capt. Gardner lost their lives in the same expedition and was known as Roxbury Canada, or Gardner's Canada. In at least one official document, however, it is named Mount Grace Township. Most of Royalston was sold by auction to complete the dis¬ position of territory in Worcester County, but 200 acres had previously been donated to Thomas Hapgood for his services against the Eastern Indians. This Hapgood grant lies west of the present village of Tully. Following a public vendue held by a committee of the Legislature, a grant was made to Capt. John Erving of Boston. This land was roughly the westerly portion of the town of Orange and the present town of Erving. Neither Athol nor New Salem appear to have been a '"soldiers' township," but rather were granted to enhance col¬ onization in this section. Thus in various ways did this territory pass from the public domain to private ownership. June 1, 1732, and Governor Belcher is addressing the Gen¬ eral Court assembled in Boston. "I think it would be wise in this Assembly to take a proper care for settling the ungranted lands in such an equitable way as might give no just cause of complaint to any of the Towns or Inhabitants of the province, and I wish we could find ways to encourage a better cultivation 14 THAT NEW TOWNSHIP of the lands, in general to make them more productive of navaf stores and of the necessaries of Life and thereby render us the more capable of subsisting without the help of Our neighbor¬ ing Colonies. "I also think it would be prudent to employ a good number of Hunters to traverse the woods, thereby to gain a knowledge of Our Frontiers/' which, "may greatly tend to the Safety and Quiet of this Country in Time to Come." On that June morning Governor Belcher recommends that seven townships be opened for settlement. Besides making room for the expansion of the colony, he hopes to break up the haunts of the Indians, thus promoting the safety of the settle¬ ments in the Connecticut Valley and those to the East. The law* makers are doubtful, yet they do agree to some extension. Within a year the General Court authorized on April 20, 1733 the laying out of four new townships — Lebanon, Maine; Keene, New Hampshire; Swanzey, New Hampshire, and our town of Pequage(3) in Massachusetts. Admission of settlers to this new township of Pequage or Poquaig was soon to follow, but not before a small band of men with chain and compass carefully survey the tract. On No¬ vember 8, 1733 "Capt. William Chandler and Nathel Dwight being Appointed Surveyors, Thomas Chapin, Joseph Day, Ezra Leonard and Ezekiel Smith, Chainmen for the Laying out of this Township All Personally Appearing made Oath that in performing their Several and respective Services they would Act Truly and Indifferently According to their Best Skill and Judgment." Signed by the Surveyors is the plan, the birth certificate of our town. "We began at a Pitch Pine Tree Standing on a knowl or Hillock about twenty perch west of a Large brook Called the Great brook on the West Side of Poquaig Hills, Marked South thus . . . and North with three cuts with an ax, East with the letters WC and West ND, and from the Sd. Tree we ran as de¬ scribed in this Plot, Surveyed by the needle of the Surveying Instrument and Protracted by a Scale of two Hundred and forty perch in an Inch." Remarkable is the fact that they began at the center tree, or "pitch pine tree," located the lines south, east, north, west, and again south, and encompassed thirty-six square miles, or in other words, they were back where they had started. (3) See Appendix 1 . 15 HISTORY OF ATHOL The plan of Poquaig showed the township a perfect square, six miles on each of its four sides. Its only natural features represented are White's Pond, a short section of Millers River, of Tully East, of Tully West, and of four brooks crossing the boundary lines. There is nothing to indicate that it adjoins any other township except that it shows a "beach tree supposed to be a corner of Capt. White's Township" (Petersham). Thus, "that new township on Millers River in the County of Hampshear" was carved entirely out of unappropriated lands of the Colony. Bounded on all sides by Province land except some two miles along its south line, the township was taken largely from the Field purchase. Today, only about six and one- half miles of Athol's original twenty-four miles of boundary remain unchanged. Instructions to the Committee of Survey appointed by the General Court were rigid. It must lay out sixty-three house lots — one to be held for the support of schools, one for the first settled minister as an inducement to establish here, and one to be held forever for the support of the ministry. There must be one for each of the required sixty proprietors who should settle thereon in his own person or by one of his chil¬ dren. He must actually live on his land within three years of his admission, build a house at least eighteen feet square and seven feet stud, and within the same length of time fence in sufficiently and till or fit for mowing eight acres of land. If he should fail in whole or in part of these stipulations, he should forfeit his land. He was also required to give a bond of twenty pounds binding him to fulfill the above conditions. And lastly, the Proprietors were required to build a suitable meeting house and settle a learned Orthodox minister within a space of five years from their admission. A parchment plan, filed with the oaths of the Surveying Party, showed sixty-three house or first division lots surveyed and marked as directed by the Act of the General Court. But a week after the survey plan was accepted by the Council, the required number of sixty men met at Concord on J une 26, 1 734 "to draw House Lotts in the Township of Pequoiage on Miller's River as Settlers of said Pequoiage." Honorable William Dudley, Chairman of the Committee, had the following list of names and locations when the drawing procedure had finished: Edward Goddard East East 1 3 John Wood East East 1 Daniel Epps, Jr. East West 11 Benjamin Townsend West East 10 16 THAT NEW TOWNSHIP Daniel Epps, Sr. East East 9 Jonathan Morton West West 2 Ebenezer Goddard East West 4 Joseph Smith East East 6 Zachariah Field East West 18 William Oliver East East 10 Nehemiah Wright West West 7 Moses Dickenson West East 9 Richard Wheeler West West 12 Joshua Dickenson West East 13 Richard Morton East West 9 James Kellogg West East 7 Samuel Morton West West 1 Richard Crouch East West 12 Ephraim Smith West West 3 Ezekiel Wallingford West West 10 Nathan Waite East West 15 James Jones West East 4 Charles Dulharthy West West 13 John Grout West East 12 Gad Waite West East 3 Daniel Adams West West 5 Joseph Lord East East 3 John Cutting East West 17 Benoni Twichel East West 10 Samuel Kendall West East 6 John Wallis East East 7 Samuel Kendall East East 2 Samuel Willard East West 7 Jonathan Page East West 1 4 John Smeed West East 5 John Longley East East 4 William Chandler East West 6 Joseph Brown East West 5 Jonathan Marble West West 1 1 John Child East East 1 1 William Higgins East East 8 Nathaniel Graves East East 12 James Kenney West West 9 George Danforth West East 14 Abner Lee East West 1 James Fay West West 8 Abraham Nutt West East O Am Capt. Joseph Bowman West West 4 John Headley East West o A. Francis Bowman East West 13 Isaac Fisk East East 5 Stephen Fay West East 16 Daniel Fisk West East 1 Israel Hammond West East 15 Thomas Hapgood East West 16 Benjamin Bancroft West West 14 Richard Ward West West 6 Joseph Harrington East West 3 Samuel Tenney West East 8 James Holden West East 1 1 If the original list of Proprietors with the designations of the lots acquired by them under this lottery was ever filed in the Colonial archives it was soon lost, for less than thirty years later a substitute list was procured from local officials and filed in the archives. This substitute (?) list bears this certificate: "I transcribed the above from a list under the Hand of Joseph Lord who has made Oath to the Truth of it and adds the follow¬ ing N. B. Viz. — 'This above mentioned List is what the Clerk of Pequoiag has always made use of for want of an Attested Copy; and also entered on their Book of Records without At¬ test' — The above entered pr A. Hill, Prop. Clerk." Dated August 24, 1761. Not drawn were the lots East West 8 for the First Minister, East West 19 for a school, and East West 20 for the Church. As the Committee in charge had no especial group or class of men whom they were bound to favor, it is not surprising that the grantees came from scattered sections of the colony and were of a widely diversified character. (4) From the day the original plans were drawn, this territory of Pequoig was doomed to be divided against itself. Instead of (4) See Appendix 2. 17 HISTORY OF ATHOL consolidating these sixty-three house lots in one group, they were divided into two groups nearly equal in number. Thirty- three of them were laid out on East Pequoig Hill, which is now Pleasant Street in Athol, and thirty were located on West Pequoig Hill on a street extending from well south of the Sentinel Elm(S) northerly a short distance beyond the present Gale-Brooks School, nearly all of these thirty being now within the limits of the town of Orange. As each house lot repre¬ sented a share in the outlaying land, the arrangement of their grouping was the fore-shadowing of an eventual Upper and Lower Village, and of many changes in boundary lines. Hardly had the surveyors of the township blazed the "center tree," when Capt. Zachariah Field memorialized Governor Belcher. Reciting his accomplishments in securing title to this land from the aborigine owners and the subsequent donation of his title to the Crown, Zachariah Field asked to be rewarded for his service to his King. Capt. Field's request was granted in land. The Great and General Court voted on December 4, 1734 to grant him eight hundred acres of land to be laid out in either one or two plots adjoining this township. One-half of this land was confirmed to him on December 3, 1735. Adjoining the township on the northwest, this allotment must have been in the region of the place long known as "the Cheney Mansion" in Orange. June 1 8, 1 736, nine months after the arrival of the first set¬ tlers in Paquoig, the balance of the grant was confirmed to Capt. Field. This tract, of indefinite description, was situated in the vicinity of Eagleville Pond. Out of it was reserved a roadway from Pequoig to Hatfield. Though the plans of these tracts are now in my possession, the boundaries are so indefi¬ nite that it is hard to locate them with much accuracy. At length Capt. Field viewed his donations and then wrote the Governor that these latter or southerly four hundred acres were "so mean" as to be hardly worth subduing. To appease this loyal servant of the Crown, some land west of Deerfield was suggested. With authorization to view it, he made his choice and on May 29, 1742 was granted land said to have been situated within the present limits of Checkley's Town (Charlemont). (5) Sunday, Oct. 25, 1931, du ring a severe wind and electrical storm this giant elm with a circumference of some nine feet blew over, leaving not more than thirty feet of its original ninety-three. Since pioneer days Sentinel Elm had been a landmark for many miles around. 18 THAT NEW TOWNSHIP Thus our heritage from Zachariah Field's early purchase. Twelve pounds and Pequoig, later to be known as Athol, came into being. The unfolding of its story is that of brave men and women, boys and girls, extending a piece of frontier in North America. In turn, their heritage stems from men of valor who sailed westward to establish new frontiers. Bronzed and wiry, these earliest Americans of diverse positions in life worked hard to wrest their living from the sea and soil. Significant to us is the fact that they came to this New World to make homes. 19 CHAPTER IE FIRST SETTLEMENT A LITTLE more than a year passed after the house lots were drawn in Concord, Massachusetts before actual settlement was made in the township of Pequoig. On September 17, 1735 five enterprising men with their courageous wives set out on foot from Hatfield and struggled east over the "Hatfield Road," then little more than a trail through the forest. With clothing, provisions and furniture on their backs, and guided by marked trees, they made their way to their new home. Walking together with their womenfolk that September day were Richard Morton, Samuel Morton, Ephraim Smith, John Smeed and Joseph Lord — immortal names in the history of Athol. (6) Beset by constant fear of prowling Indians, they set about to subdue the wilderness and to wrest a livelihood from the soil. Although only Richard Morton and Joseph Lord were lot owners on the east street yet they seem to have been accorded priority in home construction, perhaps because babies were ex¬ pected in these two families, but all must be provided with some shelter for the oncoming winter days. It is said that the Richard Morton home was first built which was quickly fol¬ lowed by that of Dr. Lord. Although all information we have, both written and traditional, fixes the first day of arrival of these settlers as in the last days of summer 1735, yet it is more reasonable to suppose that earlier pilgrimages had been made here through the preceding months and some preliminary preparations made both for humans and beasts. With no mill facilities within many miles it is probable that these first dwellings were built of logs felled immediately ad¬ jacent to the home site, the bark from the hemlocks being the roof covering, and as no bricks were available the rude fire¬ places that provided both heat and cooking facilities were fash¬ ioned from the stones which abounded on the house sites. We can only guess whether any one of the three families owning West Hill lots built a home that first autumn, possibly (6) Rev. S. F. Clarke's "Centennial Discourse" 1 850, p. 4. 20 FIRST SETTLEMENT yes, perhaps probably these found shelter that first winter on the east street. On Christmas Day 1735, Richard Morton's son, Abraham, was born, and about three weeks later, on January 17, 1736, Thomas Lord became the second white male child of Pequoig. He was to become Capt. Thomas Lord, a soldier in the French and Indian War, and Captain of an Athol Company during the Revolution. On October 28, 1737 was the third child of this community born — a girl, daughter of Samuel Morton. Un¬ known is the number of children in any of these families when they came here. It is said that the five pioneer wives of Pequoig agreed that the first three children to be born here should be named Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Madam Richard Morton proudly carried out her agreement, but when a son came to Dr. Lord's home, the mother, piqued perhaps by having her son second rather than first, disregarded the arrangement and named him Thomas. When Madam Samuel Morton gave birth to a girl, who was named Margaret or Margerie, the poetic thought of those good wives of old Pequoig all but came to naught. The days were hardly long enough for all that had to be done. Land must be cleared, roads made passable, and a stock¬ ade or fort built against Indian attack. The work of clearing their land and preparing it for cultivation proceeded slowly, owing both to the lack of implements, and the hostility of the Indians making it necessary to be armed constantly. Alone in this unbroken wilderness, eighteen miles distant from their nearest trading center at Hardwick, they survived that first winter. Spring of 1736 brought many additions to the number of Proprietors when probably the west settlement on Pequoig Hill was begun. Just how many came is indefinite for all records of the first fourteen years of the township were lost. Infinite research, however, shows that the following were undoubtedly among these early settlers: Daniel Brown of Lexington Ensign George Cutting of Waltham Joshua Dickinson of Hatfield Moses Dickinson of Hatfield Nathaniel Graves of Hatfield Edward Goddard of Shrewsbury Joseph Harrington of Weston Samuel Kendall of Woburn 21 HISTORY OF ATHOL Abner Lee of Worcester John Longley of Groton Amariah Lyon of Shrewsbury Robert Marble of Marlborough Abraham Nutt (former residence unknown) William Oliver^7) Brothers John, James, and Robert Samuel Robinson of Grafton Samuel Tenney of Littleton Gad Waite of Hadley or Hatfield Ezekiel Wallingford (former residence unknown) John Wood, probably of Stowe Robert Young(y) of Holliston This increase in their numbers meant immediate action for mutual protection from the Red Man. First to be built was a fort on East Pequoig Hill, about twenty rods from where the second meeting house was subsequently erected. Within its enclosure was a well. The West fort was soon erected nearly due east of Sentinel Elm, and almost directly north of the "Hager Place," lately owned by Anton Sevelius. Here in the West fort in the winter of 1752-53 were quartered a detachment of troops sent by the Colony to protect this far-away frontier. Entirely unmarked, the original boundaries of this stockade were staked out by my uncle, Franklin G. Lord, a few years before his death in 1917, when we visited this site together. Frank Lord knew these boundaries for it was he who had cleared away the last of the fort some sixty years previous. Statements of the Proprietors in this period of our history place a garrison house on the knoll, now removed, north of the Pequoig House. For the maintenance of these three protec¬ tions, the township received financial assistance on November 7, 1743, when the General Court allowed £100 to Poquaig. Into these forts all of the families would gather at the sig¬ nal of danger. In fact there were many occasions when they slept and lived in the stockade and ventured out only when well armed. Rev. S. F. Clarke in his "Centennial Discourse" wrote in 1850: "There are those still living in town who have heard (7) Clarke in his "Centennial Discourse," p. 4 writes: "The Olivers were direct from Ireland, stout, hardy, resolute men. Robert Young was from the north of Scotland, whence he removed to Cork in Ireland, and subsequently to this country. He was a weaver by profession, and removed from Holliston. in the County of Middlesex, to Pequoiag." 22 FIRST SETTLEMENT their ancestors relate how, as night spread its mantle of dark¬ ness over the forest, and around their infant settlement, all would gather together in the garrison and sit silently without lights, listening with a cautious ear to every external sound, querying if each uncommon noise might not be the signal of danger from the hostile Indians." For twenty years there was little safety far from these havens of refuge. Slyly viewing these encroachments on his domain, the Indian eventually sweeps down, captures some of these hardy settlers and takes them away to the northward. The war between France and England known as King George's War which broke out in 1744 greatly increased the dangers to the white settlements for this whole territory was at that time harassed by the savage allies of the King of France. It was during these perilous times that Ezekiel Wallingford was killed by the Indians near his 78-acre farm on West Hill. That evening of August 1 7, 1 746 in the west fort, Wallingford heard sounds like bears in his nearby cornfield, and ventured out to drive them away. The noise had been made by the Indians to lure him to sure death. Fully armed, a group of Wal¬ lingford's neighbors laid his body the next day in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, while a band of savages trooped northward to claim the reward paid for an English scalp. Jason Babcock, a friend of the Wallingfords, immediately offered assistance to the widow Lidia W. and her five children. It is easily understood why she made plans to return to Con¬ cord, Massachusetts. Within a few weeks Babcock drove the farm stock to Concord, a distance of some sixty miles as the roads were then traveled, and for this service received the sum of £4, o. t. "The said stock was comprised of the following described viz: One farrow cow, valued at £1 1; one red heifer coming 3, at £9; one red steer, coming 3 at £7.10.0; one red steer, coming 2 at £5; one red cow, at £10." The records infer that Babcock made a second trip to Con¬ cord to accompany the family as there is an added charge of £20, not itemized On the tenth of the following October, the widow Lidia and the children were in Concord with all her be¬ longings including "AAr. Wallingford's personal wardrobe, bed and bedding, kitchen utensils, etc." No mention is made of horses or farming tools of any kind, such as would seem neces¬ sary in the carrying on of a farm. Prior to March 2, 1748 the Widow Lidia married P. Ebenezer Harris. (8) (8) Letter to Editor of Athol Transcript, written by J. Q. Adams, Marengo, Illinois — Jan. 26, 1912. 23 HISTORY OF ATHOL Some eight months after Wallingford's death, Jason Bab¬ cock was the target of Indian treachery. Early in the history of the township, about 1740, he acquired the meadow rights of at least two of the original proprietors, and by repeated swapping with the others, secured some sixteen meadow rights north of Millers River and east of Tully River, as well as some adjacent land between the meadows and Silver Lake. This lake for some years bore his name, being known as Jason's or Babcock's Pond. Tradition says he lived alone in his cabin on the east side of the meadows at about No. 90 Pequoig Avenue, and for a time made rapid progress in clearing up the land. One day in the spring of 1747, Babcock's cows strayed from the clearing into the thick woods on the west side of the meadow. While searching for them he was felled by an Indian bullet. Not being seriously wounded he was taken away into the wilderness instead of being summarily killed, and was eventually a captive in Canada. Realizing that he was doomed to a long siege of captivity if his life should be spared, he at once begged the privilege of going home for his “fiddle." The prospect of musical enter¬ tainment pleased his captors, and his violin accompanied him on his long journey. Being quite a musician, he spent much time “fiddling," greatly to the delight of the Red Men who are said to have spared his life on this account. Just how long this captivity lasted is not definitely known, but about a year later an exchange was effected, and Babcock gained his freedom. He did not return at once to the scene of his disaster, but rather sought the home of his childhood in Westboro, and there on September 1 1, 1749 married Mary Beeton of that town. The marriage record shows that he still considered our town his home, for he is described as of “Packquage." Between 1751 and 1756 he had three children born to him in Westboro. From there he enlisted in the English Army in 1755, under Johnson, and was wounded in the battle of Lake George in September of that year. He petitioned the General Court in December, 1755 for some recompense on account of his Canadian captivity and his army service. £4 was granted as an allowance. In 1758 he returned to Pequoige, and remained here oc¬ cupying his land until the summer of 1762, when he sold his meadows to Aaron Smith. After selling various other holdings, he removed to the northerly part of Royalston, where he stayed upwards of seven years. The last we know of the family in 24 FIRST SETTLEMENT Massachusetts is on August 30, 1769 when his oldest daughter was killed by lightning. Another daughter, Persis, married Josiah Goodale in Fitzwilliam, N. H. on September 13, 1778. Jason Babcock was a short, wiry man, who after his various misfortunes walked decidedly lame. Possessing much mechan¬ ical ability, he is variously described as a "Bay joiner," "shop joiner," "house wright," "husbandman," and "wheel maker." Before the outbreak of the Revolution, Babcock had settled in the southwesterly part of Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, making linen wheels. There he ended his days on July 2, 1 78 1 . At the outbreak of the American Revolution, like many others who had participated in the war with France, Babcock held to his allegiance to King George for which he suffered but little as he took no active part in the war against the colonies. But the stigma of "Tory" followed him the rest of his days. Alarmed by these Indian depredations, several Pequoig families fled for safety to Fort Massachusetts in the Hoosac Valley within the present city of North Adams. Alas, this sup¬ posedly impregnable fortress was overwhelmed a few days later, August 20, 1 746, by some five hundred French soldiers and two hundred Indians under General DeVeudreuil, who descended from the west. All in the garrison — twenty-two men, three women, and five children — were taken prisoners. Most of the Pequoig families were eventually ransomed and returned here, but the John Smeeds, one of the five pioneer families of this town, were taken to Canada. On the second day's march Mrs. Smeed was delivered of a daughter, whom she named "Captivity." Though a litter was made of poles and bear skins on which the mother and child were carried, both died after reaching Canada. John Smeed was redeemed and with his three younger children arrived in Boston on August 31, 1746. Just seven weeks later he was killed by Indians near the mouth of Millers River. On June 14, 1753 the son, John, presented a petition to the Provincial General Court praying for some consideration on account of the great service that was performed by his father in the war against the Indians. The Court's reimbursement to him for the service was the setting off of two hundred acres of land located near the western boundary line of Paquoag. It is told of six-year old Mary Smeed that the first night after the capture, when all were asleep that she determined to find her brothers. Thinking she could recognize them by the feeling of their hair, she quietly arose and stole outside the tent among the sleepers in the open air. After considerable 25 HISTORY OF ATHOL search in the darkness, she found two she thought must be her brothers and pressing herself down between them fell asleep. When awakened she was horrified to find that instead of her brothers they were two "most grim and frightful Indians." Little Mary was obliged to travel with the other captives on foot through the wilderness to Quebec. After her eventual release and the death of her father, Mary went to live with the family of Rev. Timothy Woodbridge of Hatfield. There she remained till womanhood when she married Mr. Aaron Willard and re¬ moved with him to Charlestown, N. H. and subsequently to Hartland, Vt. where she died of cancer on January 3, 1829. Relationships with the Indians were on the whole hostile, but not all of the tribes were unfriendly. There was here once a happy tribe, the Nipnets, who built their council fires on these plains and gathered the wild grain on these meadows. If one has love for their memory, let him follow along the banks of Tully Brook until about a mile or less from its mouth where is a small green plot of ground encompassed by the divided stream. This was "Huncus' Island." Here lived, here died Huncus, last of the Nipnets. I remember well some Indian stories told me by my father. It seems that an old Indian by the name of Suntsman, who lived on West Hill, came over to grandfather's place one day with his ox hitched to a drag sled to buy a barrel of cider. One week later he returned to complain that the cider was "too sour, no good." When grandfather suggested that he bring it back, Suntsman replied, "Well, the old squaw and I worried it down — but haven't you any more a little sweeter?" There is another tale of the Indian who went with some rum and emptied the whole flask into a dish of Indian pudding which his squaw was making. "How did it taste?" asked grand¬ father. "Well," said the Indian, "I tell you — the old squaw and I think she is hummin' stuff." European wars continually drew the English Colonies into conflict with the French settlements in Canada. This state of war kept the men of Pequoig in constant turmoil. With all these trials it is little wonder that the day came when these people asked to be relieved of their anxiety, to be allowed abandonment of Pequoig, and given lands in some favored spot. But brighter days came. The legislative body granted them some assistance, and in one instance during 1748 twenty men were garrisoned here by the Bay Colony to protect this frontier. After the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in October, 1748 a season of peace came to Europe which reflected in the Colo- 26 FIRST SETTLEMENT nies. New settlers joined the pioneers here, giving them re¬ newed courage. By 1750 there were twenty families and five single men residing in the east settlement and six families on the West Hill. Their means of communication was by fording the river just below the point where the waters of Tully River join the larger stream. At high water their primitive ferry was necessary. By 1752, more than seventeen years after the first proprietors had been admitted to draw house lots, twenty-one men of Pequoig received confirmation of their shares. (9) Two years later sixteen other rights were confirmed. (10) When the rumblings preceding the Seven Years' War came in 1754, these settlements felt themselves comparatively se¬ cure so that they could not only protect themselves but some ten of their young men joined the army and went away over the western hills to fight for their King. An understanding of the military history of this community gives a background for the struggle against annihilation which the early settlers faced. Their determination against bitter odds finally put this township on a firm foundation upon which they could build their homes, their church, and their schools. (9) Province Laws, Vol. XIV, p. 580. (10) Province Laws, Vol. XV, p. 260. 2/ CHAPTER III MILITARY BACKGROUND TO 1748 O UNDERSTAND in any sense the military history of the -T American Colonies previous to the Revolution one must realize that these colonies were not independent states, but were under the absolute control of the European nations to which they belonged — France, England, and Spain. So when the sovereign nations became involved in war, as was their custom for centuries, the Colonies were forthwith plunged into con¬ flict and sprang at each other as a part of their patriotic duty. Long before the history of our town begins, England had succeeded the Dutch in New York City and its vicinity. The claims of Spain were far to the southward, so New England had no direct contact with her, but France, firmly established at Quebec and in Louisiana, had established a chain of fortifica¬ tions connecting these remote settlements and at times made claims to all the interior of what is now the United States, leaving to England only a comparatively narrow strip adjoining the seaboard. The forts at Oswego, at Buffalo, at Detroit, and at St. Louis were looked upon by the English colonists as an assertion of this claim. Had France been but a little stronger at home in those early days, the American Colonists would have found themselves the subjects of France instead of Eng¬ land, and our history would have been a radically different one. The French cultivated the friendship of the Indian much more assiduously than did the English. Into every settlement a French Catholic missionary was sent who taught so effectively both the Catholic interpretation of the Christian religion and allegiance to the King of France that whenever France and her Colonies became involved in war, she immediately had the as¬ sistance of many Indian tribes. While it is undoubtedly true that France did not openly advocate the many Indian raids and cruelties perpetrated, yet she certainly made no effort to sup¬ press them. So the sufferings of the exposed settlements of New England and New York through the period of several European wars were actually a part of the campaigns of the French against the English. In effect, peace in Europe meant comparative security for the New England settlements, while warfare in Europe — for France and England were embroiled 28 MILITARY BACKGROUND TO 1748 in about all these wars — meant pillage, slaughter, and Indian outrages as the portion of all the exposed settlements. New England as represented by the Royal Governor at Boston made punitive attempts at independent treaties with the Indians, but without marked success. New York was more suc¬ cessful in these endeavors and succeeded at various times in entering into friendly relations with some of the Indian tribes, much to the alarm of the French. By the treaty of Utrecht in 1713, at least temporary peace was assured, while by the triple alliance of 1717, England and France became allies and several years of comparative tranquility followed. But the Indian was slow to comprehend such sudden politi¬ cal somersaults. The French had made enmity against the English settlers a part of his religion, and he continued a spas¬ modic guerilla warfare, while the far away colonists had limited faith in the permanency of this remarkable alliance and kept vigilant guard over their particular interests, lest one should gain undue advantage over the other. In Europe, rival and con¬ flicting claims were set up regarding much American territory. New York fortified a trading post at Oswego in 1728, while Quebec endeavored to establish a fort on the east shore of Lake Champlain in 1726 but was deterred by Massachusetts as a claimant of that territory. In 1731 the French established themselves at Crown Point, in what was clearly New York territory, but New York, partly because of divisions in her own government and partly because a quarrel with New Jersey was engrossing her attention, left the French undisturbed much to the disgust of more aggressive Massachusetts. Into such a time as this was Athol, that new town on Mil¬ lers River called Paquoig, born in 1735. For nine years no European conflict disturbed the American colonies. Indians were treacherous but not openly hostile, and we have no records of any serious menace to the settlers. But in 1744 the smoldering fire broke out afresh in Europe; the war of the Austrian Succession it is called. England and France were again enemies and the American Colonies were at war with each other. Governor Shirley conceived and carried out that mad scheme of the Louisburg campaign, which although successful was none-the-less foolhardy. A body of Provincial soldiers was gathered by Governor Clinton at Albany for the invasion of Canada, but this enter- 29 HISTORY OF ATHOL prise was ultimately abandoned, while France strengthened her outposts and Indian depredations broke out afresh. I have read the lists both of Shirley's soldiers and of Clinton's Provincials, but I fail to recognize an Athol name. Possibly we had a few men in those campaigns as did Northfield and Northampton, but I think it is more likely that all of our men thought their first duty was at home and remained here as "home guards." Massachusetts at the time claimed much land north of her present boundaries and as a defense of Northfield and the other settlements in the Connecticut Valley established in 1 724 a fort at Brattleboro called Fort Dummer. New Hampshire ob¬ jected to this invasion of territory claimed by her and appealed to the Crown, which sustained her contentions. Massachusetts withdrew her forces but New Hampshire declined to replace them as the fort was fifty miles from any other New Hampshire settlement of any size. Another Massachusetts settlement pre¬ vious to 1740 was at No. 4 (Charlestown, N. H.) As there are deeds of land in that town recorded in the Worcester, Massa¬ chusetts Registry, it is evident that these settlers considered themselves a part of Worcester County. The nine families at Charlestown in 1744 at an expense of £300 erected a substantial fortification which New Hampshire declined to fortify, so an appeal was made to Massachusetts and a small garrison sent there November 1 1, 1744. The Colo¬ nial Government of Massachusetts, apprehending "a speedy rupture between the Crowns of Great Britain and France" ap¬ propriated £7000 in a supply bill and apportioned various sums to be laid out for the public defense. By this apportionment Pequoag, Nichewoag (Petersham), New Rutland (Barre), and New Salem were allotted £100 each. Undoubtedly the two forts as well as the garrison house at the Mills were strengthened financially by this appropriation. We have no record of any actual hostilities here unitl 1746, but again on April 25, 1745 we find the General Court raising 503 men to garrison the western frontier and of this number Paquoig was allowed 6, Nichiwoag 5, and Northfield 6.(11) On April 3, 1746 pay and subsistence were allowed for 30 addi¬ tional men — for one month 10 at Nichiwoag, 10 at Narra- gansett No. 2, and 10 at Paquoig. (12) Garrisons of 30 men each were provided for blockhouses at Fall Town, between Fall Town (Bernardston) and Colrain, Colrain, Fort Shirley, Fort Pelham, West of Fort Pelham, and where Ft. Massachusetts stood. Two swivel guns were allotted to each blockhouse. (1 1) Province Laws, Vol. XIII, p. 572. (12) Province Laws, Vol. XIII, p. 702. 30 MILITARY BACKGROUND TO 1748 The danger was apparently great and the garrisons were taxing the Province severely for on April 24, 1746 the Gover¬ nor was "desired to write to the Government of Connecticut pressing them immediately to send five hundred men to the Colony to be posted by the direction of Col. Stoddard;" 50 men to No. 4 (Charlestown, N. H.) and 2 men provided for cannon and two swivel guns. Massachusetts added 10 men to the gar¬ rison at Narragansett No. 2, 7 to Paquoit, 10 at Nichiwoag, while 5 inhabitants each of Road Town, New Salem, and New Rutland were placed on the provincial pay roll. Althongh the settlers here lived in mortal fear throughout this entire period, yet they do not seem to have been disturbed at any time except in the late summer and autumn of 1746. But so great was the danger that several families relinquished all their improvements here and sought safety in other quarters supposed to be less open to attack. The experiences of John Smeed and his family while seeking shelter at Fort Massachu¬ setts have already been related as part of the hardship in main¬ taining the early settlement here. In the autumn of 1746 Massachusetts withdrew its garrison from No. 4, although this outpost or buffer for all the Con¬ necticut Valley had been attacked five times from April 19 to June 19, 1746. This left the main trail from Canada by way of the Connecticut River Valley unguarded until March, 1747, when the fort was again garrisoned. During this un¬ protected period there were many depredations in our locality and Pequage did not escape entirely. Ezekiel Wallingford and Jason Babcock, both of Pequage, were casualties. Although much money was spent in the defense of Pequoig and many a timid one severely frightened, I know of no other actual casualties that befell Athol citizens in this war. It is evident that great fear was passed by the autumn of 1747 for on October 20, the Council voted to reduce the forces in the frontier ro 489 men. Of this number there were allotted to No. 4 — 30 men, Ashuelot 15 men, and 21 "poor inhabitants" were ordered to serve by turns, of which number 6 were to be stationed at Fall Town, 10 at Colrain, and 5 at Pagoig. The Government of Connecticut was desired to send 50 men to Deerfield and Northfield for the winter. In addition to this, Captain Samuel Willard was doing some service, probably scout duty with certain residents at Nichiwog, Poquaig, and Narra¬ gansett No. 2. 31 HISTORY OF ATHOL March 8, 1748 there was allowed to Pequoiug £121.12.3 for billeting the Canadian soldiers a total of 324 weeks and 3 days at 7s6d per day — from February 28 to October 26, 1747. As this covers a period of less than 36 weeks, a little calcula¬ tion will dissolve to the reader that our town must have aver¬ aged 9 soldiers quartered here all that time. Similar sums were allowed to New Salem, Nichewoag and Narragansett No. 2. March 10, 1748 the garrisons were further strengthened by the authorization of the raising by enlistment or impress¬ ment of 277 men. Of this number 50 were to be stationed at Ashuelot (Keene), 15 at Colrain, 20 at Fall Town, 10 at Green River (Greenfield), 10 at Road Town, 10 at New Salem, 20 at Paquaioge, 10 at Nichewoag, and 10 at Narragansett No. 2. The records of service during this period are so meagre that we have no names of the men quartered here but there has been preserved the roll of a company of 53 men on guard at Nichewoag, Poquaig, and New Rutland from March to Octo¬ ber, 1748. There are but eight of these names that I am able to connect with Athol and my only authority for including any of them in the list of Athol soldiers is that men bearing these names are shown by contemporaneous records to have been here during or near that period. The names I include in the list are: Nathaniel Graves, Hugh Holland, Richard Morton, Abraham Nutt, James Oliver, John Oliver, Robert Oliver, Asa Smith, Caleb Smith, Gad Waite, and Robert Young. But hostilities were soon over and in July, 1748 came the news that the chief contending powers in Europe had come to an agreement, and the following October the Treaty of Aix-la- Chapelle was consummated. Although the New Eugland Colo¬ nists were greatly outraged by the ceding back to France of their dearly acquired rights in Louisburg, yet they smothered their wrath and accepted the settlement as a welcome relief from warfare. This treaty really settled nothing between the chief con¬ tending forces, and its only result was to effect a breathing spell during which quiet but active preparations were made for the final and effective struggle — the Seven Years' War as it was called in England, or the French and Indian War as it was designated in the American Colonies. 32 CHAPTER IV THE CHURCH IS FORMED HE history of many, and probably all of our New England towns during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries was practically the history of its church, the town church of the standing order, the faith of the Pilgrim Fathers. Town; politics and church dissensions alike were aired in its town meetings, so that a complete church record of the early days in any town, is the larger part of the town history. Pequoig was no exception to this rule. In fact, in its original grant as already stated liberal provision was made for the church and the ministry. Small wonder that the early Pequoig inhabitants delayed in the settling of a pastor here, and in so doing technically vio¬ lated their charter. Though the town was born at a time of comparative peace in New England, the sufferings were so severe during King George's War, 1744 to 1748, that for a time the townsmen despaired of being able to keep their hold on this territory. One of the conditions of the original grant was that a frame meeting house shold be erected and a learned orthodox clergy¬ man settled here within five years. Constantly watchful of Indian perfidy, and far from the nearest settlement of Hard¬ wick, they did well to erect a rude meeting house on the north bank of Mill Brook, near where the Hapgood School now stands. Hardly had this building been made fit for use before it was entirely destroyed by fire, perhaps the work of hostile Indians, but more likely through carelessness in burning the surrounding primeval forest. The ancient churchyard, which adjoined this house of God where the pioneers of our town sleep, alone marks the spot where our forefathers first gath¬ ered to worship. There are no exact dates regarding this building and most of its short history is as unknown to us as is the identity of the graves in its churchyard. It was probably begun in 1737„ two years after the first settlement, and burned about 1740. Lost forever are the complete records of the early township:. Dr. Joseph Lord, one of the first five pioneers, was the domin¬ ating personality of this settlement. A graduate of Harvard 33 HISTORY OF ATHOL and the only resident with scholarly attainment, he practiced medicine, preached sermons, surveyed land as well as acting as Proprietors' Clerk. About 1749 he violently disagreed with his associates here and ultimately left the settlement and the province, taking with him all the records. Though the Pro¬ prietors of Poquaige brought suit against Dr. Lord some ten years later, these records were never recovered. Hence we have only fragments of the town history for the first fourteen years after its settlement. The earliest record of a religious service in Pequoig was on October 18, 1749, when at a Proprietors' meeting, it was "voted that Mr. Brown be allowed for one day's preaching five pounds o.t." Undoubtedly there were earlier payments of this nature. We do know that Dr. Lord had frequently oc¬ cupied the pulpit, but as at the same meeting this vote was passed, Dr. Lord was deposed as Proprietors' Clerk, he prob¬ ably was not again tolerated as a preacher in this township but he was speedily engaged by Naragansett No. 6 (Templeton) where he seems to have ministered as stated supply for sev¬ eral years. I fancy that the original location of the first meeting house and cemetery nearly a mile west of Pleasant Street was a con¬ cession to the West Hill settlers, but when a second building was erected in 1741, no such consideration was shown, for soon after the loss of the first building the Proprietors erected the second edifice in the center of the East settlement, which was by then considerably larger of the two. The site chosen was on Pleasant Street, near the former residence of Winfield H. Brock, now the home of his daughter, Mrs. Harold Haven. The well of the adjoining fort, in safe proximity, marks the spot where this meeting house stood. In this crude building the pious fathers and mothers with their households gathered for worship, for church attendance was by law compulsory. Although a church was not organized for fifteen years after the first settlement, this meeting house served for religious services, with preaching at least a part of the time. On December 10, 1749 Mr. J ames Humphrey of Dor¬ chester, a Harvard graduate, delivered his first sermon and supplied the pulpit, presumably as a candidate, for nearly five months thereafter. Less than a year later he became the settled minister here. As remuneration for his services it was voted "1 hat Mr. James Humfries be allowed Eighteen Pounds lawful money for Preaching in this Place from the 10th of 34 THE CHURCH IS FORMED December, Sabbaths." 1749 to the 16th of May, 1750, being eighteen Convinced that they wanted Mr. Humphrey as their per¬ manent pastor, on May sixteenth the Proprietors of Pequoig voted to extend a call to him. "Voted, That we give Mr. James Humfries, our present Preacher, the sum of Fifty Pounds law¬ ful money of this Province of the Massachusetts Bay, per An¬ num, while he continues in the work of the Gospel Ministry in this Place, — and farther, add to that Right, or whole share of Land, in the Township of Pequoiag, of which the house Lott on East Pequoiag Hill on the west side of the High Way Num¬ ber Eight is Part, — the Sum of Sixty Six Pounds thirteen Shillings and four Pence lawful money of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, to be paid, one half within one Year after his Ordination, the other half one Year after Payment of the first Half, if he accepts of the work of the Gospel Ministry in this Place." "Voted, that Lieut. Richard Morton and Mr. Robert Marble and Lieut. Nathaniel Graves be a Committee to see whether Mr. Humfries will accept of his Call to the Gospel Ministry in this Place." A committee was also appointed at this meet¬ ing to "repair the Meeting House. "(13) Mr. Humphrey took time to consider the matter, perhaps in the meantime deliberating for more "encouragement," and not until August 8 was his written acceptance secured — and then only when a Pequoig committee virtually demanded it. Signed "So I remain with hearty Regards, your Servant in Christ Jesus, James Humfrey," his letter read as follows: "I received by the Hand of Lieut. Richard Morton a Copy of your Votes passed at your Meeting on the 16th of May last respecting my settling among you in the Capacity of a Gospel Mimsier. And in Answer thereto, — In the first Place, I do heartily thank you for the good will you have expressed to me in your invitation. After mature Deliberation upon the impor¬ tant affair, I now signify my acceptance of the Salary and En¬ couragement you have given me to Settle in the work of the Ministry among you in this Place, in Case the Propriety will make me an Addition of Forty Shillings lawful money to your former Encouragement for my Annual Support, — and if it please God in his aldisposing Providence regularly to introduce me into the Pastoral Office over you, I hope by his grace and (13) Proprietors' Book, p. 126. 35 HISTORY OF ATHOL Spirit I shall be enabled in some good measure to fulfill my Ministry/^14) The Proprietors voted the additional "encouragement" and directed Lieut. Morton, Lieut. Graves, and Robert Marble to arrange for the Ordination and that "they take Care to send to a Neighbouring Minister or Ministers to assist them in a Fast and in Gathering a Church in this place. //<:i5) Robert Marble was appointed a committee to go to Dor¬ chester as escort for Mr. Humphrey. Journeying on horse¬ back, he rode to Dorchester and brought the pastor back with him. They loaded the horse with his clothing, sermons, and provisions for the journey in saddle bags, and both mounted, but finding the burden too great for the animal, they took turns in walking. Before reaching Pequoig, the poor beast be¬ came so jaded that both men were obliged to walk. Twenty-one days elapsed after his acceptance before the First Church of Christ in Pequoig was organized by a council of Rev. Samuel Kendall, first minister of New Salem; Rev. Abraham Hill, first minister of Roadtown; and Rev. Aaron "Whitney, first minister of Nichewaug. August 29, 1750 — a day memorable and colorful in our church history. Presiding at these solemn exercises, the three reverend clergymen were dressed after the fashion of the times," in large powdered wigs, surmounted by the three-cornered clerical hat, with the min¬ isterial coat, and small clothes which were met at the knees by Jong, smooth silk or worsted stockings, the feet of which were protected in soft calf or deer skin shoes, fastened together 'With large, shining silver buckles. "(16) After "Solemn Prayer to God," these three ministers, “"gathered the Church and it was Imboded and each member signed the Covenant." James Humphrey, then 28 years old, gravely affixed his signature first. Then: Lieut. Richard Morton, the ranking military officer of the settlement, who lived on Pleasant Street Nathaniel Graves who also lived on the East side of the "street" Abraham Nutt and Robert Marble, both of whom lived up by the Sentinel Elm (14) Ibid, pp. 123, 129. (15) Proprietors' Book, p. 129. Cl 6) Clarke's Discourse, p. 15. 36 THE CHURCH IS FORMED Samuel Morton who had settled at the spot now numbered 488 South Main Street Nathan Waite, probably located his house lot No. 15 E. W. at about 1543 Pleasant St. Eleazer Graves, then living on the South Royalston Road Ephraim Smith, who lived at the "Brickyard" Aaron Smith, then living on the Moore Hill Road Perhaps owing to the prejudice that existed in those days against women participating in public affairs, the names of no women appear on the list of members. But ten in number, they bow themselves together in prayer, and supplicate the blessing of God upon the act they have now consummated, and then in reverential order they withdraw from the house of worship. In the early fall, on September 5, Pequoig made active prep¬ arations for the ordination of its new minister. That those liv¬ ing on the north side of the river might not be prevented from attending the exercises because of high water, a committee of five was appointed "to make a boat to cross Millers River so big as to carry two horses at once." Usually the townsfolk crossed at a fording place over in back of the Hop Meadow, just below where Tully joins the Millers, but evidently freshet conditions made this ford impassable. There is little record of the proceedings of the ordination. We do know that on November 7, 1750 James Humphrey was ordained to the gospel ministry and installed as the first pastor of Perquage. To this council came Rev. Jonothan Bowman of Dorchester, whence came Mr. Humphrey; Rev. Timothy Wood- bridge of Hatfield, whence came the pioneer settlers; Rev. Samuel Kendall of New Salem who had kinfolk here; Rev. Abraham Hill of Roadtown who was Acting Clerk of this set¬ tlement; and Rev. Aaron Whitney of Nichewaug. For approximately two years as supply and regular pastor, Mr. Humphrey labored here alone with no wife to advise and assist him but at length he made a trip to Dorchester (probably one of many) and there on October 9, 1751 he was wedded to Esther Wiswell of that town. Some few weeks later he brought her home to Pequoig. Their ar¬ rival in town was a gala occasion. That day, on November third, a delegation of youths and maidens went on horseback to Barre to escort their pastor and his new wife on the last leg 37 HISTORY OF ATHOL of their long journey from the seaboard to this isolated hamlet. The few who remained at home were busy preparing the choic¬ est foods for the home coming feast. To Margery Morton, then fourteen years of age, was assigned the task of making the pies. These she baked in an out-door oven. In her excite¬ ment over the coming of the party along Pleasant Street she left her oven unguarded. Hungry boys were watching a chance to appease ravenous appetites and as soon as Miss Morton left her oven, they promptly raided it. Hence the first supper here for the bride lacked for its completeness the necessary pies. So great was her chagrin at this neglect of her assigned duty that "Aunt Margery" never ceased to mourn over it, although she lived more than seventy years thereafter. By contract with the Proprietors, Rev. Humphrey became the owner of Lot No. 8, E. W. on Pleasant Street, upon which he erected a home which remained in his family for a century. Until the hurricane of 1938 Rev. Humphrey's landmark was the farm house on this land. A pretty fable tells of his coming from Dorchester with his bride on horse back, each carrying a rid.ng stick of elm. When they arrived at their new home each stuck their stick by the roadside where they sprouted and grew into stately elms. It was one of these beautiful trees which during the devastating hurricane fell and crushed this farm house leaving the ell which is still standing in 1952. Almost every house on Pleasant Street has its story, for here the real leaders of our town resided for a century, which to this day gives it the name of "The Street." Fashioned crudely, the meeting house where they wor¬ shipped was not large, but for more than twenty years its con¬ gregation lived in harmony, enjoying the ministrations of the beloved pastor. In all the years of his pastorate he acted as Church Clerk and performed an outstanding service by the many injections of interesting data into the records. Even in the house of God vigilance had to be maintained against the lurking Indians. The worshippers kept their fire¬ arms by them and stationed sentinels at the door to guard against surpise. Even the minister preached with his gun at his side. There was but one pew — Dr. Lord's. The rest sat upon planks resting on blocking. "Tything men" were appointed annually by the town to see that proper order was maintained in the church. These were provided with a long pole, so as to reach anyone who so far forgot the sanctity of the place as to fall asleep, or commit any 38 THE CHURCH IS FORMED other misdemeanor. It is said, how truly I do not know, that this pole had a squirrel tail on one end and a ball upon the other. If the offender was a women, the squirrel tail was used. If a man, a severe rap was given. Noisy boys and unruly men were awed into decorum by a sight of the whipping post and stocks just outside the door. These stocks were made of two large thick planks, set up edge¬ wise and rendered immovable. The lower one had spaces cut in the upper edge for the reception of the culprit's ankles, while the top one was hung fast to it upon hinges, and so fit¬ ted as to swing and shut close down upon the one beneath. When it was made fast with a lock, it was impossible for the feet of the offender to be withdrawn. Left lying upon his back on the ground, the unfortunate prisoner was in no very envi¬ able or comfortable position/17) Here in this second meetinghouse for a third of a century our people worshipped God. Here all their public gatherings were held for the church was the center of social life as well. Here Rev. Humphrey had listened to their marriage vows, christened their children, and prayed over their dead. Yes, this second meetinghouse built twenty-eight years be¬ fore had served the people well, but now in 1769 it was time to think about a larger edifice to accommodate a much in¬ creased population. Though the townsmen took definite ac¬ tion regarding the matter, they could not come to any agree¬ ment as to the location of this third meetinghouse. For two years a controversy raged, sites being chosen and appropria¬ tions made only to have the action rescinded at a subsequent meeting. Despairing of ever coming to a final agreement the town on January 16, 1772 voted to leave the whole matter to the deci¬ sion of three arbitrators, Capt. Oliver Witt of Paxton, Capt. Stephen Maynard of Westborough, and Col. John Whitcomb of Bolton, and adjourned the meeting for three weeks to give these men time to consider the matter and report. Their report recommended as a location a rise of land "on the west side of the County Road adjoining some hewed timber prepared for a house." This was a little south of the watering trough at Uptown Common and was apparently at or near a spot once voted on by Athol where John Brooks of Lancaster, (17) Clarke's Discourse, p. 11. 39 HISTORY OF ATHOL engaged by a town's committee, had begun to build a church edifice. Within a short space of time the town voted to proceed with buying the necessary land, purchased from Seth Kendall for £1.0.4 and the building was erected in 1772-73. Here the third meetinghouse of Athol stood for fifty-four years until destroyed "by the hand of a wicked incendiary. "(18) A simple structure, it became in later years a subject of derision — the THIRD MEETING HOUSE OF ATHOL, 1773-1827 popular ditty being "Oh, what a funny people to have a church without a steeple." To this building our forefathers came for town meeting as well as church worship. Here they passed all their votes of disloyalty to the unpopular George III, and from its very doors Athol citizens started for Lexington, Bunker Hill, Bennington, Saratoga, New York, and Valley Forge. From its doorway the Declaration of Independence was first read to our people and (18) Rev. Joseph Estabrook, (July 2, 1827). 40 THE CHURCH IS FORMED here they voted paragraph by paragraph on the ratification of the Constitution of Massachusetts. Like all other church buildings of that period there was no heating apparatus in it but nevertheless our pious ancestors sat in zero weather warmed only by their foot stoves and their religious zeal. From this house the Rev. Humphrey bade Godspeed to his son as well as all the others as they started for the campaigns of the Revolution. His loyalty to the Colonial Cause was beyond question, but he lacked in some things deemed essential for the ministry, and the time came when many of his people, particularly in the easterly part of the town, desired a more able preacher. Yet this aging man of God was not without his champions. These, however, were not his near neighbors but were nearly all residents of the northwesterly part of the town¬ ship. So intense was their feeling against the central part of the town that secession seemed to them the only solution of the difficulty, which constituted the third loss in membership of the original church. Some fourteen years before, the first break occurred when some of the members became interested in the Baptist form of worship and practices. This burst of enthusiasm grew into bitterness as one after another left the once united Church of Christ in Athol to align themselves denominationally with this sect. In all of our New England communities there were some dissenters from the Standing Order or Calvanistic doctrines. Roger Williams, the great pioneer Baptist in America, ban¬ ished from the Bay Colony on account of his non-conformist views, was perhaps the most prominent of this type. I do not find that any disaffection appeared in Athol until about 1768 when Rev. Isaac Backus of Middleboro, the first great apostle of the Anabaptists, began to make periodical visits to Athol. For fifty years he rode on horseback over these hills. His diary, now in the New England Baptist Library at Newton-Andover, shows that he came here frequently, lodging in some humble settler's cabin, preaching, exhorting, pleading, but at all times emphasizing his views of theology and practice. Emigration to Athol and Royalston of a considerable number of families from northeastern Connecticut started about this time, the most prominent of which was Isaac Estey, ancestor of the Brattleboro family of that name. These families came from a community where Baptist interests were predominant 41 HISTORY OF ATHOL and their influence coupled with Elder Backus' efforts were responsible for the organization of the Baptist Church of Athol and Royalston, located on the spot where the F. W. Whitney place on Chestnut Hill stands. This farm was then occupied by Rev. Whitman Jacobs, an ordained Baptist minister from Killingly, Connecticut. It was the first break in the solid ranks of the Church of Christ in Athol, now through many vicissi¬ tudes become the First Church Unitarian. In May, 1773 forty-one inhabitants of Templeton and four¬ teen residents of Athol petitioned the General Court for au¬ thority to establish a separate church out of the westerly part of Templeton and the easterly part of Athol, and the following February 24th, after having been once refused and petition¬ ing a second time, their request was granted and Templeton West Precinct became a separate parish, twelve years later to become the Town of Gerry and after 1814 the Town of Phi I - lipston. Athol strenuously opposed this secession but having no representative in the General Court its protest was ineffective and this second loss by the Athol Church received legislative sanction. Now, in 1783, came the parting of the ways, the really major division of our township. Many causes brought about the formation of the new municipality but I think the control¬ ling factor was differences in the Church of Pequoig. In this inrerim Pequoig became embroiled in the French and Indian War, our township took the name of Athol, our first roads were laid out, schools were started, and the rumblings of the Revolution had become the deafening roar of another blood¬ shed on this continent. 42 CHAPTER V FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR KIVAL and conflicting territorial claims were the underlying cause of this the last European war to be waged on Amer¬ ican soil. These claims were vital to the future of all the Colonies for in them was the question whether the great un¬ explored western country should be open to the English colon¬ ists or whether the western bounds of English territory should be in the Appalachian Mountains. To Pennsylvania and Vir¬ ginia the problem was a much more vivid one than to the New England colonies. With the campaigns of Braddock and of Washington into the Ohio Valley, Massachusetts had no part, but these campaigns had the effect here of increased exertions in preparation for the general conflict that seemed imminent. Although Braddock did not arrive from England until Feb¬ ruary, 1755 and active hostilities did not begin until some months later, yet all through the year 1754 war was imminent. The Albany convention of June, 1754 was called principally to effect a treaty with the Indian tribes lest they should again become French allies. Its chief accomplishment, however, was the formation of a Colonial Federation under which the English Colonies could act in unison and much more effec¬ tively Hardly had our Massachusetts delegates returned home from this convention before a committee was appointed to con¬ sider the state of our frontier defenses. On November 20, 1754 this committee recommended that many existing forts and blockhouses be repaired and that an additional fort be erected midway between Ft. Massachusetts and Hudson's River, as well as a small blockhouse at New Framingham. The same day a committee was appointed and a hundred pounds appropriated to build blockhouses, and to repair the existing fortifications at Gardner's Canada (Warwick) Royalshire (Roy- alston), Ipswich Canada (Winchedon), and Dorcester Canada (Ashburnham). Pequoig, still a frontier settlement, had the experiences of the last war vividly in mind. Having been omitted in the gen¬ eral scheme of fortifying the frontier, this township lost no time in asking the General Court for protection. Preserved in 43 HISTORY OF ATHOL the Massachusetts archives is the petition of the Pequoig set¬ tlers which reads as follows: "To his Excellence William Shirley, Esqe., Captain General and Commander in Chief in and over his Majesties Province of the Massachusetts Bay, the Honorable his Majesties Council, and house of Representatives in General Court and Convened Decemb: 1754. "The Petition of the Inhabitants of that Township on Millers River called Poquiog Humbly Sheweth "Inasmuch as your humble Petitioners Inhabit one of the frontier Towns of this Province Therefore of our (Indian) Enemies, who in the late War, took away the life of one man, and led Captive another. Therefore pray the Protection of this Province. "And inasmuch as by our not being incorporated, we are unable to Constrain such persons as claim an Equal Share of land with us the inhabitants of said Poquiog, to an Equaly or even to any Expense, with us, in building necessary forts or Garrisons for our Defence against the assaults of our Enemies, whose lands will be equally Defended with our own — and we your Humble Petitioners, are, of ourselves unable, and Des¬ titute of means of securing ourselves from our Enemies, Do therefore Pray more Efficiently and Particularly, That this Honle Court, would allow us, at the charge and expense of the Province to build Two forts, of Square timber. One of 45 or 50 foot square on the West side of the River, for receiving the six families on that side, the other of 64 foot square on the east or south side of the River, for the 20 families and 5 single men on that side of the River, which with the fort al¬ ready built that may take in 12 families, may be Sufficient for that side of the River, and such a number of soldiers as (here¬ after) may be needful for our Defence and Security: So your Humble Petitioners as in Duty bound shall ever pray, &c." (Signed) Joseph Lord Ephraim Smith Richard Morton Samuel Dexter Abraham Nutt Abner Lee Aaron Smith Joseph Lord, Jr. George Kilten William Lord Upon this petition the General Court voted January 8, 1755 that the committee on fortifications repair to Pequoig, deter- 44 FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR mine what fortifications were necessary, and sell sufficient land of delinquents to defray the expense. In the year 1755, al¬ though no actual war had been declared between France and England, the disastrous Braddock Campaign, the appointing of an exploring committee to report on the country between No. 4 and Crown Point, and the raising of an army of 3500 men from Massachusetts for proposed expeditions from Al¬ bany to Niagara and to Crown Point, became history. Of the army of 6000 men which assembled at Albany irt June, 1755, Poquaige seems to have furnished her full share, but just how many we do not know. We have but three names of which we may be sure, but tradition and contemporaneous data place the number at about ten men. While this expedi¬ tion failed of either of its ultimate goals, yet it did see consid¬ erable warfare around Lake George and prevented a further invasion of New York and probably of New England by the French. The year 1 756 brought the actual declaration of war but less active hostilities near New England. An army of about 4000 was maintained around Albany and the defenses strengthened, but no advance was made against the enemy. In 1757 this army had been reduced to about 3000 men and upon this gar¬ rison, Montcalm descended in August, 1757 with 5500 reg¬ ulars and 1600 Indians, overhelmed Ft. Edward, which he burned, taking its stores to Canada. So far as I can learn no local men were with this English Army either in 1756 or 1757. England had sent Lord Loudon here as commander of her forces, but he whiled away the time in inactivity and the planning of an attack by sea. upon Louisburg until disaster befell him. This disaster brought much grief and anxiety to our exposed town. But in 1758 before Montcalm could marshall his forces for another attack. Lord Jeffrey Amherst and Admiral Boscowen effected the con¬ quest of Louisburg. New England took new courage. Lord Loudoun was recalled and General Abercrombie succeeded him. New expeditions were organized against Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and again our local settlement did its part.. In the expedition of 1758 we have well authenticated rec¬ ords that at least five Athol men participated. They marched away on April 14, 1758 under Capt. John Frye, then of Sutton, afterwards of Royalston. The men from Pequoig who served in the 1758 campaign so far as known are Edward Buckman, Stephen Lord, Thomas Lord, Benjamin Morton, and Jason Parmenter — all but the last named serving in Capt. Frye's. 45 HISTORY OF ATHOL Company. Parmenter served in Capt. Andrew Dalrymple's Company and was listed as from Petersham. After a disastrous defeat at Ticonderoga in July, 1758, the Army was withdrawn to the vicinity of Saratoga and Albany, where it entrenched itself to prevent a French invasion. Ap¬ parently all of the Poquaige soldiers in company with their Provincial associates returned home leaving the English reg¬ ulars in the forts and camps. Lord Amherst proceeded to Bos¬ ton, after the conquest of Louisburg, where the plans for the campaign of 1759 were perfected. Wolfe was to ascend the St. Lawrence and attempt the reduction of Quebec. Brigadier Stanvoix was sent to conduct the operations on the west, while Amherst himself undertook the conquest of the Champlain Valley, which if successful meant the speedy triumph of Great Britain in these Colonies. Into this conflict Massachusetts sent 7000 men most of whom served under Gen. Amherst. Ticonderoga and Crown Point were speedily overhelmed. Fort Niagara likewise fell and soon Lake Erie was won. By mid- September the dying Wolfe knew that Quebec had succumbed to his army. So far as I can discover all the Pequoig men in this conflict served under Gen Amherst. They are Edward Buckman, Samuel Graves, Stephen Lord, Thomas Lord, Abra¬ ham Morton, Jason Parmenter and William Wood. As these men were allowed for travel from Hardwick to Al¬ bany, it is to be assumed that they traversed the wilderness in a general westerly direction after leaving Hardwick. We may assume ih^y returned from the North Country by way of the Connecticut- Valley as they were allowed travel home from No. 4. Concerning the fate of Samuel Graves we have only the bare record of his death at Crown Point, but of Abraham Morton's fate we have the melancholy tradition that while returning home with a party of soldiers who had served under Col. Rogers and met defeat, their provisions became entirely exhausted. They agreed to draw lots to determine who of their number should yield up his body to save the rest from famishing. The story came from a comrade who forthwith left the party, hear¬ ing a gunshot soon afterwards. As Morton was said to be in this party and was never heard of afterwards, it is altogether possible that the lot fell to him, and the gunshot heard ended his life. As Amherst advanced with his army upon Ticonderoga and Crown Point, the French abandoned these strongholds and withdrew to Canada, but here Amherst delayed instead of 46 FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR pressing the advantage gained, so that the late autumn of 1759 found the French still in possession of the country north of Lake Champlain although Wolfe had wrested Quebec from the gallant Montcalm. The plans for the campaign of 1760 called for an advance on Montreal from three directions. Amherst with the main Army was to descend the St. Lawrence from Lake Ontario; Brigadier Haviland was to proceed by the way of Lake Champ¬ lain; while Brigadier James Murry who had succeeded in com¬ mand at Quebec after the death of Wolfe was to ascend the St. Lawrence with what could be spared from Quebec of Wolfe's army. As the spring opened, the sons of old Pequoig were again on their way in the service of their King. We have a record of five of them who went into this decisive year of the Seven Years' War — Adonijah Ball, Moses Ball, Stephen Lord, Eliphalet Moore, and David Twitchell. Again they marched under Capt. William Paige of Hardwick and were absent from home from April 14 to December 7. Then only four of them returned for their comrade, Adonijah Ball, had died at Sara¬ toga during their absence. Again our men traversed over familiar ground to Crown Point. Here Haviland organized his army and proceeded by boat to the head waters of Lake Champlain where he met the French at Isle aux Noir. Driving them back to St. John and eventually to the St. Lawrence River, he awaited the arrival of Murry and Amherst. Both of these divisions arrived about September first and preparations were made to take Montreal. Being much weakened by desertions from his army, the French Commander Veudreuil proposed a capitulation which was effected September 8, 1760. At last French dominion in Canada with all its intrigues, treachery, and outrages was ended. Historians relate that this victory was celebrated by sermons in every church in the Province, but whether the Rev. Mr. Humphrey and the then fifty families of Pequoig joined in this general celebration we do not know. But the Colonies could not be officially at peace until the strife was settled by the principal contending forces in Europe. So a state of war exis.ed for two years more until the late autumn of 1762 when preliminary articles of peace were agreed upon, which was fol¬ lowed in February, 1763 by the definite treaty of Peace at Paris. 47 HISTORY OF ATHOL Early in 1761 the scene of warfare having shifted to Europe, England withdrew her force of regulars and required of Mass¬ achusetts that she raise an army of 3000 men to replace these soldiers at the various forts and places where hostilities were likely to break out afresh. Into this army we have a record that Amos Buckman enlisted, serving as a private from May 12 to September 10, 1761, and as a drummer from March 16 to December 22, 1762. William Oliver was listed as a Lieu¬ tenant in Capt. Nathaniel Graves' Company, Col. John Mur¬ ray's Regiment. Succeeding the year 1762 I find no record for a century and a half of any Athol man who served the English Crown in time of war. 48 CHAPTER VI HOW ATHOL GOT ITS NAME IKE many another adventurer in a new country, the early history of Pequoig's sponsor is clouded in the mists of un¬ certainty. From Tullibardine in Perthshire comes the local story of the Murrays of Scotland, which explains the signif¬ icance of the family motto, "Forth fortune and fill the fetters." Six centuries ago the fair domain of Tullibardine belonged to a beautiful lady, Aeda, only child and heiress of Malise of Stratcheam. Being of a romantic turn of mind, she passed much of her time in roaming about the dense forests which stretch for many miles along the Tay from Dunkeld to what is now Blair Atholl. These forests were haunted by a wild man of the woods who often beat wayfarers most cruelly, or robbed them of their goods. Of huge stature and dreadful in appear¬ ance, he was called the fierce "Satyr of Athol." The young mistress had seen this monster, and in her dread vowed that she would gladly give her hand and half her broad acres to any youth in Scotland who had the courage and strength either to overcome the monster, kill him, or bring him in fetters to her castle. A young and handsome youth, William de Moray, offered his services to the lady, vowing that he would "fill the fetters" and bring him bound to the presence of the lady. There was a hollow stone in the depths of the forest to which daily the Satyr would repair to quench his thirst from the cool, clear water flowing from its sides. Turning the spring aside and filling the basin with a mixture of honey and whisky, the canny Scot secreted himself to watch until the monster came and quaffed the sweet waters eagerly. He was soon seen to stag¬ ger and at last fall helplessly upon the turf. Young Moray then leaped upon the monster and chained him securely. Now perfectly harmless, he was conveyed to the castle dungeons, while joyfully the maiden consented to fulfill her promise of reward. Murray thus came to choose his family crest, which even to this day bears the head and arms of a savage or wild man. One of the "supporters" of the shield is a savage proper wreathed about the head and waist, 49 HISTORY OF ATHOL bound with a chain over his right arm, and his feet fettred by a chain of iron.(19) The family records in Blair Castle bear the announcement of the birth of one, John Thomas Murray. With it goes the JOHN MLRRAY — 1720 -1 794 WHO GAVE ATHOL ITS NAME (19) C. Ashleigh Snow, “The Transcript," Athol, March 20, 1894. 50 HOW ATHOL GOT ITS NAME further information that he quarreled with his family and fled to the Colonies long before the American Revolution. We have the further fact that one John Murray was in possession of a silver plate inscribed with the Atholl family arms and claimed to be a son of the Duke of Atholl. His native shrewdness soon placed him in comfortable financial circumstances, and he came to be for a time one of the leading men in Massachusetts. Unknown is the exact date of Murray's coming to this country. The first authentic account of him here is is 1745, when he is found as a commanding officer of the English troops in an engagement with the French. It is said that he first began his career as a laborer, but was too lazy to work, so arranged with a friend for a small stock of goods which he peddled about the country, always having a lookout for an opportunity to speculate to his profit. Amass¬ ing more wealth, he kept a store for a time, but the confine¬ ment of mercantile life became irkmose to him, and he branched out on more general fields of speculation. The outbreak of the French and Indian War found him a heavy land owner in Rutland, and in possession of many head of beef cattle which were sorely needed to feed the army dur¬ ing its long trips to the Canadian wilderness. Being then a member of the legislature from Rutland, he was in position to make the most of his opportunity. The allowances made him for army supplies show that he was alert to chance. About this time the question of confirming the title of the lands in Pequoig to the original proprietors came up for action before the General Court. As has been said, each proprietor was under bond to fulfill certain requirements in order to per¬ fect his title to the land. Indian depredations and Colonial strife made the fulfilling of these terms out of the question in many cases. Though the law makers showed a commend¬ able leniency towards the delinquents, the time came when those who had completed the requirements wished to be ab¬ solute owners of their lands and therefore asked for legisla¬ tive action of confirmation. This led to the appointment of a committee of investigation which examined the doings of each proprietor and recommended action on each case to the Legis¬ lature. This report showed a few who had absolutely failed in their duties, and others who had done only a small part of what was required of them. As the case might be, the committee recommend that all or part of the lands be forfeited to the Provincial Government, from which the title came. The re- 51 HISTORY OF ATHOL port was quickly accepted and adopted, and the committee em¬ powered to sell the lands. John Murray, with the ready cash and a friendly acquaint¬ ance with the committee, is able to buy the forfeited lands at a price hardly commensurate with their value. Thus John Murray becomes a landlord in Paquage and succeeds to the powers and privilege of at least two of the original proprietors. As divisions or allotments of the common lands are made from time to time, he does not neglect his interests here, though living twenty miles away. Each allotment carries its full share to John Murray. At length the Proprietors feel that they should no longer be required to do their business at the disadvantage incident to unincorporated territory and appeal to the paternal General Court for township incorporation. Undoubtedly John Murray as a member of this body presents the humble petition of the inhabitants of Pequage. As its reasonableness is apparent their request is granted and the question arises as to what name the town shall bear. I can imagine the stately Colonel Murray standing six feet, arrayed in all the splendor of a functionary of the Crown of England, saying in an off-hand way, "Oh, call it Atholl. I guess I have as much interest there as anyone, and it might as well bear my family name." For, as prosperity had come to him he had more and more laid stress upon his tale of noble birth. And we have not a word in written history or tradition to suggest that this arrangement as to the naming of the town was not highly satisfactory to the actual inhabitants here. And so Athol it became, meaning "Pleasant Land." Why the name of Paxton, which was expected by the Clerk of Prop¬ erties to be the one selected but twelve days before, did not appear in the act of incorporation is not known/20) As Murray drove over these forest-covered hills, only here and there speckled by settlers' clearings, we are told he often remarked at the similarity of the scenery to that of the immediate neigh¬ borhood at Blair Castle. It was necessary that someone should act as a sort of god¬ father to the new township, call its inhabitants together, in¬ struct them in towncraft and see a proper organization per¬ fected. Who could better fill this than he who had named the town? So on that cold day of March 6, 1762 John Murray (20) Caswell's "Athol Past and Present," pp. 1 9, 20. 52 HOW ATHOL GOT ITS NAME journeyed on horseback from his mansion in Rutland to the hills of Athol, Pequage no longer, and presided as Moderator at our first town meeting in the old meeting house on Pleasant Street, later partaking of liberal refreshment at Cutting's Tavern hard by, before returning to his home. Voting at this first town meeting placed the following men in office: William Oliver, Aaron Smith, and John Haven, selectmen and assessors; Nathan Goddard, town treasurer; Robert Young and Nathan Goddard, wardens; Richard Morton and Ephraim Smith, constables; Nathan Goddard, John Oliver, and Seth Kendall, surveyors of high-ways; Jesse Kendall and Jotham Death, tythingmen. And now the township is formed and Murray, a resident of Rutland, is no longer a voter here. He holds his proprietory rights, however, and makes the most of them, driving many a shrewd bargain with the inhabitants. During the succeeding twelve years we know very little of Murray, except that he continued to represent Rutland at Boston, and it is said that he took no chances of defeat on elec¬ tion day, but saw to it that all of his supporters were at the polls and were provided with all the refreshment they could consume. Many a man has gone to his home on election eve, his legs very unsteady because of John Murray's hospitality. All of this time Murray has his eye on larger political fields and loses no chance to impress upon the representatives of the Crown his patriotism and loyalty to England's unpopular sover¬ eign. At length the coveted prize is in sight and he is notified early in 1774 that he has been appointed a Mandamus Coun¬ cillor by King George III. But loyalty to the King is no longer a standard of eminence in the Bay Colony and John Murray finds himself odious in the eyes of his associates, both at home and in the Legislative Halls. His house is surrounded by a crowd of five hundred angry patriots who demand his resignation from office. Finding himself almost in an instant plunged from a position of nobleman to the plight of a political refugee, he fled his house in Rutland on August 25, 1774 and took refuge with the British troops at Boston. Here he remained by the Royal Army until that army was compelled to flee the country, when he with several hundred other Royalists, most of whom had been the object of especial royal favor, took passage with the troops for Halifax. After a time, being convinced that return to the states was impossible, he built himself a house on Prince Wil- 53 HISTORY OF ATHOL liam Street in St. John, New Brunswick, and there he ended his days. He was allowed to move his personal effects from Rut¬ land to Boston and thence with him to the loyal provinces in Canada. Col. Murray's real estate and all he possessed remaining under Massachusetts jurisdiction, was confiscated by the State government on April 30, 1779. The next day his citizenship was declared forfeit and he became an outcast forever. This confiscation included several hundred acres of land in Athol, disposition of which was given to the Worcester Probate Court. His son, Alexander, did not follow his father in loyalty to the King, but cast his lot with the revolutionists and became a sol¬ dier in the Continental Army. Out of his father's estates he was given a sizable farm in Rutland in recognition of his patriotism. The picture of Murray on our town seal is taken from a painting by Copley, which was removed with the family effects to the provinces and when copied was in the possession of his great-grandson, Hon. J. D. Hazen, in St. John. This picture was all but ruined by the pillagers who ransacked the Murray house in Rutland early in the demonstration of hostility against the King and his loyal subjects. Four times married, Col. Murray had twelve children, ten by the second wife, one by the third, and one by the fourth. Six of these children fled with their father to St. John. His first wife died during the journey to America, the others in Rutland. The inscription on the Murray mausoleum in the rural ceme¬ tery at St. John states that John Murray was born on November 22, 1720 and died in St. John on August 30, 1794. Col. Murray was a neighbor and associate in Rutland of the patriotic Rufus Putnam, founder of the State of Ohio. Years later, when Ohio was building her state capitol and wished to do especial honor to Putnam's memory, she sent to Rutland for the doors of his house that they might be given a prominent place in the new building, but it is said that through some mis¬ take the doors of John Murray's house were sent in their place. Upwards of twelve years after Athol's incorporation, peace and quiet reigned here and the population increased rapidly. Farms were cleared, houses erected, a new meeting house built, streams were harnessed by additional mills, and evidences of growth and prosperity were on every hand. Chestnut Hill did not come into prominence until Athol be¬ came incorporated though it was one of the first localities 54 HOW ATHOL GOT ITS NAME established after the initial settlement was made on "Athol Street." High on this hill with a magnificent view of the surrounding country the Youngs, the Drurys, the Lords, the Kendalls, the Goddards, the Hills, and the Havens built up a prosperous, thriving, and cultured community. In 1762 when the town needed capable and trusty men for public office, it looked quite naturally to Chestnut Hill for them. Deacon John Haven, the pioneer from Framingham, was made the first town clerk in 1762, a member of the first Board of Selectmen, and years later the first representative of the town to the Great and General Court. Much older than most of the settlers, he was looked to for counsel. He settled on the farm now owned by his great-great-great-granddaughter, Evelyn Merrifield, and died there on July 12, 1807 at the age of 81. Tradition tells us that the early cooking for the family was done on a large rock which stood near the cabin door. This rock still bears the marks of its use and stands as a monument of truthfulness to this story. Jonathan Haven made a settlement in 1763 on the place now owned by Mr. Colson. This belonged to his kindred until 1886. Simon Haven in the same year built his log cabin on the place owned by the J. C. Allen heirs, and the property now belonging to Evelyn Merrifield was settled by John Haven, Jr. in 1777. In 1762 James Goddard settled on the farm known as the Flint Farm, referred to as the last house on Chestnut Hill. I. Y. Kendall once said that the first party he ever attended was at this homestead and the orders from home were to leave the party at 9 o'clock, but the clock was so accommodating that it remained in the vicinity of nine for some hours. About the same time as James Goddard made his settlement his cousin Josiah Goddard located on the east side of the road and built h s house on a cellar hole now there. Josiah Goddard was a leading spirit of his day and generation, a Revolutionary patriot, influential in national, state, and town affairs, and for nine years a Representative to the Great and General Court. For many years he presided as moderator of town meetings and was on? of the Selectmen. Descendants of Josiah Goddard re¬ moved from Chestnut Hill at an early date. The dwelling was taken down and fabricated into the "Fuller Block" at 1477 Main Street. Elijah Goddard, the second son of James Goddard, was born in 1771. At twenty-three he married Mehitable Goodell and 55 HISTORY OF ATHOL came to the Simon Haven place to live. He was no ordinary man, a bold aggressive Calvinist and always ready to give a reason for the faith that was within him. His son, Goodell God¬ dard, succeeded him on the farm, eventually disposing of the real estate. The place owned by Harold Drury's heirs was settled in 1765 by John Drury, and for five generations members of the Drury family have lived here. One of six sons coming from Framingham to Athol, Jonathan Kendall cleared the land and built a log house in 1765 on the place owned by the late Mr. Sessions. On all occasions he was public spirited and a leader among men. His name often ap¬ pears in the town records as one chosen by his townsmen to perform some public service. His record in the Revolutionary War participating in the capture of Ticonderoga shows him to have been a soldier and a patriot. Moses Hill in 1765 took a tract of 275 acres and built a house northwest of the George Merrifield place on Townsend Road. This was burned March 1 1, 1841 and another dwelling erected. That structure likewise was destroyed by fire De¬ cember 14, 1914, and the present house erected which is still occupied by his descendants. In 1775 John Hill built the house known as the Prouty place, now occupied by Ralph Allen. Lieut. Samuel Young in 1770 settled the place owned by Cass Farms. In 1813 Gardiner Lord, youngest child save one of Capt. Thomas Lord, married Lieut. Young's daughter, Nancy, and went to her home to live. He continued on the farm until his death, when Nathaniel Young Lord, his eldest son, assumed the care of it and occupied it until the time of his death. The pioneer women of Chestnut Hill were hardy souls. Many of them were strong and energetic women, able to do not only the work of their households, but if necessary when their husbands were away could direct and manage their farms. They made all their cloth at home for the times were such they had to make it or go without. When her husband was at war, it is said that Mrs. Jonathan Kendall got Mr. Young to set the cart in the potato field, for he agreed to carry the potatoes that they dug down cellar. Mrs. Kendall and her six girls went to work, the girls pulling up the vines and picking up potatoes while the mother handled the hoe. Before sundown forty bushels of potatoes were in the cart. 56 HOW ATHOL GOT ITS NAME A most enjoyable gathering was held in the late summer of 1895 on the Young-Lord place, then owned by B. F. Searle. The thought of such a gathering originated with Mrs. Ellen A. Searle who invited all present and former residents of that old School District to come to her home on the last Thursday of July for a picnic. Enthusiastically the people gathered and before the day was over an association was formed which continued to meet every summer for fifteen years, the last one being held in July, 1909. Fully seventy people attended the Reunion in 1901 at the Kendall Homestead. A feature of the day was the unveiling of a monument at the grave of Jonathan Kendall, with an address by his great-great-grandson, Honorable Howard K. Sanderson of Lynn. The assembly marveled at the rapid trip Hon. Sanderson had made in an automobile from Lynn to Athol — five hours, being obliged to make only 87 stops on the way. F. G. Lord at one of the yearly reunions remarked, "Chestnut Hill is the pleasantest place on God's footstool." Many pages in my scrap books are devoted to clippings of these gatherings. At the third annual reunion the day's activi¬ ties closed with singing this song to the tune of Auld Lang Syne, composed for the occasion and used at all succeeding anniversaries: The blessings of the patient toil Of seven score years we sing, As gathered on this sacred soil, Our joyous voices ring. Chorus: Oh! Chestnut Hill! the name is dear Where e'er thy children roam; They coming now from far and near Do homage at thy throne. Our parents here privations knew That we scarce realize. As we gather where they did strew, Fruits of their sacrifice. When Boston was a country town And Worcester scarce explored Our grandsires felled the forest down As hardships they ignored. They raised the grain to make their bread, The wool to clothe their backs Almighty God their footsteps led And ne'er did they turn back. Sing praises to our father's God And may his name be dear When we are laid beneath the sod And others gather here. 57 HISTORY OF ATHOL Midway along this Chestnut Hill Road was Bare Hill or Open Hill, which because of some freak of nature had no timber growth upon it when the settlers came here. Thus it was a look¬ out point for a considerable area. It was said that one hundred years ago some fourteen meeting houses could be seen from its summit, meaning in effect that fourteen villages were visi¬ ble from there. The two earliest lists extant of the Heads of Families of the Town are of such interest that I include them in Appendix 4. With these names I have noted their residence so far as I am able to guess with reasonable accuracy. The initial list is a copy of the first valuation of the town in 1771 which I have been able to find. On this list in the original after each name is given the property for which each individual is assessed but space does not permit that detail here. This valuation gives a rather accurate idea of Athol's size. Listed are 129 taxpayers. As at that time the average head of a family represented about five people, we can roughly figure our population as 650. The second list is the Heads of Families as per the census of 1790. Attached to it in the original is the total number of members in each family with the separation as to males over and under fifteen years, all females, all other free persons, and all slaves. There were no slaves listed in Athol at that time and only five under the head of all other free persons. Several negro slaves were formerly held in this town. Of these "Old Violet" is well remembered. For many years she was the slave of the first minister. At length she was sold by Mr. Humphrey to Mr. Thomas Stratton, and finally, after the death of Mr. Stratton and the manumission of slaves in this Commonwealth, "Old Violet" was supported by the town until she died in the poor house, at a very advanced age. Another, a negro boy named Titus, was given to Rev. Mr. Humphrey by Rev. Aaron Whitney of Petersham. He died in Mr. Humphrey's family, November 7, 1773, aged only three years and six months. At his funeral Mr. Humphrey preached a sermon from this text: "The small and the great are there, and the servant is free from his master." Mr. Humphrey it is said had another slave named Moody, who died young. There is recorded on June 10, 1766 the baptism of one Lois Rumble, upon the account of Capt. Thomas and Leonard Lord, her master and mistress. Soon eastern Massachusetts was in a turmoil over the Stamp Act and other irksome edicts of the British Crown and 58 HOW ATHOL GOT ITS NAME Parliament. Isolated Athol seems to have been little perturbed for a time, but the evil days when 224 of our able bodied townsmen must join in the fight for our independence was fast approaching. CHAPTER VII EDUCATION Elementary Schools WHAT provision the early proprietors of Pequoig made for education of their children we know not except by occa¬ sional reference and memorials or petitions for assistance from the Colonial Government. From these scant allusions, however, it is evident that the school had a prominent place in their lives. On March 7, 1763, a year after our town's incorporation, Athol made its first appropriation for schools — £1 3.6.8. This money was divided "by the river, those that live on the south side to have what they pay towards the sum raised and those that live on the north side to have what they pay towards said sum." With about thirty-three dollars for the school year budget of each group, Nathan Goddard, Jesse Kendall, and John Oliver set about to hire a school master. Nathan Goddard was a big factor from the northwesterly part of the town, having removed here from Shrewsbury. By meth¬ ods unknown to us he acquired large acreages in Athol until he and his kinfolk were the largest landowners in the commu¬ nity. Jesse Kendall, son of Samuel Kendall of Woburn (who was an original proprietor but who probably never removed here), was from the valley. The miller at the Mills, he lived in front of the Pequoig House. John Oliver, a native of Ireland, had come here as a pioneer in 1736, settling east of Petersham Road about east of the easterly end of Vaughn Road. He repre¬ sented the southeast part of the town, the Lyon's Hill section contiguous to Pleasant Street. Presumably David Twichell was the school master hired for in the next year the town "voted to (him) the money that was taken for Fines the last year for Breach of Sabbath." Three years elapsed before the first school house was built. At this time, March 3, 1766, it is voted to build two school houses — one on West Hill, southeast of Sentinel Elm, the other at about No. 1850 Pleasant Street. These buildings which cost £26. 13.4 were but 1 8 feet long, 1 6 feet wide, and 6V2 feet stud. 60 EDUCATION Within eight years the town had enlarged its educational facilities to six schools so that each part of the township might enjoy the benefit of the money it paid for schooling. Perhaps this also allowed for more even tax assessment. As far as we know a school was at the south and north ends of Pleasant Street; one in the southwest (possibly at South Athol and Thrower Roads); one on Chestnut Hill (near where Hugh S. THE OLD BRICK SCHOOL HOUSE IN ATHOL (LOWER VILLAGE) Drawn by J. F. Gilman from description from memory by Mrs. Emily A. Ballard and Samuel Lee Wilson now lives); and one on West Hill. There may have been some question as to the allocation of the school money for in 1774 the town was for the first time divided into School Dis¬ tricts or "Squadrons." Two districts were designated north of the river, Tully East being their division line, and four districts south of the river. A school Committee was formed by the town in 1829, the members being Rev. Joseph Estabrook, Horatio Willard and Abel Sweetser72I> Over on what we now call South Royalston Road on April 8, 1810 was born to Jabez and Esther (Humphrey) Ward a son (21) See Appendix 5 for complete list of School Committee members. 61 HISTORY OF ATHOL whom they named Lyman. He' attended school at the so-called Poor Farm School, officially designated as District No. 6, and in early manhood sought to make his career in and around Boston. At the early age of thirty-seven Lyman Ward died in his Roxbury, Massachusetts home. By his will he gave $1000 to School District No. 6 in his native town of Athol, the be¬ quest to be paid upon the decease of his widow who survived DISTRICT SCHOOL HOUSE, DEPOT VILLAGE ABOUT 1856 him forty-three years. Athol school districts had been abolished more than twenty years before this bequest became payable; hence a serious question arose as to the disposition of it. At length it was paid into the town treasury to be invested and the income applied annually to school expenses. When the new school house near the State Police Station was built in 1928. the town named it after this benefactor of ninety years before, it being located nearest of any Athol school to his birthplace in the easterly part of this town. By 1 850 the number of school districts had been increased to thirteen and the annual appropriation for education amounted to sixteen hundred dollars. 62 EDUCATION The first school building in the Lower Village was on the site of the present Main Street building. Built after Main Street was laid out around 1814, it was a one room brick structure. With the advent of the railroad and consequent growth of the "Factory Village," this school house was supplanted by another larger 4-room building, which now stands at 72-74 Main Street. This increase in population would soon require a high school to be maintained according to the laws of the Common¬ wealth. "Aunt" Sally Fish, a descendant of Athol's miller of long ago, had much public spirit and in 1857 gave about five acres LOWER VILLAGE SCHOOL HOUSE 1870 - 1889 of her land to School District No. 7 for a park and playground. To maintain this park the School District kept up its organiza¬ tion for fifty years after the district system had been abandoned. At last in 1920 it seemed better to disband the district and to add this playground to Athol's Park System. A deed was ob¬ tained from the Fish Estate to complete the transaction which wiped out several restrictions and gave to the town this lower Common, now known as Fish Park. At a special town meeting in August, 1887 Atholians voted to buy land of Amos L. Cheney to build the Hapgood School building. The following spring the building was completed and classes opened. Simultaneously with this opening the two schools which had been maintained for some years in the old Maple Street Wallet Shop were closed. 63 HISTORY OF ATHOL This actually was the beginning of a building program of considerable magnitude. For within five years of the vote in 1889 to build the present Main Street School, four new build¬ ings were erected — Main Street, Highland, High School, and HIGHLAND SCHOOL HOUSE, 1881 Lake Park. Lucien Lord was the owner of the land on which the Lake Park School was built in 1894 and the contractor was Charles Burdick. Since much filling was required to grade the lot, material excavated from the School Street under¬ pass was used. 64 EDUCATION Atop Highland School in 1890 flew the Stars and Stripes, the first school house flag in Athol. It was a thoughtful gift from Arthur F. Tyler, one of our outstanding citizens, whose young children were students there and was in memory of his daughter Carrie D. Tyler who died the previous June. A week later dedication of the High School flag was held at Ellsworth's Skating Rink, the popular assembly hall of the town. These new buildings marked the passing of those one-room school houses which are cherished in memory by those of us who ever sat in upright awkwardness to learn the fundamental three R's. Pinedale and New Sherborn schools fell into this category when they were sold at public auction on April 24, 1909, and the Poor Farm School building was turned over to the Overseers of the Poor and moved across the road to become a part of the Almshouse equipment. Athol High School Athol parents had begun in the early 1800s to see the ne¬ cessity for higher education and several had sent their sons and daughters to New Salem Academy, Powers Institute, Athol Academy, and other similar schools. Opening at the Town Hall on April 22, 1828, Athol Academy enrolled students at $3.00 per quarter, with Josiah D. Crosby as instructor, but its life was a short one for no trace can be found of it after its first term. By arrangement with School Districts Nos. 1 and 7, Beriah W. Fay taught a "Select School" at Athol Depot for a number of years before the opening of the High School. Long a resi¬ dent of New Salem, he was a teacher in our lower grades. This "Select School" issued the first number of its school paper called the Autumnal Garland on October 16, 1853. The fathers of Athol High School are, in my mind, the three members of the School Committee in 1 853 who in their annual report recommended that a High School be established here. Rev. Samuel F. Clarke, pastor of the Old First Church, the pio¬ neer historian of Athol, and Chairman of the Board, undoubted¬ ly wrote the report for the Board. Lyman W. Hapgood, who nearly twenty years before had removed here from Barre and long a power with which to be reckoned in Athol, was a man of vision and much public spirit. Dr. George D. Colony, a prac¬ ticing physician for a generation before his removal to Fitch¬ burg, resided directly opposite our present post office building and represented the lower or factory village on the Board. A graduate of Dartmouth, he saw the need here for a high school and did not hesitate to speak his mind. 65 HISTORY OF ATHOL Although there was much agitation favorable to the school yet it was not until the state census of 1855 revealed that our population had so increased that statute law required that a High School be established that the town officially took affirma¬ tive action regarding it, and then a bitter rivalry between the two villages made the selection of a site a difficult one. Perhaps no single incident in the whole history of the town has caused such bitterness. At five different town meetings this was the principal topic of discussion. It was first voted to HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING 1856 -1 894 erect the building on the old Turnpike, now School Street, at a point near where Beacon Street now runs. As this was not satisfactory to the Upper Village, a town meeting was quickly called and the vote rescinded. At the town meeting held May 3, 1856 I have been told that the confusion was so great it was impossible to make accurate count of the votes in the hall, so the voters were marched out onto the vacant lot north of the Town House and lined in opposing rows to be counted. The final vote to locate the building on its present site was 1 24 to 118, which shows how closely the town was divided in the matter. Three hundred dollars was paid to Rebecca Kendall for the two acres of land comprising the High School House lot, and the contract was let to Skinner and Bigelow to complete the building for $2,575. Finished in 1857, this building was ultimately removed in 1892 to No. 440 School Street, where it 66 EDUCATION now stands occupied as a dwelling. Evidently the school wasnot at first supplied with water for in May, 1859 the Town voted! that a well be dug on the High School House lot and a pump* put in. It is hard for us in this day to realize the extreme bitterness that entered into the location of this high school building. Prominent among those in the minority in this matter were four men who felt their defeat most keenly. John C. Hill, long a leader of the lower village in all its con- troversies, yielded little by little until finally he made the statement that if they would move the building one foot fur¬ ther west, he would be content, but the majority refused ta move an inch and he went down to defeat. Nathaniel Richardson was elected to the school committee for the majority felt that the minority should be represented in this great enterprise. But Mr. Richardson would have nothing to do with it. Upon his declination, Sylvanus E. Twichell, then proprietor of the Pequoig House, was elected but he likewise declined, which left the committee made up entirely of resi¬ dents of the upper village. So intense was the bitterness existing in town that Abner Smith and Ozi Kendall each refused to enter their eligible daughters in the school "away uptown" and sent them to Greenfield. In this first high school building for thirty-six years Athol boys and girls attended classes. I recall most vividly how the school looked and some of the experiences in my early life. There were the two grammar school rooms on the first floor with Harlan P. Townsend presiding over the lower grade and Ellen M. Bigelow guiding the higher one. I see the winding stairway, the only entrance to the second floor; the small reci¬ tation room in the front of the building and the large main room in the rear; the double desks carved with the names of many of the sons of Athol including my own; the boys on the' east side and the girls on the west side of the room; the coal: stove near the entrance and the wood burning "barrel" stove in the northwest corner of the room; the kerosene lamps used semi-occasional ly for evening meetings; the principal's desk at the south end of the room on a raised platform. From this platform the desk was removed on Friday afternoons and we stood more alone than on a desert isle as we rendered our declamations. 67 HISTORY OF ATHOL More than any other person it fell upon Rev. John F. Norton to organize the high school and lay out its program. Pastor of the Evangelical Congregational Church from 1852 to 1867 and a member of the school committee seven years during that period, he began his duties in 1856. Working with him were Rev. Nathaniel H. Martin and Dr. George D. Colony. When the high school building was approaching com¬ pletion, Mr. Norton visited the District Schools to inquire for liike ly students. Of those far enough advanced to warrant admission to the new school, he asked a few questions and thus passed upon the applicants. The Town had appropriated the munificent sum of $600 for the entire maintenance of the school so the committee could not pay a very extravagant salary and were consequently hampered in their choice of an instructor. A pioneer effort then, the school had not the momentum of a going concern. George A. Wheeler was engaged as the first principal, and was expected to follow the course of study laid cut by Rev. Norton. After six weeks' effort it became evident that the job was too large for the new instructor and at the request of the Committee, Mr. Wheeler resigned. Then came a long line of successors. Farwell F. Fay of New Salem succeeded Mr. Wheeler as the second principal of the school. Mr. Fay is best remembered here because of his military record, for he went out from here in 1862 as Captain of Co. E, 2d Massachusetts Infantry, in which Company so many Athol men saw service in the War of the Rebellion. Subsequently he practiced law here and in Boston. Succeeding Mr. Fay, Mr. D. D. Leavitt of Grantham, New Hampshire conducted the school in a most satisfactory man¬ ner, three terms in all. He called some of the more advanced scholars to his aid as assistants. One of these was Dr. James Oliver, who served as assistant in our school for several terms. The reports of that period state, "The Vocal Music of the High School under the direction of Mr. James Oliver has been ex¬ cellent." Dr. Oliver on Alumni occasions used to speak of himself as the most invited man present for he was not only a former teacher of the school, but a former student, the hus¬ band of a former student, a member of the School Committee, a former School Superintendent, and a parent and grandparent of members of our Association. For two terms succeeding Mr. Leavitt's service the school was taught by Mr. Horace Toothaker of Holden, Maine. His 68 EDUCATION assistant, Hon. Henry H. Sprague, was well known to many of us. His long career in Boston as a member of the Legislature and President of the Senate gave him a state wide reputation. He was one of the sons of Athol of whom we were justly proud. Following Mr. Toothaker, who is most pleasantly spoken ot by students of those days, came George B. Towle, who taught the school three terms in 1859 and 1860. He was not em¬ inently successful in his work and failed of reappointment by the Committee. Miss Sarah Ann Lewis, who passed away in 1937 over ninety years of age, enjoyed telling about the school curriculum of her day. There were no separate classes and each scholar was allowed a wide choice in the subjects studied. Increased popu¬ larity seemed to result if the student stressed the subjects in which the principal was most proficient. When Miss Lewis was first in the school the teacher was George B. Towle whose great interest was botany. She with the others majored in that subject and roamed the fields and woods for specimens. Then came A. J. Lathrop and L. S. Burbank each with a special interest in languages. Miss Lewis and the others then studied Latin and French. Andrew J. Lathrop who came to the school in the fall of 1860 was a native of Boston and a graduate of Harvard Col¬ lege, Class of 1 859. Previous to coming to Athol he had taught in New Salem Academy for a time. After four terms' service he retired to accept a position in Westboro, Massachusetts. For many years he was the Librarian at Waltham, Mass. He was a success as an instructor but his service with us was in those stirring days at the outbreak of the Civil War when the public mind was much agitated by National Affairs and he failed somewhat in his management of the school. Succeeding Mr. Lathrop came Mr. L. S. Burbank, a man of more mature years who had taught a select school in Athol previous to the organization of the High School. At the out¬ break of the rebellion he was teaching in the South but his sympathy with the Northern cause made his removal impera¬ tive. With his experience and ability he proved a marked success as an instructor although enlistments in the army and the general upheaval caused by the war diminished the school membership to some extent. Mr. Burbank taught longer than any of his predecessors as he remained here two full years. At the close of his sixth term he had an unfortunate experience with some of the scholars which resulted in the school's clos- 69 HISTORY OF ATHOL ing a week before the end of the term. Almond Smith and Charlie Bassett were concerned in this difficulty. Francis E. Tower of Petersham succeeded Mr. Burbank and taught here during the spring term of 1864. His service was satisfactory to all but the appropriated $500 for the high school that year did not warrant paying the salary he could command elsewhere, and after one term he was reluctantly allowed to depart. Dr. J. P. Lynde, Chairman of the School Committee in 1864- 67, was Superintendent of Schools in 1870, '71 and '72. I DR. JAMES P. LYNDE 1828 - 1890 remember many incidents in Dr. Lynde's long and useful career in Athol but mose vividly as Moderator of our Town meetings. Sereno E. Fay, once a teacher in Athol schools, was associated with Dr. Lynde in 1864-65 on the school board. For three years Edwin Ellis was a member also. These men had the problem of maintaining a High School during the days of in¬ flated war prices at the latter end of the Civil War with the princely sum of $500 public money. Succeeding Mr. Tower as principal and sole instructor came H. E. Morse of Chelmsford, but he failed in his management 70 EDUCATION and was dismissed at the end of the term. Dr. Lynde then induced Mr. H. F. Lane of Templeton to take charge. He had taught in Templeton for eight years and was able to restore order here and carry the work along to the general satisfaction of all until the last week of the second term of his teaching when he was thought to have been too severe in dealing with Edgar A. Smith, a pupil, and his resignation was demanded. Mr. Joel D. Miller came as teacher in the autumn of 1865. A native of Athol and a former student here, he was graduated from Williams College in 1864. The town appropriation had been increased so that there was $856 available for the main¬ tenance of the High School which allowed the Committee to allot $80 per month as the teacher's salary. Mr. Miller had much with which to contend for the school had become dis¬ organized and unpopular in the community. When he left a year and a half after beginning his duties he had done much to restore the school in the eyes of the community. Had Mr. Mill er chosen to remain here he undoubtedly could have retained his position for many years, but he felt the call to the ministry and therefore in the early months of 1867 resigned as teacher to become pastor of the Baptist Church at West Royalton. After a short pastorate he removed to Leominster where he entered journalistic work. In later years as a member of both branches of the Legislature and as a member of the State Board of Education, Rev. Miller rendered valuable ser¬ vice. Then came another series of unfortunate incidents. Oscar H. Stearns occupied the position as teacher for a few weeks and then on the advice of prominent citizens and the commit¬ tee suddenly left town, promising never to come back to Athol. In swift succession came H. Brown of Quincy who served for a time but did not prove to be the man needed; A. L. Gleason with but little if any better results; Stephen A. Snow who also failed to improve conditions materially; then Joseph F. Fielden who came very highly recommended and succeeded in better¬ ing conditions somewhat. But he soon became discouraged and retired from the position. Soon after he was ordained into the Baptist Ministry and for many years was a success as a minister. I knew of him as pastor at Winchendon and later at Littleton, Mass. Next in line, Mr. F. W. Bardwell, remained one term during which he succeeded in materially improving conditions. Sanford B. Cook of Petersham taught the entire school year of 1869-70 receiving for his work $810. Many in town re- 71 HISTORY OF ATHOL member this kindly gentleman and his quiet effective ways of handling what had come to be considered a most difficult school. Sitting calmly at his desk incessantly chewing his cud of tobacco, he proved a distinct success as Principal. Mr. Cook died in his native Petersham on November 24, 1903. His daughter, Mrs. Mabel Cook Coolidge, performed a distinct service to her native town of Petersham by writing a compre¬ hensive history of it, published in 1948. During the years of 1865 to 1870 there had been much criticism of the work of the School Committee in managing the schools. It was in March, 1868 that the town abolished the old district system and placed all the schools under full control of its school committee. Dr. James P. Lynde was chosen Superintendent for a time and when criticism of his activities became intolerable to him he resigned and was suc¬ ceeded by Dr. Oliver who after a few months removed from town for a time. Then it was decided to pay a substantial salary for a superintendent and Dr. Lynde was elected to that position at a salary of $450 per year.(22> Under his direction Mr. Fred F. Foster of Weare, New Hampshire succeeded Mr. Cook. At this time the Main Street building was remodelled into four rooms and the first floor of the High School divided so as to accommodate two schools. A man of small stature and nervous temperament, Mr. Foster proved equal to the task both of instructor and discipli¬ narian and the school prospered under him. After two years' service, he resigned to accept a more lucrative position and was succeeded by Mr. A. W. Bachelor of Boston who resigned after four terms to accept a position with larger salary attached to it at Danvers. At that particular time members of the School Board were elected yearly with no assurance of re-election at the end of the year. Henry A. Stearns was one who served in 1873. He was an accountant, quite a substantial man, who had two daughters. With Mr. Bachelor's cooperation, Mr. Stearns and those of the committee reorganized the high school and put it on a different basis. A regular course of study was adopted and arrangements made to have each scholar receive a diploma at the completion of the course. Thus during Mr. Bachelor's administration, with regular periods of graduation, was the founding of our Alumni Asso¬ ciation made possible. Municipal appropriations were at this (22) See Appendix 6 for list of Superintendents. 72 EDUCATION time sufficiently increased so that an assistant could again be employed and from his administration begins the period from which more than one instructor has been regularly employed. Mr. Bachelor in his declining years lived in Melrose, Massa¬ chusetts. George A. Black of Gardner was the first of the continuity of Assistants. He is spoken of as a good scholar and possessing a faculty to impart instruction. He served one term in 1873 and was succeeded by Emma L. Pierce of Royalston. Following Mr. Bachelor as Principal came George C. Pratt of Boston who served two terms and was in turn succeeded by Virgil M. Howard of Deerfield, who served two years, acting in the dual capacity of Superintendent of Schools and Principal of the High School. He was a native of Ware and a graduate of Yale College, Class of 1 851 . He had been principal of New Salem Academy for four years, of Barre High School a year, and Deerfield Academy for fifteen years before coming to Athol. Annie E. Knapp, afterwards Mrs. Fred H. Cheney, came as Assistant in 1874 and served the town three years. With Mr. Howard giving much of his time to the other schools, her duties were especially arduous. A general upheaval in the affairs of the schools occurred in 1876. None of the school committee was re-elected. Hav¬ ing brought the cost of the schools up to the stupendous sum of $8,768, overdrawing the appropriation by $1600 the Com¬ mittee was accordingly rebuked. There was a near riot over this extravagance. The new committee, pledged to keep with¬ in its appropriation of $6500, was compelled to dispense with the services of a Superintendent. In the general house cleaning Mr. Howard left town and E I lory A. Baldwin of Upton was en¬ gaged to fill the position. A graduate of Amherst College, Class of 1877, he stayed a year before resigning to study for the ministry. In a short time, however, he abandoned theology for mechanics and devoted the remainder of his life to mechanical pursuits. He died in Upton, Massachusetts on March 17, 1907. Until now no formal graduation exercises had been held. As one person expressed it, when the course was completed, the students simply stopped their learning and got out. In 1876 the first graduation exercises were held and from that time the active Alumni Association dates. The actual organ¬ ization of this association occurred on November 12, 1879 73 HISTORY OF ATHOL when the classes of 1 876, 'll , '18, and '19 elected John Gately as President and Fannie Carruth as Secretary. For the reunion of 1953 something over thirty-eight hundred notices were mailed to members, widely scattered and pursuing diversified occupations. Annually since the first one in Starr Hall on March 25, 1880, Alumni reunions have been held. In 1920 the Alumni Association promoted the organiza¬ tion of a Student Loan Fund called Athol High School Scholar¬ ship Association. At various times donations have been made to this fund by graduating classes and individuals thus provid¬ ing it with sufficient funds to make all student loans applied for and approved by its directorate. William G. Lord has served as President since its organiza¬ tion and Mrs. Bernice P. Stone served as Secretary until her death in 1951, being succeeded by Miss Margery Tyler; three men have served as Treasurer, Winfield H. Brock, Webb R. Avery and the present treasurer, Edward J. Herd. Late in 1938 this association became trustee under the will of Lizzie J. Stearns of a small endowment given in remem¬ brance of the school official long ago, and to be known as the Henry A. Stearns Scholarship Fund. The income from this fund is awarded annually to the then graduate whom the prin¬ cipal of the school designates as having attained the highest degree of scholarship and is the most worthy. Sidney P. Smith came to the school for three years, 1 877-80. He was a graduate of Amherst College, Class of 1874 and as an instructor was a success. In later years as our leading At- torney-at-Law, Representative in the Legislature, State Senator and nearly successful candidate for Congress, he became the best known man in our community. Hon. Lewis Parkhurst who succeeded Mr. Smith as Principal remained here a full year. Nothing but words of praise have come to me regarding Mr. Parkhurst's activities while here. In later years he was eminently successful as a publisher, being connected with Ginn & Company of Boston. He was a liberal contributor to Dartmouth College, his Alma Mater, and re¬ flected credit upon his Senatorial District which he represented most ably on Beacon Hill. His death occurred on March 28, 1949. Ellen M. Bigelow was a teacher here for over fifty years. When the high school opened she was teaching on Pleasant Street and from her school several students entered the High 74 EDUCATION School. For many years she taught the Advanced Grammar Grade in the High School Building where she prepared all the scholars who entered the High School. A wonderful instructor and a strict disciplinarian she was probably the most successful school teacher Athol ever employed. The town perpetuates her memory by the Ellen M. Bigelow School built in 1911. Some five years before the town had a most serious argument about ELLEN M. BIGELOW 1836 -1911 the site for this building. Finally it was voted to buy the west half of the Catholic Church lot. Four years elapsed before an¬ other corner of the old Drury Park was purchased for $4000 and preparations made to erect the school upon the site of the basement where the Roman Catholics had worshipped for many years. When school funds ran low in 1881 Miss Bigelow was en¬ gaged to give part of her time to the High School as Assistant to Mr. Parkhurst and thus is listed as one of the instructors of the Athol High School. This arrangement continued through the three terms when his successor, Benjamin F. Brown, taught the school. Mr. Brown was a native of Lowell, Vermont, and a graduate of Amherst College, Class of 1874. Previous to coming to Athol he had taught in Fitchburg for seven years. 75 HISTORY OF ATHOL His service here for six terms was satisfactory and the school committee reluctantly parted with his services when he left to become principal of the High School at Montpelier, Ver¬ mont. At one time he was the principal of Gibson Academy of Boston, and in the later years of his life was engaged in the manufacturing business in Fitchburg, where he died February zl, 1922. Kate L. Tower served as assistant from 1882 to 1887. By her kindly ways she won the affections of all and I would add my personal tribute to her as a teacher, for I remember the many ways in which she taught me to think for myself and to reason out a problem. As Mrs. Kate Tower Pinney she spent the evening of her life most pleasantly in Pasadena, California, beloved there as she was here, and passed away on December 24, 1939. Lewis McLellan Jackson came to the school as principal in the fall of 1883 and continued until the close of the spring term in 1886, when being mortally certain that he would not be reappointed he resigned his position. Mr. Jackson possessed many of the qualifications of an excellent teacher but his temper was eventually his undoing. As I look back upon those days I realize that our school at times would have tried the patience of a saint and so am inclined to cover with the mantle of charity certain incidents that I thought in those days I could never forgive and certainly have never forgotten. William H. Terrill taught here in 1887, '88, and '89. I re¬ member Mr. Terrill as a man of a rather weak personality, fairly efficient as a teacher and possessing to a great extent the qualities of forbearance and long suffering which his predecessor had lacked. His long prayers at the opening of the day's session were both a subject of jest and of dread by the students. Elizabeth Bridgeford who became an assistant in SeptemPer, 1887 remained until the close of the spring term in 1889. She had a most difficult position to fill as successor to the much beloved Kate Tower, but she was equal to the occasion and proved a most satisfactory teacher. As Mrs. Festus Amsden she was well known to many. William J. Rushmore taught six terms comprising the years 1890 and 1891. As an instructor he was a success but in the matter of discipline he was eminently successful. At the end of two years he resigned to accept a more lucrative position at Ware. As far as I can learn he is now in the real estate busi¬ ness in California. 76 ATHOL HIGH SCHOOL, 1686 HISTORY OF ATHOL From September, 1891 to June, 1893 George M. Strout was principal for six terms. An excellent teacher, he was unable to do his best work because of building conditions. During his administration the old building was removed to its present location and school held there for a time. Then came the open¬ ing of the new building in September, 1892 with Rev. A. E. Winship giving the address of dedication. With this opening came a change in the management of school affairs. The number of the School Committee was increased from three to six and all salaries connected with the office abolished. A superintendent was engaged to supervise the schools and a new era in our school history began. Before things had become adjusted Mr. Strout received a more attractive offer at Cohoes, New York, and he resigned his position to remove there. Be¬ fore his death on May 19, 1945 he resided in Cambridge, Massachusetts with his wife, who was Miss Mary Lang, a former assistant in our school. The "new" High School building erected in 1891 and 1892 at a cost of $25,000 was the culmination of a program of HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING 1895 - school building which began in 1889 with the erection of the present Main Street building. It was freely predicted at the High School dedication on Labor Day, 1892 that none then 78 EDUCATION living would see this building obsolete or inadequate for the needs of Athol, but alas how we err when we attempt to prophesy! The Alumni Association celebrated Columbus Day, which was not then a public holiday, in 1892 by presenting to the school a dozen memorials from the various classes then form¬ ing our Association. These memorials, some of them showing the marks of time, are still in the building and with subsequent additions serve as reminders of us who passed that way in the years which are gone. Flora E. Kendall of Leominster, who became Superintendent of Schools in the general upheaval, began her duties in 1893. Nearly twenty years had elapsed since Athol last had a Super¬ intendent of Schools and there was much adjusting of affairs before the system was running smoothly, but Miss Kendall proved equal to the task. When she retired from the position in June, 1897 she had our schools well organized with an ex¬ cellent standing throughout the state. Recognizing the need for business training, a Commercial Course was added to the High School curriculum at this time. Early in 1894 the town was much agitated over the doings of the School Committee. Being short of school rooms, they rented space in the Academy of Music and opened two schools there. Then it developed that because of these schools, no liquor license could be granted to the Pequoig House. Oblig¬ ingly the school committee closed the schools for a few days, the license was granted by the Selectmen, and the schools were promptly reopened. This subterfuge was scathingly denounced by "Indignation" writing for the Chronicle, and the action of the town officials equally strongly defended by "Fair Play" writing for the Trans¬ script. Before another year rolled around the Lake Park School had been built and the use of the Academy rooms discontinued. The public never knew who these two anonymous writers were, but after nearly three score years we can see no harm in dis¬ closing their identity. "Indignation" was my Mother, Mary B. Lord, and "Fair Play" was Henry M. Humphrey. F. C. Avery may be rated I think as the most beloved of any of our High School principals. When he took charge of the school there were seventy-six scholars enrolled and when he departed for other fields of labor, there were one hundred and seventy on the rolls. His first year he had two assistants and his last year, five. 79 HISTORY OF ATHOL John F. Roache became Principal in September, 1904 and continued until June, 1906. Like some of his predecessors he was not temperamentally fitted to cope with the dispositions of some of the Athol students. The personnel of the School Committee was changed at the 1906 election to some extent with the avowed purpose of making a change in the High School and with the close of the school year, Mr. Roache severed his connection with Athol. As an instructor he was all that should be expected. Had his temperament been some¬ what different he might have remained here years longer than he did. Mary L. Epps served as Assistant in the school from 1897 to 1905. Efficient as an instructor and beloved as a teacher, she held the position of assistant longer than anyone else has since the school was opened, her eight years of service being the longest of anyone connected with the school except Mr. Avery. Ernest L. Collins who came in the fall of 1906 and remained here until June, 1910 was successful in every way. He was most reluctantly allowed to depart to accept a position in Quincy to which a much larger salary was attached. He still remains in Quincy, respected there as he was here. William J. E. MacDougal, principal four years from 1910 to 1914, is now Superintendent of Schools at West Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Perhaps the most enduring incident connected with his administration was the formation of an Athletic Coun¬ cil which is still functioning and a great factor in the athletic work of the school. He also established a system of account¬ ing and auditing for the various classes which is still in force. He is most pleasantly remembered in Athol. For several years the Committee insisted that they must have some relief from the overcrowded conditions in the High School. They proposed at first that the "Catholic Church" lot be purchased and a new High School building erected there leaving the "old" building for the lower grades, but the town was reluctant to abandon the old location and after much agi¬ tation it erected the present Riverbend Street building to relieve the congestion in the High School building. As the school grew and conditions again became acute the committee asked the town to enlarge the old building which was done in 1915 by the addition of wings. For this the town voted on January 11, 1915 to expend $50,000. Meredith G. Williams came to the school in 1914 and re¬ signed to enter business in 1920. He served here during the 80 EDUCATION entire period of the Great War and won the esteem of our people by his effective cooperation during all those strenuous days. Affliction came to him in the closing days of the war in the loss of his wife in the influenza epidemic. His service as principal was the longest of any save Mr. Avery, and that of his successor. He died in Bridgewater May 26, 1953. Although much additional housing had been provided yet within four years there was not enough adequate space for all the school children. So the town took by eminent domain of E. V. Wilson an acre of land on the east side of Silver Lake Street for a school house lot, and thereon built the Silver Lake Street School. Within three years the town voted to add two rooms to this school and to the Sanders Street School. At an acrimonius meeting on February 16, 1920 the town appropriated $105,000 for schools over the protest of the School Committee which insisted they could not wisely use over $98,800. Again in 1931 public opinion was curbed some¬ what. James H. Macintosh, Chairman of an Investigation Com¬ mittee, made his report on the proposition for a new high school house. While recognizing the need, the Committee did not recommend any action "at this time." Nathaniel A. Cutler was chosen as principal in 1 920. Quietly and efficiently he carried on his work. He died on June 1 1, 1941. Winfield Scott Ward of Woburn, Superintendent of Schools for thirty-four years succeeding Miss Kendall in 1897, was exceeded in length of service by only a few, and the hold he had upon our affections can never be excelled. Kindly, effi¬ cient, progressive, he was the great architect of our present school system. Two years after his retirement in 1931 this venerable gentleman died at the age of 72. As Mr. Ward's successor, Leon M. Farrin was Superintendent from August 11, 1931 until he resigned in 1935. At that time George S. Goodell of Mansfield became Superintendent for two years, resigning in April, 1937. It was during his term of office that the town called a special meeting on November 30, 1936 for the purpose of financing repairs and additions to the present Junior and Senior High School buildings. By 344 to 87 it was voted, with the aid of a federal grant, to raise and appropriate $305,926.80, "and the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be and here¬ by is authorized to borrow the sum of $170,000, and to issue bonds or notes of the Town therefore." 81 HISTORY OF ATHOL J. Williams Beal Sons of 185 Devonshire Street, Boston were the architects, and on February 20, 1937 the plans were accepted by the Building Committee, Rev. Everett E. Jackman, George S. Goodell, and Webb R. Avery. Appointed by the Moderator, four others also served on this Committee, Edwin W. SCOTT WARD 1861 - 1933 A. Clare, Dr. John H. Meany, Harry M. Butler, and John W. Campbell. The construction work of both buildings raised many problems for Ihe Architect and the Committee as in the remodelling many unforseen matters arose. As a result of all this work, the Athol High School possesses laboratories for chemistry, physics, and biology. The House¬ hold Arts Department has a sewing room and equipment for both sewing and cooking. There is a well equipped cafeteria to accommodate two hundred pupils at a time, a combination assembly hall and gymnasium, with shower and locker rooms, and a combination study hall and library. In the midst of this building program upon the resignation of Mr. Goodell as Superintendent the School Board chose William A. Spooner as his successor. Mr. Spooner had come to the school from Danvers in September 1918 as sub-master and had been a most valued aid to the school principal. He retired 82 EDUCATION voluntarily July 1, 1949. In addition to his school duties he had rendered much service in Athol's World War II activities one of these being membership on the War Historical Com¬ mittee which gathered the data and published the book "Athol in World War II." After Mr. Cutler's death Donald Dike was at once given charge over the High School as acting principal and as such and later as principal he continued until July 1, 1953 when he voluntarily retired and was succeeded by Joseph E. Yukins of Westboro. The present Superintendent is Mr. E. Perley Eaton who began his duties on July 1, 1949. South Athol School While searching in my historical collection recently I ran across the record book of the old South Athol School district. The record begins December 3, 1805 when the district was No. 16 in New Salem, and is continuous until March 8, 1864. Somewhere about 1808 a division was made and it became district No. 20. Apparently in 1816 the district was again divided as for a time the records are of both district No. 20 and No. 21. In 1837 the whole area was taken from New Salem and annexed to Athol when it was known as district No. 1 1 of this town, which remained its designation until the school district system was abolished. Apparently it was the rule to employ a male teacher, but this custom was changed at times as the record reads, "August 25, 1 806 — Voted to open a woman's school at the School house by the middle of September." Evidently Elizabeth Ray¬ mond kept the winter school that season for March 4, 1808 she receipts for $17.88 "for teaching school until this date." David Twichell was paid 77 cents for boarding the school mistress and Joel Adams received 7/9d "for boarding Elizabeth Raymond." "Voted to hire a school dame to teach the school" was re¬ corded on October 16, 1810, and Edward Smith "agreed to board the school dame for one dollar per week." On November 30, 1812 it was "voted to expend the remain¬ der of the money there is due the District in a Woman's School, or hire a woman to instruct the said school," but evidently the school mistress did not give full satisfaction, for on De¬ cember 16 this vote was reconsidered and it was "voted instead of hiring a Mrs. to hire a Master to instruct said school." 83 HISTORY OF ATHOL To build a new school and to sell the old one was voted January 6, 1825. Appropriations were $102.72 which with the $15.28 received for the old building, made $1 18.00 avail¬ able for the new edifice. In 1828 prices had fallen and Joel Adams boarded the master for "78 cents per week" but he soon tired of his bargain and was released from it when James Sanders agreed to board the master for 99 cents per week. Erastus Deane was the master in 1830 and Eunice L. Curtis kept the summer school. In 1834 two-thirds of the school money ($26.29) was spent for a winter school and one-third ($13.34) for a summer school. When the change of township and county lines came in 1837 there was a question of authority to call district meet¬ ing and the selectmen of Athol issued the call. At this meeting it was decreed that "every man get his wood (for the school) according to the scholars." In 1841 the fireplace was aban¬ doned and a stove bought for the school. Evidently some reactionaries objected to the innovation, but a majority was progressive, for in 1842 it was "voted to support the stove." Henry Gould kept the school in the winter of 1843-44 and was paid $29.75 for his services. Nathan Thayer boarded him for 92 cents a week. The succeeding winter William A. Perrey was the master. In 1845 a school census was ordered of all the children in the district over four and under sixteen at the first of May. That year the boarding of the master, Henry P. Stearns of Westminster, was put "up at the lowest bidder" and the con¬ tract was awarded to James J. Sanderson at $1 .08 per week. That winter Elmira Knight was school mistress, receiving $12 compensation. She was boarded at Joseph J. Parker's, he being "under obligation to fetch and carry the mistress." Other teachers through the years were: Mary A. Peckham, 1 847 Catherine H. Lincoln, 1847 Charlotte Dennis, 1848 Sarah A. Sanderson, 1849 Jane Goddard, 1849 Rebecca Flint, 1851-2 Fanny Kendall, 1851 Sarah Paine, 1 852-3 Mary E. Thorpe, 1 853 Miss Collins, 1 854 Phebe L. Andrews, 1855 Angelina Stratton, 1855 Adeline M. Bigelow, 1856 Harriet A. Stratton, 1 857 84 EDUCATION Ann Maria Bosworth, 1 858 Laura M. Stratton, 1 858 Harriet D. Goddard, 1859 Sarah E. Ellinwood, 1862 Helen F. Kendall, 1862 On February 2. 1916 ihe school house was destroyed by fire but in June of that year it was rebuilt. Today there is no school in South Athol, the building having been sold some fifteen years ago to Morgan Memorial. The pupils from that area are transported by bus to Athol, a distance of some six mi les. State Normal School Agitation Around the state election time of 1893 the city of Fitchburg and the town of Gardner began urging the State Board of Education to recommend that a state normal school be es¬ tablished in their respective municipalities. I well remember trying to find cut just what started this agitation and was told that some public official had suggested the need of another such school of which there were then five in the State, the latest one being at Worcester which had been put in operation a score of years before. Almost immediately after Fitchburg's agitation began, the Athol School Committee headed by Charles A. Chapman, its Chairman, called a meeting of Athol citizens and suggested that Athol become a contender for such a school. This Athol meeting was held in the High School room on November 16, 1893 and the School Board with Hon. Sidney P. Smith added as attorney and advisor were put in charge of Athol's campaign. Closely following Athol in this clamor for recognition came Barre (where the Westfield Normal School was organized by Horace Mann in 1839), Greenfield, Orange, Pittsfield, North Adams, and Winchendon. Dana, Royalston, Enfield and Greenwich all joined forces with Athol and urged our claims by petition. Athol Board of Trade which had been active for some five years previous to 1891 but was then decidedly dormant, came to life and entered its plea for this town. Several sites in Athol were proposed for the new school, a section of Lake Park and the property east of the High School being two of them. Mr. Charles W. Woodward offered to donate twenty-five acres of his pasture land west of Mt.. Pleasant Cemetery and north of the Swan Farm. 85 HISTORY OF ATHOL When the State Board of Education was interviewed re¬ garding the matter its members stated that when the agitation started it had no intention of recommending any additional normal school facilities but yielding to public clamor they gave a public hearing at the State House on December 21 at which hearing Athol's claim was argued at length. Pittsfield with¬ drew in favor of North Adams and Winchendon refrained from presenting its claim, the effect being to throw its support to Gardner. The agitation continued here for a few months but it soon became apparent that our chances were nil and the matter was soon forgotten or at least ceased to be a topic for general con¬ versation locally. Other places kept up the fight, the result being that before all the agitation died down four new Norma! Schools had been established in Massachusetts, nearly doubling these educational facilities in the Bay State. The first of these to open was that at Fitchburg in 1895 followed in 1897 by North Adams in February, Barnstable in September and Lowell in October. Around 1940 a legislative committee on state expenditures reported that there were far too many normal schools in the state and recommended that some be abolished or consoli¬ dated, but so great was the objection in the affected areas that nothing was accomplished. If we have today, with a population much larger than in 1894, too many State Teachers' Colleges, it is very apparent that the four schools established as a result of the agitation of 1893-4 in which Athol took an active part were far beyond the needs of the State and came into existence because of a wave of local rivalries and ambitions rather than from real need. Alumni Association The Alumni Association, started in 1879, is a strong organ¬ ization today and at its yearly meetings some three or four hundred attend. This group has an active interest both in the students and the high school building, in town affairs, and in creating public sentiment for the school. It is an incentive to students to carry on through graduation as well as an induce¬ ment to further study because of the Scholarship Association. Beginning in 1886 the association invited every tenth year to its meetings, all former members of the school, and all under graduates but the increase in number of eligibles has made such gatherings impractical in recent years. In the earlier years of the association it was only by the earnest efforts of a few (of whom I count Mr. Winfield H. 86 EDUCATION Brock the chief) that it carried on. Long years did Addie Smith Balcom, Class of 1878, serve as Secretary being succeeded by Mary A. Holton, Class of 1888 who served fifty-three years eventually declining re-election. Her successor, the present secretary is Miss Ruth M. Streeter, Class of 1916 and one of the teaching staff of the school. Thus over a period of more than two centuries the town has in good measure fulfilled the educational requirements laid down by the Great and General Court of Boston — "one house lot to be held for the support of schools." Thousands of dollars have been spent on good instruction, equipment, and buildings to the end that our gradutes have become more un¬ derstanding citizens in this American way of life. To some of us out of school many more than three score years it seems a long time since we climbed the hill, but we appreciate the knowledge gained in the schools which have helped us much in our struggle through life. 87 CHAPTER VIII AMERICAN REVOLUTION ON the lips of almost every settler of this American Colony were the new words "Loyalist" or "Tory," spoken at first furtively then in open indignation as the case might be. This uneasinesss grew until with loud voice our people proclaimed "taxation without representation" as tyranny. Was not England pulling the economic purse string a bit too tightly? Just how much oppressive regulation could we, a young nation, assimilate before the breaking point? There was the Sugar Act in 1764, the Stamp Act the following year, the Boston Massacre in 1770, and the Boston Tea Party in 1773. Slowly these tiresome acts of the Crown and other deep- seated causes stirred our people into open revolution which for eight long years cast the shadow of war over our homes. Yet these birth pains were not without reward for in the end we were free to make an American way of life for ourselves and for our children. Isolated Athol in the meantime was not too involved with the threat of war. Belatedly in May, 1770 there was granted "six pounds to procure a stock of ammunition for the town" thus complying with a Colonial Act, but a new meeting house seems to have been the all absorbing subject for consideration. It is almost unbel evable that a topic which was so agitating all New England fails of a single mention on either town or church records. Even Petersham, our next neighbor on the south, was in constant turmoil. Her minister was forcibly ejected from his pulipit and ultimately the Loyalists of the town were be- seiged in a dwelling house to which they had fled for refuge. Thereafter they were practically under military surveillance. Joseph Lee of Concord was an acknowledged Tory at that period, and was eventually held a prisoner in his own house by the Patriots of his town. From his diary I learn that in the earlier days of the uprising against the acts of parliament he came into this area on a journey. First he visited his nephew and namesake, Rev. Joseph Lee of Royalston. Next he so¬ journed with Dr. Ebenezer Hartshorn in Athol, our first physi¬ cian since Dr. Lord's removal of whom we have any record. Then 88 AMERICAN REVOLUTION he called on Rev. Peter Whitney of Petersham, Col. Timothy Ruggles of Hardwick, and finally upon John Murray, Esq. of Rutland. History does not reveal any Loyalist leanings on the part of Rev. Lee and only by inference is Dr. Hartshorn implicated, but the others upon whom this Tory emissary called were Loyalists to the extreme. It is significant that when this anti¬ loyalist agitation was at its height in Massachusetts and most of those accused of holding such views were seeking safety under the protection of the British Army in Boston, Dr. Hart¬ shorn found Athol's atmosphere inclement and on October 1 8, 1774 sold his home here, the present Ellinwood Country Club, and removed to Rindge, New Hampshire. When preparing the soldier's list for our Memorial Building I sought of Albee Smith, once of North Orange, some informa¬ tion concerning soldiers from that section and was told by him that he had no patriotic ancestry as his local forebears of that period were named Ward "and all the Wards were Tories." Of course that is not literally true for Gen. Artemas Ward of Shrewsbury was the choice of Massachusetts for the Command of the entire Continental Army. It was he who commanded our troops at Bunker Hill and continued in command until Gen. Washington came on from Virginia to take over. While his son, Ithamar Ward, probably did not come here to reside until near the close of the Revolution, yet he did even¬ tually settle on Ward Hill, now in Phillipston, then well within the limits of this town. He was for some time the owner of the mills at what we now know as Riceville. Capt. Ward lived and died on his Phillipston farm and there his sons, Artemas and Trowbridge, popularly known as the "bachelor Wards," lived to well within my memory. But regarding another Ward I can substantiate Albee Smith's statement. One of the very early taverns, described in Chapter XVI, was at about 7 1 5 Pleasant Street, and opened for business by Ensign George Cutting in 1754. Cutting's Tavern became famous in this part of the country even after its change in ownership. Eventually in 1770 it was the property of Beriah Ward. Ward's house soon became more or less notorious as a gath¬ ering place of the Tories which led the patriotic men of Athol virtually to besiege him. This was easy to do for his inn was well situated on a stage route at a busy crossroads. The well established tradition is that a guard was maintained at all four 89 HISTORY OF ATHOL points of the compass around this hostelry, thus hampering if not entirely preventing communication with his associates. Had Mr. Ward lived and continued his loyalist activities we might have more serious consequences to chronicle, but his death on October 23, 1773 seems to have closed the incident. Regardless of these known activities neither Town nor Church records have any incidents on their pages of the great excitement which abounded in all Massachusetts. They do record continued disagreement over the new meeting house and the disposition of the old one as well as a strenuous oppo¬ sition to the proposed Templeton West Parish which despite our protests was incorporated in February, 1774. This took out of the jurisdiction of our church and of the town for ecclesi¬ astical taxation the entire easterly portion of Athol. The church records tell of the withdrawal of a few to unite with the new Baptist Church just forming in the northerly part of the town and reports at some length a marked division in the church and congregation over the innovation of providing psalm books for the singing instead of having them “deaconed out“ two lines at a time as formerly, which led to the resigna¬ tion of good Deacon David Twichell. Concerning the burning issues of the day our records are silent but we must not assume that Athol was ignorant or ob¬ livious of those momentous issues. Tradition tells us that when New England in general agreed to abstain from the use of tea until the obnoxious tax should be removed, Athol housewives almost to a woman complied with this policy and the few weak willed ones who clandestinely brewed an occasional pot of their favorite beverage were soon ferreted out and so held up to public scorn that they thereafter became abstainers. Since incorporation in 1762 Athol had been entitled to send a representative to the Great and General Court which, until pre-revolution hostilities became acute, exercised much the same function as the legislature of today but neither town nor state records disclose that she availed herself of this privilege for more than a decade. Boston asked concerted action by the various towns of the Province in November, 1773 but we know of no compliance here. When the Port of Boston was closed by Gen. Gage on June 1, 1774 and word came that our right to self government by town meeting had been abolished by Parliament, then Athol citizens were assembled in what must have been an illegal gathering on July 7 and again on August 25, 1774. They 90 AMERICAN REVOLUTION joined with other towns in the Colony voting an embargo of British goods beginning September 1 . To this end a Committee of Correspondence was appointed consisting of Dea. Aaron Smith, William Bigelow, Josiah Goddard, Capt. John Haven, Ephrium Stockwell, James Oliver, Abner Graves, James Strat¬ ton, Jr., and Daniel Lamson. Representatives of this Committee met at Worcester twice in August, 1774 with like Committee¬ men from other towns in the County. After much debate the following seven articles were adopted; later accepted and ordered on record by the freeholders and other inhabitants of Athol, duly assembled and convened, at an open Town Meet¬ ing on September 2: "1 — RESOLVED that we bear all true allegiance to His Majesty King George 3rd and that we will to the utmost of our power defend his person, crown, and dignity, and at the same time we disclaim any jurisdiction in the Com¬ mons of Great Britain over His Majesty's subjects in America. "2 — RESOLVED that the charter of this province is the basis of our allegiance to His Majesty, wherein on his part, the royal faith is plighted to protect and defend us, his American subjects, in the free and full enjoyment of each and every right and liberty enjoyed by his subjects in Great Britain. His American subjects likewise bear him true allegiance. "3 — RESOLVED that we have within ourselves the exclusive right of originating each and every law respecting our¬ selves, and ought to be on an equal footing with his Majesty's subjects in Great Britain. "4 — RESOLVED that an attempt to vacate said charter by either party without the consent of the other, has a tendency to dissolve the union between Great Britain and this province, to destroy the allegiance we owe to the King, and to set aside the sacred obligations he is under to his subjects here. "5 — RESOLVED that the right lately assumed by the Parlia¬ ment of Great Britain over this province, wherein they claim a disposal of our lives and property and to alter and disannul our charter, without our consent is a grave and high handed claim of arbitrary power. "6 — RESOLVED that as Parliament have not only adopted the aforementioned principles, but have actually put them into practice, by taxing the Americans and most cruelly blocking up the harbor of Boston in order to force this province to a submission to such power and have further proceeded to pass several acts to change our free Constitution in such manner which if effected, will render our lives and property wholly insecure; therefore 91 HISTORY OF ATHOL "7 — RESOLVED that it is the indisputable duty of every American and more especially of this province, to unite in every virtuous opposition that can be devised in order to save ourselves and posterity from inevitable ruin, and in the first place we greatly approve of the agreement entered and entering into through this and the neigh¬ boring provinces, for the non-consumption of British goods: this we apprehend will have a tendency to con¬ vince our brethren in Britain that more is to be gained in the way of justice from our friendship and affection than by extortion and arbitrary power. "We apprehend that the balance of our trade with Britain has been greatly in their favor, that we can do much better without it than they can, and that the inner case of such trade heretofore was greatly occasioned by the regard and affection borne by the Americans to their brethren in Britain, such an agreement if strictly adhered to will greatly prevent extravagance, save our money, encourage our own manufactures, and reform our manners." An eighth resolve passed on at Worcester but omitted from our town records recommended that each town in the Province adopt measures of protest. The Legislature having fled from Boston held its session in Salem and advised the various towns to prepare for any emer¬ gency. They especially suggested that a company of Minute Men should be formed in each town, armed and equipped, ready to resist any further acts of repression. Complying with this on September 29, 1774 our town voted to enlist, train, and equip thirty Minute Men. Ichabod Dexter was Captain of this Company and Thomas Lord was "Clark/' The Company's muster roll has been preserved in the Lord family. From its membership the group of men were made up who marched to the seaboard on the so-called Lexington Alarm. Known to every American is the famous rids of Paul Revere, the Boston silversmith, on the eighteenth of April in '75. In frenzied haste through that dark night he rode to our little villages north of Boston to warn that the British soldiers were bent on destroying the military stores at Concord. We have no recorded information of just when or how the "Lexington Alarm" reached Athol. It was in Worcester and Fitchburg about noon on April 19, 1775, but Greenfield held a town meeting that afternoon and adjourned without any re¬ corded notice of the momentous news so it evidently had not reached that far. When the news came we do know that an alarm gun was fired and soon a motley crew of Minute Men were headed eastward, commanded by Capt. Ichabod Dexter. A local tradition is that it was not until they entered Middlesex 92 AMERICAN REVOLUTION County that they learned of the retreat of the British to Boston, but they pressed on and ere long were in that disorganized throng assembled at Cambridge. After a few days order was brought out of the chaos; some of the men returned to their farms, while others formally enlisted in a new company organ¬ ized by Capt. Dexter. From that April day in 1775 until the Colonial Army was disbanded at the close of the war, men of Athol were constantly in the service, yet the ardor of New England in the prosecution of the war seems to have cooled after the evacuation of Boston on March 17, 1776 and the return of Arnold's unsuccessful army. Except for a comparatively small British occupation in Rhode Island, New England was free of the British forces, a feat accomplished largely by the valor of New England men. Now let New York, the Jerseys, and Pennsylvania do likewise and all would be well. To be sure our families were assisting in maintaining the army by furnishing beef and clothing to¬ gether with an occasional recruit, but their big job was done and they were comparatively secure. Thus exists a great dearth of records of enlistments through 1776 and the early months of 1777. Around New York the Colonial Army met repeated defeats. The short enlistment terms of the soldiers expired and they returned to their New England homes leaving Washington with his dwindling army in a condition where they could not hope successfully to face the British in open conflict. Slowly they were obliged to withdraw before the on-sweeping horde of English troops and Hessian mercenaries, from Long Island to New York, to Harlem Heights, to White Plains, to North Castle, to Newark, to Princeton, and finally on December eighth with scarcely three thousand men remaining in his army, Wesh- ington withdrew his forces to the west bank of the Delaware River where he rested in comparative security. Congress failed to provide properly for even this small army and it was a dis¬ heartened lot of soldiers camped in the heart of “The Jerseys" that Christmas Day of 1776. Blazoned across the pages of history is that successful as¬ sault on the British Army encamped across the river on the Trenton side of the Delaware. None but hardy New England fishermen could have guided the small boats in that driving snow storm again and again across a river running with float¬ ing ice, but it is recorded that the transfer was made without serious mishap. This was indeed “a glorious day for our country." Though woefully incomplete our records show that 93 HISTORY OF ATHOL at least one Athol man, Luther Seaver, was with Washington's Army at that time. The town of Templeton and we share honors in his service record. Suddenly a great fear spread over New England. In August, 1777 alarm guns were fired in Athol and all the cit¬ izens assembled to be told that Burgoyne who had gone to England after the triumph in Quebec Province was to return with a new army, to land perhaps at Montreal and sweep south¬ ward some said to descend the Connecticut Valley to tide water. Others asserted that the plan was to lead his army through the Lake Champlain area to Albany, there to be joined by Howe who would sail up the Hudson from New York. Barry St. Leger with a mixed army of English and Indians would come eastward along the Mohawk Valley thus cutting New England off from land communication with her sister states and sub¬ duing her. Then came the greatest uprising America has ever known. The action of Athol is outstanding if not typical of the ex¬ citement of the times. With a total population, men, women, and children of less than 800 souls as best can be estimated, this town started three companies to the front. First to hasten to New York State border was Capt. Stockwell's Company, the successor of Capt. Dexter's Minute Men, soon to be followed by Capt. Oliver's Company originally planned for service in the Jerseys but diverted in the emergency, and last went Capt, Thomas Lord's Company. Reaching Williamstown Capt. Lord learned of the Army's success at Bennington and thereupon offered his men the op¬ tion of joining one of the other companies or returning home. A few accepted the discharge but most of them pressed on and served through the Saratoga Campaign which proved to be the turning point of the war. Following this success some continued on to the southward while others came with Bur- goyne's defeated army as prisoners of war, conducting the main army to the Rutland Barracks and the officers to Cam¬ bridge. Jonathan Kendall, one of the Chestnut Hill settlers, had joined Capt. Oliver's Company in September, 1777. Return¬ ing home after seeing the proud British General lay down his arms in Saratoga, he came through the woods west of his house to find his wife just finishing the harvesting. He was so bedraggled and unkempt that his daughter who espied him first fled to the house thinking him an Indian. 94 AMERICAN REVOLUTION Taken from the Reports, various actions by the town dur¬ ing the war show the changes taking place in our form of government, and our ecomonic life. March 6. 1775 — Athol holds its last town meeting called "in His Majestie's name." June, 1775 — The old militia company was disbanded and a new company of 25 men formed. Before the war Athol's militia had been reorganized by Capt. John Haven of Chestnut Hill. Apparently his military title was acquired in Framing¬ ham as we have no record of any service here which would previously have entitled him to it. July, 1776 — Tradition says that when the Declaration of Independence was received in Athol that the people assembled at the meeting house and from the steps that immortal docu- mnt was read to them paragraph by paragraph. September 25, 1776 — Athol approved the writing of a State Constitution to be submitted to the towns for approval before it became operative. April, 1777 — The town voted a bounty of twenty-four pounds for all enlistments for three years in the Continental Army. On June 9th six pounds were added to this offer. Salt seems to have become scarce because of the war and a committee was chosen to ration the town's allotment which was brought from Boston at an expense of £15.6.6. Presumably the authorities at Boston asked in 1777 for a statement of the services rendered and pay received (or agreed upon) for the men in the differnt towns for we find many of them making such a statement. Some of the towns listed the men who had served and thus provided several names not found on the State Records but Athol seems to have made simply a financial schedule of pay which I give below: At a Town Meeting held October 9, 1777 "Chose Joseph Cummings, George Kelton, Nathaniel Babbitt, Wm. Oliver, Jr., Robert Oliver, James Goddard a committee to estimate service done by the soldiers." ATHOL IN THE STATE OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY The men for the war years 1775, 1776, 1777 £ s. d. The Minute Men to Cambridg . 0 6 0 The 8 mos. to Cambridg — per month . 0 6 0 The 6 weeks to Roxbury — per month . 0 4 0 The 2 months to Dorchester — per month . 0 6 0 95 HISTORY OF ATHOL The 12 months to Dorchester — per month . The 7 months to Nantastic — -per month . The 5 months to York — per month . The 4 months to Ticondergora — per month . The 4 months to Dorchister — per month . The 2 months to terreton — per month . The 3 months to the Jarseys — per month ... The 2 months to Road island — per month . The 6 weeks men to Bennington — per month The allarum men to Williamton — 3 days . The 3 months men to Salletogue — per month The men to fort Edward — 4 weeks . 0 10 0 0 2 0 0 18 0 1 6 0 0 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 8 0 1 0 0 0 6 0 0 15 0 0 18 0 December 2, 1111 — Raised 1 128 pounds, 16 shillings to pay the extraordinary charges of the war. January 22, 17J8 — Voted to accept the articles of Confed¬ eration and Perpetual Union between the several states of America, as drawn up by the Congress and make reports to the General Court thereof. On the question of granting money to pay the town's proportion of a loan ordered by the General Court, voted to dismiss. ApriS 9, 1778 — To take into consideration a new plan or form of government for this state as agreed upon by the con¬ vention for said State on February 28, 1778. To accept or not to accept of the same, or otherwise to act thereon as they shall then think proper. One hundred and one voters voted not to accept the new plan of government as first presented to the town. Chose John Haven, Aaron Smith, Wr. Bigelow, Daniel Lamson, Josiah Goddard, Hiram Newhall, Ephrium Stockwell, James Oliver, James Stratton, a committee to take into consideration and point out what amendment they think proper on said form of government and report to the town. To consider the circumstances of the Continental soldiers that belonged to or went for this town, and are engaged in the Continental service for the term of three years, and to grant them such relief as they shall think proper for the sup¬ port of them and their families. Chose John Haven, Aaron Smith, Jesse Kendall, a committee to supply the Continental soldiers with the necessaries of life according to the act of Court. Ma e-sh 22, 1779 — Voted to direct the assessors not to rate those men nor their estates that have gone into the Continental Army for three years. May 17, 1779 — Voted to allow to Capt. Lord three pound eight pence for hiring men to go into the war, and the same amount to Capt. Oliver and 1 pound four pence to Caleb Smith for the same service. i 96 AMERICAN REVOLUTION June 24. 1779 — We find a suspicion of resistance to con¬ stituted authority when it was "voted that the town will bear their part of the fine that shall be laid on the officers, if any,, for the neglect of not drafting the men being desired by the town to bear for the present." "Put to vote to see whether the town will comply with the terms that these men offer to go. for — passed in the negative." And at this same meeting although several large appropria¬ tions for soldiers' pay and bounty were voted down yet at the close of the meeting it was "voted that the Selectmen borrow money if any be wanted and pay the soldiers." July 12, 1779 — Voted to raise 4500 pounds to pay the- debts of the town. At the outbreak of the Revolution when the Colony refused to submit longer to British domination, it continued the Legis¬ lature much as in former days, but it was without any basic law. The Legislature sought to supply this but when its rec¬ ommendations were submitted to the people, the proposed Constitution was emphatically rejected. Early in 1779, after four years of war, the voters of the towns were asked to authorize the calling of a convention in Cambridge to propose another Constitution. This being au¬ thorized, the Legislature in June of that year called for the election of delegates, each town to have as many delegates as it was entitled to send as representatives. Athol, having more than one hundred families, was entitled to two and Petersham to three. Though Athol's Town Clerk failed to make a record of our choice, the Journal of the Con¬ vention reveals that this town sent to that body Capt. Ephraim Stockwell and Esq. Josiah Goddard. For seven days, beginning September 1, 1779, they met with the other delegates, chose James Bowdoin (afterwards Governor) as President, appointed committees on various topics to be considered, and adjourned until October 28. In all, this Massachusetts Constitutional Convention held six sessions of about 7 days each, finally dis¬ solving on Friday, June 16, 1780. Athol allowed the accounts of her delegates, Capt. Stockwell receiving £289 and Esq. Goddard £286. The doings of this body were accepted by the voters and al¬ though many times amended are today the basic law of this Commonwealth. Accustomed as we are today to election by ballot, volum¬ inous in size, and requiring a good amount of concentration irt 97 HISTORY OF ATHOL putting the X in the right place, it is interesting to note in these early days of the Constitutional Conventions that voting procedure was by casting the vote into a hat. Hence the Mod¬ erator "held the hat," or "turned the hat" when voting ceased. Meagre war records preclude listing the various calls and the names of the men who responded in each case. Although the military service of all of our 224 known soldiers in this war is readily available to the historical student without rep¬ etition here, yet I am recording for reference in Appendix 7 a few personal and military excerpts from the history of each Athol man. Unfortunately, the last Revolutionary soldier returned home only to face most trying conditions here because of war debts and depreciated currency, reaching a climax in Shay's Rebel¬ lion. 98 CHAPTER IX SHAYS' REBELLION HPHAT financial matters during the latter part of the Ameri- -*■- can Revolution and the years immediately following the war were in chaos is only too true. I fear the written page, how¬ ever, fails to emphasize the extreme distress of most of our citizens at that time. Hard money has disappeared from circulation and the Con¬ tinental Currency issued by a weak Federation of States was so worthless it became a by-word which came down to us, anything of less than doubtful value being entitled to the rating "not worth a Continental." In this distressing condition of affairs creditors attempted to enforce payments and tax gatherers to collect "rates," in many cases finding absolutely no buyers at distress sales. Imprisonment for debt was the law of the land and many a worthy citizen languished in the common gaol guilty of no other crime than that he could not obtain acceptable cur¬ rency to pay obligations he would gladly meet if able to do so. At the height of this chaotic condition of the total one hundred and four prisoners in Worcester Jail, ninety-four were charged with no other crime except owing debts they would gladly pay did economic conditions permit. Irked beyond endurance by these conditions and harking back to a decade or more before when Minute Men were drilling on every Village Green, the good people of these towns organized themselves into companies of "Regulators." Bent on no insurgency except the necessity of self protection they asked that the administration of harsh debtor laws be suspended for a time. In the town of Pelham at that time was residing one Daniel Shays, a native of Hopkinton and the son of an Irish emigrant. This Daniel had served as a Captain in the Revolution and now became the leader of the band of Regulators in Pelham. As resentment grew against the Courts and their attaches, the lawyers and sheriffs, he left the command of his home company to another and went abroad organizing and drilling various Regulator groups. I do not know that he came to Athol at that time, but as his son, Seth, eventually married Hannah Foster, niece of John Foster a blacksmith who lived HISTORY OF ATHOL here from 1774 to 1791 and was Town Clerk for five years, I assume he had an early acquaintance with our town. Daniel Shays eventually became the leader of a sizeable "array" which forcibly suspended Court procedure in Worces¬ ter, Northampton, and Springfield. Although we have no record of any such organization in our town yet there are numerous allusions to our displeasure with existing conditions. When the Court of General Sessions convened at Worcester in June, 1786 the first business undertaken was the petition of the Selectmen of Athol that no debtor cases be heard until the then present emergency was passed. The stern justices, however, could not bring themselves to deviate from estab¬ lished procedure and continued as formerly. Perhaps the Court looked beyond the petition to the authority behind it for on September 4, 1786 the voters of Athol were assembled in town meeting under call of the Selectmen. This time our town fathers were clothed with the authority of all the people here for it was "voted to petition the Court of Common Pleas to suspend all civil actions except where the parties are agreed to have trial where it appears to the Court that the creditor is in immediate danger of losing his property." We do not know whether this petition was ever filed for when the Courts attempted to convene as per statute in September, 1786 they were confronted with an army of several hundred Regulators and forcibly prevented from transacting any business. For some five months Shays was in practical command of all western Massachusetts, but at length a group of Boston financiers (a sympathetic legislature having declined to grant funds) financed General Benjamin Lincoln in a campaign to suppress this uprising. After routing the Regulators at Spring- field Arsenal he pursued them by easy stages into the hills of Hampshire County at Pelham, and then in a burst of speed followed them in a blinding snow storm to Petersham where they camped in fancied security on Saturday, February 2, 1787. But hardly had these patriots prepared their breakfast In the clear biting cold of February 3, 1787 when Gen. Lincoln appeared over the western horizon at the head of his company of militia. Shays and his men rushed northward, made a last feeble stand near the Davenport place at Athol line, and then fled In utter rout through Athol, West Royalston, and North Orange to comparative security in the Ashuelot Valley. 100 SHAYS REBELLION In the various counties such of the insurgents as were cap¬ tured were dealt with in different ways, but by common con¬ sent all had put themselves outside the law and were accord¬ ingly disfranchised. Eventually their citizenship was restored to such as took a new oath of allegiance. These oaths are on file in the State Archives, or at least some are, and from these we get the names of many of the active insurgents. On this list I find eleven from Royalston, fourteen from Phillipston, thirteen from Orange, thirty from Petersham, and some seventy-five from New Salem. Curiously only one is listed from Athol, while there are twenty names of our citizens who went out under General Lincoln to suppress the disturbance. My explanation of the lack of more Athol names is that prob¬ ably the list was lost in transit or some other manner, for I cannot believe that our people differed in sentiments, or courage, as markedly as this would indicate. I have told of four Athol men who were Captains in the Revolution: Captains Ichabod Dexter, Thomas Lord, John Oliver, and Ephraim Stockwell. Of these I find that Capt. Dexter, then a resident of Hardwick, was an active Regulator; that Capt. Oliver was the only Athol man to be recorded as taking the new oath of allegiance; that Capt. Stockwell, then a resident of Phillipston, appears to have no connection with the unfortunate affair; while Capt. Lord was one of the twenty Athol men who served under General Lincoln in putting down the rebellion. Men of Athol appear to have served in two different com¬ panies during this tour of duty. Those serving in Capt. Park Holland's (Petersham) Company were Thomas Lord, Asa Smith, Joshua Morton, Abner Graves, Caleb Smith, William Bigelow, Lieut. Aaron Smith, and Sgt. Benjamin Fairbanks. Those who served in Captain Joseph Wilder's (Winchendon) Company were Sgt. Abner Baker, Daniel Warren, Silas Kendall, Joseph Wood, Joel Smith, Dexter Thompson, Jonas Woodward, George Talbot, Solomon Goodsll, Moses Walker, and William Goss. After these soldiers, pursued and pursuers, returned to their homes there appears to have been more than two decades of peace within and without our borders. 101 CHAPTER X STRIFE IN THE CHURCH The Church of Christ in Athol IT would seem that with a great war raging, peace in the church would be assured, but on the contrary, during the most trying days of the Revolution an agitation arose for the dismissal of Athol's once beloved minister, Rev. Mr. James Humphrey, the first pastor of Pequoig. This was no placid affair. For when Rev. Humphrey was ultimately dismissed after five years of controversy on February 13, 1782, it all but tore the township assunder. Failure of the town to pay him his salary long years overdue had offended many, and a distressing financial panic added to the unrest. Again and again it was proposed to dismember the community. Finally, Mr. Humphrey with singleness of purpose and an earnest desire for peace in the church gave his terms: that his estate in the town be exempt from all tax¬ ation, that the pew in which his family always sat be granted to him, his heirs, and assigns for permanent use, and thirdly, that "what of my salary for years past that is still due, be paid me in good merchantable rye at four shillings per bushel, flax at eight pence per pound, etc., etc., or in silver money equal thereto at the time of payment ..." Laid before the town, these proposals were accepted. Morality or orthodoxy had not been distrubing factors. It was Rev. Humphrey's ability as a preacher which suffered severe arraignment. Yet he was not without friends and a considerable group of them helped organize a church in South Warwick, now North Orange, and the next year seceded from Athol to join the new District of Orange. It is well authenti¬ cated historical fact that the animosities growing out of the dismissal of Rev. Humphrey were responsible not only for organizing this church but also for the establishing of the District of Orange as a separate municipality, described more fully in a following chapter. With Rev. Humphrey went Ephraim Smith and wife, John Ford and wife, Jonathan Ward and wife, Nehemiah Ward and wife, the wife of David Goddard, the wife of Ephraim Cady, and Hepzibah, wife of Jonathan Woodward. 102 STRIFE IN THE CHURCH During Rev. Humphrey's ministry one hundred and twenty- one members were added to the church; five hundred and ninety-three children were christened, the first one being Jemima Oliver, daughter of John and Mary Oliver, on April 14, 1751. He made record of one hundred ninety-four deaths and one hundred and thirteen marriages. James Stratton, Jr., and Abigail Morton were the first persons married by him the day after Christmas, 1751. The records regarding the Templeton West Parish separa¬ tion from the Athol church are confusing. Although the statute of 1774 removed perhaps a fifth of our territory from liability to support the Athol Church yet it seems from the records that the residents of that territory were continued on our church membership list until a church was actually gathered there on August 21, 1785. To this church went Henry Sawtelle (Startle the record gives it), John Coleman and wife, and Pierson Richardson and wife. Israel Sprague remained with the united church until 1788 when he also was dismissed to the church in Gerry. To the formation of this township of Gerry, Athol yielded much territory as well as several members from its not too large constituency. The work of settling a new minister appears to have been attended with about as much difficulty as that of dismissing the former one. After five years of "candidating" the Church of Athol finally on July 25, 1787 called Joseph Estabrook of Lexington to the vacant pastorate. It was customary to pay ministers a certain sum, independent of their annual salary, as an "encouragement" or inducement to settle over a particu¬ lar parish. Mr. Estabrook's encouragement was two hundred pounds and also the use of a pew in the meeting house so long as he should remain the minister of the town. For his "sup¬ port" or salary the town obligated itself to give him seventy- five pounds in cash and twenty cords of good fire wood, annually. Surprising it is to learn that the ecclesiastical council which convened late in November, 1787 to ordain this new minister met at the house of Rev. Humphrey at 989 Pleasant Street, and that the honored Scribe was Rev. Joseph Lee of Royalston who had so strongly favored the dismissal of Mr. Humphrey and had kept a watchful supervision over the church while the pastorate was vacant. Letters missive had been sent previously to seven churches by Deacon John Haven, Capt. John Oliver, and John Foster 103 HISTORY OF ATHOL asking for delegates and in response the following clergy ar¬ rived in Athol, probably most if not all on horseback: (23) Rev. Jonas Clarke of Lexington Rev. Ebenezer Sparhawk of Templeton Rev. Joseph Brown of Winchendon Rev. Joseph Lee of Royalston Rev. Solomon Reed of Petersham Rev. Samuel Reed of Warwick Rev. Samuel Kendall of Weston Rev. Mr. Clarke was chosen Moderator and Rev. Mr. Joseph Lee, Scribe. After listening to Rev. Samuel Kendall state Mr. Estabrook's qualifications and religious beliefs, it was unani- REV. JOSEPH ESTABROOK 1758 - 1830 Athol's Second Pastor mously voted that “The council are so far satisfied with the moral character, ministerial qualifications, and religious sen¬ timents of the candidate as to proceed with his ordination." A committee was chosen to provide for this ceremony at the (23) July 9, 1936 — A severe lightning and wind storm fells the historic 200-year old "Parson's Oak" on Athol Common. As it stood near the third meeting house, 1773-1827, it was often used as a hitching post by the ministers who came on horseback to preach here. When the tree was cut up the hand wrought hitching hooks were found and preserved. 104 STRIFE IN THE CHURCH expense of the town “in the best and cheapest way they can.“ On November 21st the whole population flocked to the meeting house to witness the ordination of Joseph Estabrook as the second pastor of the Church of Christ in Athol. It was his boyhood minister, Rev. Jonas Clarke, who presided and preached the sermon. Rev. Kendall offered the invocation. Rev. Brown of Winchendon made the ordaining prayer, Rev. Sparhawk gave the charge, Rev. Lee proffered the right hand of fellowship, and Solomon Reed concluded the service with prayer. Born in 1759 this new pastor had as a boy with musket in hand been one of that immortal group who on Lexington Green on April 19, 1775 “fired the shots heard around the world." He like his predecessor was a graduate of Harvard College. Less than a year after his settlement here he married Miss Lucy Cushing, daughter of Mr. Nathaniel Cushing of Pembroke, on September 3, 1788. Her kindness and attention soon won the affection of his parishioners. During his pastor¬ ate, Rev. Estabrook was much beloved, a refined scholar, who exercised a strong influence in the community. It is said that he never spoke ill of anyone, always thinking of something kindly to say. When no one else had a good word for a man who wasted his opportunities, Mr. Estabrook's only comment was, “He was a good whistler." He represented the Town in the Constitutional Convention of 1820 and was its first Postmaster. For forty-three years this man ministered to Athol in a most acceptable way and during all that time very little dissension appeared. Methodism, Universalism, and finally Unitarianism were rife in other communities but they acquired very little foothold here. As a matter of fact an attempt was made on November 23, 1829 to organize a First Universalist Society here but it was ineffectual. Rev. S. F. Clarke in his “Centennial Discourse" published in 1850 gives a noteworthy description of Rev. Estabrook, of his Christian beliefs, and of his ability as a leader of men. Near the close of Rev. Estabrook's pastorate, the church building again became inadequate but the town could not bring itself to the point of erecting a new building until on July 2, 1827 a citizen, more noted for his effective methods than for his caution, applied the torch and the old building was no more. It was in this building, the only one publicly owned, that the town voted in July, 1794 to store its stock of ammunition. 105 HISTORY OF ATHOL Selection of a site for a new structure was not a difficult one for Col. Samuel Sweetzer, the largest land owner in Athol and an extensive cattle raiser and drover, donated to the town an acre of land at 1307 Main Street to be used "for the public worship of God forever," and a new structure soon arose. TOWN HALL AND FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH 1829 TO DATE ATHOL WOMAN'S CLUB Unfortunately complete harmony did not prevail, for Col. Sweetzer became so indignant at the action of the town during the process of erection that he never stepped foot inside the church doors although residing almost within their shadow at sunset for years. This time the townspeople determined to have a building which would be a credit to the community and adequate for all needs. By selling pew ground it was decided to finance the entire project, and on August 27, 1827 with a plan before- 106 STRIFE IN THE CHURCH them, the town met and sold these pews at public vendue for a grand total of $5117.00, including the minister's, the strangers', and the paupers' pews, for all of which the town made appropriation. The list of these purchasers comprises almost the entire names of the heads of families, but of the seventy-seven buyers, I doubt if a dozen have descendants in Athol today. James Young, James Oliver, and Dr. Chaplin were the Selectmen. Of these only Mr. Oliver's family is repre¬ sented in town at the present time. Esquire Jones, whose family is likewise extinct here, was Town Clerk. Appropriate ceremonies marked the laying of the corner¬ stone of this church of God in the springtime of 1 828 and when the time came for the "raising" there was again quite a gather¬ ing of townspeople. Co-incident with this pretentious effort on the part of the townspeople came the erection of a Baptist Church building. At the laying of the cornerstones of these buildings appropriate religious services were held. Elder Elisha Andrews of Temple¬ ton, the guiding angel of the local group, officiated at the Baptist ceremony, and Parson Estabrook performed the service for his people. The Baptist building frame was raised April 29 and the town church building May 1 and 2. We have no further record of the program incident to these raisings nor the amount of hard liquor consumed by the par¬ ticipants, but in conformity with the custom of the times the supply was undoubtedly liberal for the temperance reform movement had not been developed. We know that Rev. Esta¬ brook was far from a teetotaler and that when he called on a parishioner he expected refreshment of rum and sugar, and in all research of local Baptist Church history we find no refer¬ ence to this reform until the autumn of 1829 when the Wendell Association of Baptist Churches embraced the prin¬ ciples of the Washingtonian Temperance Movement, but it was not until more than five years later (March 1 835) that the local church took a stand requiring new adherents to agree to total abstinence and another five years elapsed before the church roll was purged of members who refused to take the temper¬ ance pledge. By the tenth of October, 1828 the new bell for this, the fourth meeting house, was raised into the bell deck and rung for the first time. Later the town appropriated $566.47 to pay for it and voted that the Selectmen hire some suitable person to ring the bell. We have no record of any substitution of another bell there but the date "1829" on the present one is 107 HISTORY OF ATHOL mystifying. Since it frequently happens that a bell cracks soon after being put to use in cold air, perhaps the first bell proved defective and was speedily replaced. Another possible explanation is that the founders post-dated their output as do the automobile producers of today. Twenty-six horse sheds on the north and west of this build¬ ing were a necessary part of the equipment provided. Before the snows of winter lay thick on these hillsides, in 1828, there had been expended nearly six thousand dollars here to com¬ plete the building. Originally the auditorium was a full two stories, with bal¬ conies on all sides, that in the west end being for the singers and the other three sides occupied by pews, for although Athol numbered only about 1300 souls and was not as large geo¬ graphically as today, yet custom dictated attendance upon church services and the first floor could not seat all who were naturally expected to worship regularly here. Though the Baptist Church building, now an apartment house at the corner of Main and Summer Streets, was dedicated about two months previous to the completion of this building, competi¬ tion was not great enough to relieve congestion materially. While I have no direct and positive information on the subject, yet I feel safe in saying that as originally built there was no provision for any heat in this building. Probably the chimneys on the west end were constructed around 1840. So the congregation sat in a cold auditorium save for the occa¬ sional foot warmer. A general holiday prevailed in Athol on that clear cold day of December 3, 1828 for the consecration of the meeting house and the dedication of the new Town House at No. 1519 Main Street. Church and town officials with the honored guests assembled at Joseph Young's Tavern and "were escorted to the meetinghouse by Athol musick." About 1200 people attended these exercises which included Prayer and Scripture reading by Rev. Ezekiel L. Bascom of Ashby and Dedication Prayer by Rev. Charles Wellington of Templeton. Rev. Esta- brook, then in his seventieth year, preached the sermon, using as his text John 10:22 — "And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication and it was winter." The concluding prayer was offered by Rev. Alpheus Harding of New Salem. "In the evening about 200 persons assembled in the Town Hall where with musick and dancing they testified their joy to the occa- _ • ii ' sion. 108 STRIFE IN THE CHURCH Selection of the assisting pastors at this dedication shows much of the attitude of our venerable pastor toward the great theological agitation which at that time was rending churches assunder throughout New England. The old First Church of Athol was nominally Calvanistic in its doctrines, had taken no action to indicate any change and its pastor was presumably Evangelical in his leanings although he had studiously avoided any definite statement of his position. Yet when he chose his associates to assist him in one of the great occasions of his career, he did not secure such men as Rev. Mr. Perkins of Royalston or Rev. Mr. Chickering of Phillipston, both of whom were decidedly Calvanistic in their beliefs, but rather he chose three men all of whom were rated as liberals, who eventually became Unitarian. Rev. Mr. Bascom, pastor at Phillipston from 1800 to 1820, was dismissed from there because of his too liberal views. He was in 1828 pastor of the First Church at Ashby and later of the Unitarian Church at Fitzwilliam. Rev. Charles Wellington was minister at Templeton from 1807 to 1861. In 1832 about midway in his long pastorate, the Trinitarian Church there withdrew from his church, which became decidedly Unitarian. Rev. Alpheus Harding preached at New Salem from 1807 to 1869, being always considered of liberal views and for nearly two score years a pronounced Unitarian. If we assume that Mr. Estabrook was Unitarian in his tendencies and thoughts then all the participants in the dedication of this building were of liberal faith and the building was actually christened in the faith taught there so long. Yet "we have no desire to fix upon Mr. Estabrook the pecu¬ liar name of any sect. No such name belongs to him. In seeking religious intercourse he was accustomed to be influ¬ enced, not by names, but by principles. In this respect, as in many others, he was a pattern worthy of imitation. "(24) In April, 1928, at the One Hundredth Anniversary of the dedication of the old Town Hall building, I was the guest speaker. It seemed fitting at the outset that we consider the history of the church whose home was here for four score and ten years. In describing the dedication I departed at one point in the lecture from the strictly historical and drew thus upon my imagination for a picture of the audience that gathered there a century before. (24) S. F. Clarke's "Centennial Discourse" p. 37. 109 HISTORY OF ATHOL "On the front seats and in the wing pews are guests who have come from other towns for the occasion. Down there sits Esq. Theodore Jones, Town Clerk, keeper of the village store, and in a small way banker for the community. He is the prominent man of the village. Beside him sits his wife, Marcia, daughter of the pastor, with their four children, Joseph E., Theodore, Charles C., and Fred E. "Nearby is Prescott Jones and his numerous family. Over there is Col. Nathan Nickerson, manager of the Cotton Factory and the Factory Store. Down there is Dea. Elijah Goddard, senior deacon of this church, with his wife, Mehitable. They live on Chestnut Hill, above the Haven place. "Across the aisle sits Dea. Elijah Ballard, who lives out on the Petersham Road. Mrs. Ballard is home with their five weeks' old baby, but their daughters, Elizabeth and Mary, six and five years old, have come with the Deacon. "Over there sits Esq. Thorpe and wife, Ruth. He runs the paper mill down near Fish's grist mill. They have nine of their eleven children with them. Nearby is Ira Thorpe and family. He is a brother of Esq. Thorpe. The only attorney in town, Clough R. Miles, sits well back in the audience. There sits Henry Lee, Town Treasurer, partner in the store business, with Col. Sweetzer. Nearby sits Paul Morse and wife, with thei t sons, Sumner R., and Laban. Mr. Morse operates a tannery just south of the turnpike and east of the toll gate. "Up in the gallery with the singers is a young man who is teaching singing school over in the large house south of the new Town House. He is Lowell Mason, whose stay in Athol is destined to be short, but who will make a permanent record for himself as a composer of sacred music. "Dr. Holmes and Dr. Chaplin are both here, as well as Dr. Royal Humphrey, a Revolutionary veteran and son of the first pastor. I see two other veterans also, Abner Graves and Tyler Perry, who like the pastor had a part in the war for indepen¬ dence. Deputy Sheriff Abijah Hill, recently removed here from Orange, is in the audience, as is some representative from every part of town. "A dozen families are here from Chestnut Hill, a half dozen from Lyon's Hill. Abner Stratton and Josiah Fay have come up from the south part of the town; Jonathan Wheeler from Wheelerville; Ephraim Sprague from New Sherborn; Col. Thomas Townsend from Bearsden; and Jabez Ward from out by the poor farm which the town has just bought. These have 110 STRIFE IN THE CHURCH all contributed their part to the cost of this building and now gathered here to rejoice together at its completion." In a little more than sixteen months after this dedication the venerable pastor lay dead — on April 18, 1830. Quickly following his demise, came that unfortunate division of the church, the fourth loss in membership, which split its constit¬ uency and lost it the support of the town as a municipality. The secessionists formed the present Evangelical Congrega¬ tional Church and never again worshipped here. Maintaining its status quo for seventeen years, the old church in 1847 entered into an agreement with the municipal¬ ity whereby the town took over the upper half of the building for a Town Hall. The galleries were removed and the floor of the upper hall was constructed that year. For over a half cen¬ tury the building was maintained jointly. This arrangement of 1847 provided that, should any disagreement arise between the church and the town, the matter should be submitted to the Selectmen of the Town of Royalton as arbitrators, but the services of these officials were never required as town and church worked together in full accord until eventually the old church, weakened again by the secession of the constituency of the Second Unitarian Church and the death of many of its staunch supporters, all but ceased to exist. Then the Church in 1922 released its interest in this location to the town and absorbing the Second Church with its church building began life anew downtown in the fourth building it has called home. This computation of necessity excludes the first church ed- difice here which was burned nearly a decade before a church organization was gathered here. Although Col. Sweetzer's original acre has shrunk fully 75% by various encroachments and the active worship of God ceased in this meeting house after some ninety years, yet we value it still as a thing of beauty on the hillside, now a com¬ modious home for our Women's Club. A successor to Rev. Estabrook was not easy to find. The general feeling was strongly in favor of a man who would con¬ tinue the practice of Mr. Estabrook and "freely fellowship with all neighboring Congregational ministers." Indeed, the ma¬ jority thought of nothing else, and probably were not expect¬ ing any serious opposition to this Christian practice. Hence the committee of five appointed on May 3, 1830 engaged a Mr. George J. Tillotson from the School at New Haven. No one was disposed to find any serious fault with his preaching HISTORY OF ATHOL but the air soon became apprehensive. Indeed, this new pas¬ tor seemed to be following the example of the late minister “inasmuch as he said nothing of the parties, polemics, or divi¬ sions of the day." Vet, would this new man rise above party lines and sectarian names? Prompted by these apprehensions, which later appeared not unfounded, the church fathers sent letters to fourteen of the neighboring clergy, seven of whom were of the rigid and seven of the liberal party, inquiring whether they would exchange with the pastor who should be settled over this parish, regardless of party. No one of the liberal ministers objected. Those of the Calvenistic faith were pleased to declare that they would have no dealings with the liberal clergymen, one of them affirming that Unitarians were not Christians and should not be acknowledged as such. This was very disquieting to the majority of the church member¬ ship, and it was finally voted after much controversy to settle “no man in the ministry in the Congregational Society unless he will obligate himself ... to exchange ministerial labors with all the Congregational ministers in the neighboring who are in regular standing . . . “ To this Rev. Mr. Tillotson could not agree. The church remained adamant. A definite break soon came, all but eight members of this organization including both deacons with¬ drawing from the mother church and Rev. Tillotson with them. This division excited such ill feeling that neighbors and friends, who had from childhood walked together to the same place of worship and lived united and happy in one communion for fifty years, would scarce exchange friendly recognitions as they passed on the street. Such is history, the recording of plain, unvarnished facts, which in this case is an unhappy division of the Christian church. Perhaps this is the pseudonym for democracy, the American way of life, where people have the opportunity to express openly their feelings about fundamental issues. Then known as the First Congregational Church and Society in Athol, this church had two ministers in the space of six years — Rev. Josiah Moore from December, 1830 to August, 1 833 and Rev. Linus H. Shaw from November, 1 834 to August, 1836. Though the Society continued thereafter to have preaching most of the time, no minister was settled over the parish until April 19, 1848 when Rev. Samuel F. Clarke became pastor, serving for eight years. He was stirring and active not only in his church but in social and town affairs, being for several 112 STRIFE IN THE CHURCH years a member of the School Committee. At the one hundredth anniversary of the church, it became his duty to deliver an historical discourse which was published and has been the basis of all subsequent historical efforts. No man has done so much to rescue the history of our town from oblivion as he did. The closing words of his address are as appropriate today as they were when uttered nearly a century ago. "So let us live, REV. S. F. CLARK over submitting our minds and hearts to the Divine influences with which Heaven is surrounding us. that, when we shall be numbered with the congregation of the departed, we may leave a sacred inheritance of intelligence, virtue, faith and truth, to bless our children and our children's children to the latest generation that shall come after us." Of the ministers who have occupied the pulpits of Athol churches prior to the beginning of this century, the one who was the best known to the world at large was Rev. George Bradburn, pastor of this church in 1859. While serving as a Unitarian minister in Nantucket, he was elected to the Legis¬ lature by the Whigs in 1839 and was considered one of the most remarkable men in the House of Representatives where 1 13 HISTORY OF ATHOL he represented Nantucket for three years. He allied himself to the Anti-slavery Cause and endowed with rare gifts as a popular speaker, a face and figure of rare dignity and beauty, and a courage that feared no antagonism, he stood among the strong men of this Cause both here in America and in Lon¬ don.^ From Rev. Bradburn's pastorate until 1922 when the First Congregational Church and Society in Athol became consoli¬ dated with the Second Unitarian Church, there were a number of ministers. The complete list beginning in 1750 is here given with dates of service insofar as known: Rev. James Humphrey Rev. Joseph Estabrook Rev. George J. Tillotson Rev. Josiah Moore Rev. Linus H. Shaw Rev. Stephen A. Barnard (Supply) Rev. Crawford Nightingale (Supply) Rev. E. J. Gerry (Supply) Rev. S. F. Clarke Rev. D. C. O'Daniels Rev. Geo. Bradburn Rev. Ira Bailey Rev. W. S. Burton Rev. S. R. Priest Rev. E. P. Gibbs Rev. W. C. Litchfield Rev. D. H. Rogan Rev. Caroline R. James (Supply) Rev. A. D. Ferry (Supply) Rev. Herbert Whitney Rev. Charles Conklin (Supply) Rev. W. S. Sutton 8-29-1750 — 2-13-1782 7-25-1787 — 1830 1 830 (three months) 12- 8-1830 — 8- 1833 1 1-12-1834 — 8-29-1836 11- 1838 — 5- 1840 5- 1-1842 — 1844 5-18-1845 — 1846 4-19-1948 — 1856 1857 — 1859 1859 1861 — 1866 9- 1868 — 9- 1873 1874 — 1876 7-10-1877 — 1881 1- 1-1882— 1884 7- 1884 — 1888 1888 1889 7- 1890 — 1-29-1893 1- 1893 — 8- 1893 5. 1-1894 — 6-25-1901 Following this pastorate the activities of the church were suspended for ten years. In the first one hundred years of this church's history there were ten deacons, as follows: Deacon David Twichell Deacon Aaron Smith Jesse Kendall John Haven William Bigelow Paul Church Elijah Goddard Elijah Ballard Theodore Jones Jonathan Stratton 4-25-1754 4- 25-1754 1 1-10-1774 11-10-1774 7-20-1795 7-20-1795 1 1-24-1807 9- 7-1818 5- 25-1835 5-25-1835 11-10-1774 3- 9-1798 7-12-1807 (25) See L. B. Caswell's "Athol Past & Present," pub. 1899, pp. 52-54. 1 14 CHAPTER XI DENOMINATIONS EVOLVE First Baptist Church 1767 WO weeks before Christmas, 1770, those folk who had banded themselves together as Baptists since the arrival in 1765 of Isaac Estey from Connecticut, met at the home of Elder Whitman Jacobs on Chestnut Hill to install him as pastor over the initial parish to break from the First Church in Athol. These people had been waiting for some time for Rev. Jacobs to remove here from Thompson, Connecticut. To this council came delegates from the two nearest Baptist churches, Leices¬ ter and Sutton. The church then formed was known as the Baptist Church of Royalston and Athol, and is now the West Royalston Baptist Church. Before 1770 the Baptists had erected a meeting house in the "Cripple Creek" section of Royalston, where the "Gassett Place" formerly stood, now in the upper reaches of the Tully Flood Control Reservoir. To this spot on the Sabbath Day in summer heat and winter snow, journeyed many Athol families, some coming from Lyon's hill and even farther south. Seth Twichell who lived just off the Petersham Road and John Oliver who resided even farther southeast both made this journey over nearly impassable roads. Daniel Davis has told me that when Deacon Estey came here from Connecticut, his wife Madam Estey was not physically able to ride horseback so the trip was made in a chaise. From Shutesbury to West Royalston two men accompanied her on foot, one each side to lift the wheels over the stumps and stones. It was over such roads as these that the first dissenters travelled weekly from six to nine miles. Seth Twichell, John Oliver, and others had left the Church of Christ for definite reasons. They had come to disagree with the established church in Athol as a result of the fervent preaching of Rev. Isaac Backus of Middleboro who had jour¬ neyed through this region preaching, exhorting, and emphasiz¬ ing the particular tenets of the Baptist faith. Perhaps the incident that precipitated the break was the manner of con¬ ducting the singing. Up to this time the hymns had been 115 HISTORY OF ATHOL "deaconed out," that is a line or two were read by the deacon, and then sung by the congregation, so on through the entire hymn. In 1773 the Orthodox Church voted 18 to 11 and the congregation 33 to 24 to provide themselves with psalm books and dispense with the deacon's services in this capacity. This action so aggrieved some of the church members that an attempt was made to reconsider it. That failing, it was voted to read with singing half the time for four weeks if the unhappy parties would attend upon the worship. Thus a truce was made for a time but the matter was a sore trial to the church and resulted in the loss of some of its supporters. Deacon David Twichell resigned his office. Seth Twichell, Aaron Oliver and others sought sanctuary in the Baptist Church and were the subject of many protracted church meet¬ ings. Solomon Goodale, Daniel Lamson, and Richard Morton, all residents of Athol, were received into the membership during the year 1773. Though we are lacking the names of all the early adherents, we do know that three years later, in 1776, Experience Eld, Ebenezer Ingols, Martin Morton, James Kelton, Rachel Ingols, Roxana Drake, Ebenezer Elliott, Sister Crosby, Jerusha Morton, Zadoch Howard, Experience Howard, Ben¬ jamin Dexter, Hannah Dexter, Leonard Lord, Lydia Crosby, John Ballard, Benjamin Powers, Seth Twichell, Jr., and Abner Twichell joined this church. A good majority of these names are connected with the early history of Athol. Hence we must assume that most of them were from Rev. Humphrey's church. Nine harmonious years passed until one day in 1779 a council met at the house of Solomon Goodale to consider "a grievance" which arose between their pastor and a number of the members. The furor which ensued caused Elder Jacobs' dismissal in 1786 due to "a difficulty about his conduct." In quick succession Elder Jacobs left town, the Athol Church was estranged from the Baptist membership, the meeting house was removed close to the Warwick line, and all the Athol con¬ nections were severed forever. This unfortunate experience, the weary length of the Revo¬ lutionary War, and the suit of law concerning payment of bounty between Eli Jacobs — the Elder's minor son — and the Town of Athol suppressed Baptist interests which became dor¬ mant for some years. (26) But differences in thought along the lines of religious creed were becoming more prevalent in New England. In response to this prevalence a considerable group (26) W. G. Lord's "History of the First Baptist Church," pp. 10, 11. 1 16 DENOMINATIONS EVOLVE of our people continued to be non-conformists to the estab¬ lished faith. A Methodist circuit rider appeared here and a considerable number flocked to that faith, the result of which was the organization of the Methodist Church in the easterly part of Orange., which church was eventually the foundation of the present Methodist Church in Athol. Then another apostle to the Baptist faith came among us. He was Elder Ebenezer Burt of Hardwick. Soon he gathered a group about him which was ultimately the nucleus of the present Athol Baptist Church. Among those who were attracted to this preaching were two former members of the West Roy- alston Church, "Uncle" John Ballard and Asa Smith. John Ballard lived on the old road leading from Lyons Hill to Pleasant Street west of Petersham Road. The present house on his farm being numbered 559 Petersham Road and was built by John Ballard's son, Joshua Ballard, in 1806. John Ballard had passed to his reward before the present organization was effected. Asa Smith, greatgrandfather of J. Clarence Hill, who lived in a house still standing at No. 35 Moore Hill Road and who was accepted into the Royalston Church in 1775, lived to become a constituent member of the organization as a branch church. Others who were attracted to this faith were Aaron Oliver and brothers Isaac and Levi Briggs. Natives of Taunton, the Briggs brothers removed here about 1792 and were baptized on May 22. 1802 by Elder Burt. During the first ten years of the last century these men with several others became mem¬ bers of the Baptist Church in Templeton. In 1810 those mem¬ bers of the Templeton Church residing in Athol asked to be constituted into a branch church which was granted on the Lord's Day.. June 24, 1810. This practice of establishing branches instead of independent bodies seems to have been considered the proper way of extending the principles of the faith during the first half of the last century. Without a church building and without a minister the founders of our faith here, Asa Smith, Isaac Briggs. Aaron Oliver, Lucy Oliver. Benjamin Fairbank, Nancy Fairbank, Mary Mendall, Ruth Phillips, Violet Turner, Levi Briggs, and Seth Phillips met at various houses. Probably there were others but their names were never recorded on the church book. Disagreements arose within the church over the War of 1812 which brought about its organization as an independent body, still without either a pastor or a church building. For seven years the church carried on in this fashion, meeting HISTORY OF ATHOL mostly in private homes but subsequently on alternating Sab¬ baths in School House No. 2 at about 1878 Pleasant Street, and in the Brick School House pictured on page 61 which stood on the site of the present Main Street School. But rarely they had the service of an ordained clergyman, and the meetings were in most part conducted by the Deacons Isaac Briggs, Aaron Oliver and later Levi Briggs. At length regular pastoral services were much wanted. Since Isaac Briggs had shown by his work that he possessed literary qualifications and much religious zeal, it was decided in the fall of 1 820 that he should be ordained to this ministry. A blacksmith, residing in the extreme southeast corner of the town, he was solemnly ordained a Baptist minister in his fifty-ninth year and installed as the first pastor over the Athol Baptist Church. It is said of him while conducting his services he would exhort until exhausted. Then while someone else took the floor he would sit in the corner and enjoy a smoke in the presence of his congregation. Aaron Oliver, a convert at the early Methodist meetings and a power in this church for many years, was clerk of the first branch meeting, moderator of subsequent meetings, agent of the branch to settle with the Templeton Church, and deacon of the branch and the church from December, 1810 to his death on January 23, 1 826. One of the early converts to our church was Dr. Joshua Morton who lived at 457 South Main Street. Dr. Morton was son of Samuel Morton, one of the first settlers of our town. This story is told of him. As was the custom of the time, he mixed his own medicines and is said to have departed often from the usual method in treatment of a disease, much to the disgust of other local physicians. Whenever in the preparation of medicines he had a superfluous stock, he cast the remnants into a stone jar in his office room and whenever he was unable to diagnose any case he prescribed liberally from the stone jar as he was sure there was variety enough there to hit almost any case. The story of his ignorance of Latin and the trap set for him is also familiar. Being unsuccessful in the treatment of a case he called two of his more liberally educated associates in counsel and when they advised a warm bath (using the Latin phrase therefore) Dr. Morton who always carried his medicines in his pockets, remarked that he was just putting his hand 118 DENOMINATIONS EVOLVE into his pocket to get that very thing, but he thought so powerful a medicine should be given in very small doses. Not until October, 1828 was the first church building at 1782 Main Street dedicated. Soon after this achievement in¬ ternal dissensions depleted their ranks because of a general uprising throughout the United States against Freemasonry, engendered by the Morgan excitement which was sweeping the country. BAPTIST CHURCH, 1782 MAIN STREET, 1828-1848 CATHOLIC CHURCH, 1855-1883 From remote antiquity it had been considered an honor and advancement by Christian men to become associated with the membership of this most ancient craft and our church had doubtless swelled with pride as we recognized that our revered "Father" Andrews and some others of our membership were members of the Masonic orders. Almost in the twinkling of an eye this pride was changed to animosity and the heretofore envied ones were hailed before the church as traducers of the faith and summarily suspended from church privileges. It was thirty-five years before this church again openly counte¬ nanced Masonic membership. This anti-Masonic excitement 1 19 HISTORY OF ATHOL coupled with Temperance, and finally in 1843 Millerism all but wiped out this the second religious society in Athol. With much reluctance the church accepted the aged Elder Briggs' resignation as pastor on March 11, 1832 because of failing physical powers. The names of subsequent pastors, with their dates of service, follow the history of this church. No special action was taken with regard to the Washington Temperance Movement during the life time of the revered Elder Briggs. After his death on July 12, 1837 the church soon took up the matter and eventually required that its members subscribe to the total abstinence pledge. Two members at that time were Mr. Stillman Stockwell and Jane, his wife. Mrs. Stockwell assented to the temperance pledge and lived more than seventy years a beloved member of this church. But Mr. Stockwell, although in no sense an intemperate man, refused to assent to this stricture upon his liberty and was expelled from membership. Mr. Stockwell had been an ardent worker in the building of the church and lived to an advanced old age, a respectable citizen of Athol. He subsequently affiliated with the Second Advent Church. Moses Briggs, son of the first pastor, did not take kindly to the Temperance Movement and for a time felt that he must relinquish his membership as he knew "he could never get through haying without something to take." But by much prayer and persuasion he was won over and he remained a loyal member until his death. The Second Advent Church, the outgrowth of this Millerism excitement, drew somewhat from the Unitarians, the Evangel¬ ical Church, and compelled the Baptists practically to cease functioning for several years. In fact the Baptist Church never re-established itself uptown. Elder Lysander Fay exerted a powerful influence over the church for many years although never its regular pastor. Baptized into this church in 1828, ordained by it, and placed in charge of its South Orange Branch in 1834, he came to its aid in many an emergency. Later he was pastor at Royalston Center, and at New Boston, also preaching in Petersham and during the trying times from August, 1 846 to May, 1 848, when we were without a regular pastor, he officiated much of the time while he carried on his farm and saw mill interests. Prominent in the early development of Athol, Job Fry was another to whom this church owes much. As deacon, church 120 DENOMINATIONS EVOLVE clerk, and Superintendent of the Sunday School he was for a- long time as near a dictator as is often found but it was a welcome service to the church. About the time the iron horse made its triumphal entry into- town, the "Factory Village," now Athol business section, began to assert itself. It had the new depot, a store, a tavern, and a half dozen little industries but no church. The spirit of com¬ mercialism was rapidly making inroads into the traditions of all our Massachusetts' towns, and everywhere the quiet, sedate, residential beauty spot was in strong competition for its exist¬ ence with the hustling manufacturing village. Overtures were- made to the Baptist people to move here, the church and the community to share equally in the expense of a new building. Depleted in membership, sorely in need of money, and des¬ titute of a pastor, our church treated with the new community (for such it virtually was) and arranged to abandon its house of worship erected a score of years before at the cost of so much deprivation and to cast its lot in with the residents of the lower village. The disused building was sold in 1855 to the Roman Catholic Church for $1000. Until 1884 it was used by them and then abandoned forever as a house of worship. The accompanying picture of this building was drawn from descriptions by Mr. O. J. Bigelow, Mr. Converse Ward and a few others. Ths new building erected on land donated by Sally Fish was fearful and wonderful to behold. Built jointly by the citizens of this village and dedicated on February 14. 1849, the upper story or present auditorium was for use of the church, the basement or present vestry (Union Hall) for use of the general public. This arrangement, however, did not tend to produce the best feeling. The original agreement allowed the vestry to be used by the church as a vestry room for any purpose the stockholders might think expedient, but not at any time when religious worship was being held upstairs. It is said that in later years when members of the church disap¬ proved of some of the events in Union Hall, they found it convenient to hold an abnormally large number of services up¬ stairs. The lower part or public hall was entered by two side doors. On one occasion a travelling man advertised an exhibition there, admission to be twenty-five cents per family. Joe Fay of mirthful memory gathered all the boys in town and pre¬ sented himself as their leader at the door. After some argu¬ ment he explained that they all belonged to the h-h-human family and were entitled to admission on one ticket. 121 HISTORY OF ATHOL Mr. Lucien Lord has told me that as a boy he came over here one evening with his father and his uncle, Mr. Luna Richardson, to see how the work was getting along. The timber contributed by the various donors did not look good and the men who contributed labor to the enterprise were not all skilled workmen. The combined result to the eye of a crafts¬ man like Mr. Richardson was far from pleasing. After looking SECOND BAPTIST MEETING HOUSE 1847 -1859 around in silence for a time he snapped out, "Cracks are cheaper than boards; why didn't they make it all cracks?" Prosperity came to this Baptist Church during the next- twelve years in the Depot Village. In 1853 Elder Otis Converse came to this pastorate from Worcester, broken in health and seeking renewed vigor in the country. A man of large frame and powerful voice, he was what is commonly called an "exhorter," and he seems 122 DENOMINATIONS EVOLVE to have been successful in his efforts to rattle the dry bones in this valley during his comparatively short stay. Seventeen members were added during the first year of his service, which brought the church membership for the first time in its history to over a hundred souls. During the time from 1850 to the close of the Civil War there came to this town from New Salem, Prescott, and that vicinity, a number of Baptist families who were a marked addition to the business, social, and religious life of our town. Athol owes much to the Hunts, Packards, Bangs, Sloans, Kings, Leonards, Smiths, Hamiltons, and others who were in¬ cluded in this migration. Not all of these were members of the church itself but most of them attended these services and were affiliated with this society. At what time a parish or society was organized in connection with the church I have no means of knowing, but from records on the church book it seems certain that one was in existence in 1820, although we have no society records back of 1869. No sooner had these people established themselves here when dissatisfaction with the crude architecture of the church building eventually prompted their calling Elbridge Boyden, a native of Orange, for a time a resident of Athol but then of Worcester, a competent architect of his time, to design a new front and graceful spire. On December 28, 1859 the re¬ modelled building was dedicated. Upwards of $5000 was spent and the building remodelled so that its exterior appear¬ ance was practically what it was on September 21, 1938 when the spire was levelled by the disastrous hurricane. Fol¬ lowing this 1859 remodelling there came to the church what I have called a new era of prosperity. It began with the pas¬ torate of Rev. Charles Ayer of Southboro who started a sys¬ tematic revision of the church roll which seemed to bring the membership into closer touch with each other rather than elim¬ inating any considerable number. During his pastorate the memebership list again contained over one hundred names. Without disparagement to the earnest labors of others I think I can safely say that the next pastor, Rev. George L. Hunt of Barre who came here in April, 1864, was as brilliant a man as ever occupied the pastorate of this body. He took the church while still struggling for its very existence, still rent by dissensions and estranged from the sympathy of the com¬ munity, and set about in an orderly and business way to rem¬ edy these defects. Within three years, however, he was prac¬ tically forced from the pulpit and again it seemed clear that the church and society had very little in common, unable to 123 HISTORY OF ATHOL •do business together successfully for the same cause. In con¬ sequence the society declined to take any further action re¬ garding the vacant pastorate. This forced the hand of the church and compelled it to take steps to organize a legal body. A new society was duly organized at the office of Charles Field, Esq. on May 9, 1867 and proved a successful and ben- V BAPTIST CHURCH 1 859 - 1938 eficial one. Its records are full and complete, showing how the business interests were conducted for exactly a quarter of a century when the church having placed itself in position to transact its own business, the organization of the society was abandoned. Marked by individual characteristics are the successful pas¬ torates of Rev. Darius H. Stoddard, quiet, sedate, and consid¬ erate, and Rev. J. C. Emery, whose mission was as much to 124 DENOMINATIONS EVOLVE arouse as his predecessor's had been to pacify. Almost simul¬ taneously with the close of Rev. Emery's service here in April, 1876 came the organization of the Second Unitarian parish to which a large group of our constituency flocked. Many of these people were avowed Unitarians but distance from a church of their own faith and the well known village rancor of those days had combined to keep them with us. When a church of their own became organized nearby they naturally went to it. The pastorate of Rev. J. H. Cox in 1881 marked the begin¬ ning of modern times in our history. Though the old order was not at once swept away, it was eventually relegated to ob¬ livion. The plan of pew rentals was superseded by a method of voluntary weekly contributions, committees were chosen to take especial charge of the various branches of work, the an¬ nual church reunion and roll call were instituted, and much in¬ terior decoration of the church was done. When the first wooden baptistry was built I cannot ascer¬ tain, although I well remember it. It must have been some¬ time previous to the installation of the town water works in 1876 for it had no water connection except with the roof and was kept filled all of the time. During the first autumn of Mr. Cox's pastorate the present brick baptistry was installed and used for the first time on January 1 5, 1 882. The general overhauling of the church property was not brought about for some time although it was continuously agitated by the active members of the church and society. Eventually on June 8, 1885 the society appointed a building committee — Sereno E. Fay, Pardon D. Holbrook, and Augustus Coolidge — and appropriated $2500 for their use. The plans for the alterations were drawn by the veteran Elbridge Boyden and the inside of the auditorium was completely changed. One of the most noticeable changes was the installation of a new pipe organ where it stands today, thus doing away with the singers' seats in the rear of the room. New ceilings, side walls, pulpit arrangement, and pews also materially altered the appearance. The re-dedication of the building on October 1, 1885 was the great event of recent times for the church. Among the participants in this program were Revs. D. H. Stod¬ dard and E. M. Bartlett, and the honored Drs. George W. Bos- worth and Alvah Hovey of the Massachusetts Baptist Conven¬ tion. During the latter part of Rev. Horace F. Brown's pastorate, steps were taken to incorporate the church under state laws. 125 HISTORY OF ATHOL It was felt that maintaining two organizations, church and society, was unnecessary and worse than useless. Aside from that, some of the church property was held by trustees which still further complicated the situation. During the summer of 1892 a charter was obtained, by-laws adopted, the property held by the various boards turned over to the new corporation, and the other organizations disbanded. This has proved to be of marked benefit to the church in the conduct of its business. In the disastrous hurricane of September 21, 1938 the stately steeple which had been a land mark of beauty in this village since 1859 crashed to the ground. Repairs were hast¬ ily made but the steeple has not been restored, detracting greatly from the architectural beauty of the earlier building. In 1948-52 there has been a general repair program pursued, first to comply with more stringent restrictions on public as¬ sembly places, and later to make many needed repairs and al¬ terations. An author is always torn between two decisions, one to ig¬ nore himself absolutely and all affairs with which he has been connected, and the other seemingly to emphasize his achieve¬ ments to comparative belittling of others. In this work I have attempted to follow a middle course and state without boast¬ ing the fact concerning my activities in this town for more than sixty years. I cannot refrain, however, from including here a commendation of my activities in this church which appeared in the local press, Athol Chronicle on November 27, 1931, the identity of the author of which I never knew. "For thirty-nine years an active member in the Baptist Church, William G. Lord's guiding hand in its affairs has been of great worth. During the first few years of his membership his work was that of general service, here and there, but in 1904 he assumed an office which he has held continuously ever since, that of church treasurer. For years previous to this the financial affairs of the church had been conducted in a loose way and conditions had grown from bad to worse until a thorough reform seemed a necessity. Instead of making a strong and determined effort to raise the money needed, it was voted at that time to use certain endowment funds and this custom was followed until all of two endowments had been used. "When Mr. Lord became treasurer it was decided to com¬ mence the work of replacement of these funds and also to free the church of debt. With his guidance all indebtedness was 126 DENOMINATIONS EVOLVE paid up on April 30, 1917 and the last of the endowment funds restored on November 15, 1926. "In 1913 Mr. Lord and his mother, Mrs. Mary B. Lord, were the authors of a comprehensive history of the church includ¬ ing its auxiliary organizations. This book has rightly taken its place with other historical writings of Athol." Note: — This church treasuryship was terminated in 1944 after forty years continuous service but ere long the call came for other service and mem¬ bership on the Executive Board of the church has continued to this writing. PASTORS Isaac Briggs 10- 4- -1820 -3- 1 1- 1832 Stephen S. Nelson 1831 — 1833 (Assistant and acting pastor) Ambrose Day 1833 — 1835 Joseph Glazier 1835 — 1839 Asaph Merriam 10- -18 -1839 — 1846 Oren Tracy 1849 — 1851 George Mathews 1851 — 1852 George W. Gunnison 1852 — 1853 Otis Converse 1853 — 4- 1855 Charles Farrar 5- 1855 — 4- 1 1- 1858 J. Douglas Reid 5- 11- -1859 — 6- 22- 1861 Charles Ayer 8- ■1862 — 4- 1- 1864 George L. Hunt 4- 1864 — 3- 31- 1867 Darius H. Stoddard 7- 23- -1867 -3- 29- 1874 John C. Emery 6- 2- 1874 — 4- 6- 1876 Edwin M. Bartlett 7- 1- -1876 — 1- 1- ■1881 John H. Cox 3- -1881 — 5 15- 1887 Horace F. Brown 9- 2- -1887 — 3- 1- 1893 Byron H. Thomas 6 -1893 — 4- 1895 John N. Shipman 9- 1- 1895 — 6- 1- 1900 Daniel W. Lyman 11- 12- 1900 — 7- 1- 1903 Charles S. Nightingale 10- 1- 1903 — 5- 1- 1907 Isaac W. Grimes, D.D. 12- ■ 1 -1907 — 1914 F. W. Peakes 6- ■ 1- -1914 — 2- 1921 Arthur Jeffries 8- 1- 1921 — 2- 1- 1925 Howard W. Joslyn 5- 1- -1925- — 10- 1- 1930 Reuben J. Davis 2- 15- 1931- — 1 1- 19- 1940 Ira J. Martin 4- 15- -1941- -11- 1- 1944 Paul S. Haslett 1- 21- ■ 1945- — 10- 11- ■1945 Warren E. Stewart 9- 29- ■ 1946- — 8- 1- 1949 Frederick C. Webber 11- 13- 1949 — Tc > present Evangelical Congregational Church 1830 (Athol Congregational Church, Inc. — 1926) On October 2, 1830 a meeting of unusual importance was held of the seceding members of Athol's first church, tem¬ porary articles of faith were adopted, and the Evangelical Con- 127 HISTORY OF ATHOL gregational Church formed with Rev. Mr. George J. Tillotson as pastor/27) He continued to minister to this church whose meetings were held in the Town House at Main and Common Streets for the space of three months and was invited to be¬ come its settled pastor. But he declined this offer to accept the pastorate of the Congregational Church in Brooklyn, Con¬ necticut which office he held for twenty-seven years. Born in Farmington, Connecticut on February 5, 1805, ed¬ ucated at Yale College, and later as one of the Trustees, Rev. Tillotson was active in the ministry for forty-five years. In 1860 he married for his second wife, Mary Wood, a well known teacher and descendant of the Sweetzer family of Athol. He was interested in education and gave $5,000 to start a colleg¬ iate and normal institute in Texas for the education of the freedmen of that State, to which the Executive Committee of the American Missionary Association gave his name. Following Rev. Tillotson, Rev. B. B. Beckwith of Lyme, Con¬ necticut, a graduate of Williams College and a student at Yale Theological Seminary, was pastor from 1831 to 1834. Notable events of this pastorate were the building of a house of worship and a revival conducted by the Rev. Horatio Foote, an evange¬ list of some contemporary note. A tall, slim man, he was a plain, strong, emotional preacher, hated by some and loved enough by others to fill the church building to overflowing. His conversion of nearly sixty people in Athol awakened such opposition in others that it is said a cannon was fired near the church during services, and a stone was hurled through the window in the direction of the pulpit. Thus Athol was in tune with the rest of New England which at that time was experienc¬ ing a wonderful religious awakening. (-") Rev. Henry A. Blake's "Historical Address," pub. 1880, pp. 5-10. We can little realize the gamut of emotions at this period for mingled with religious zeal was denominational strife. Unitarians and Orthodox often met in bodily conflict. My uncle Frank has told me that he rarely got by the First Church on Sunday without getting insulted, often being pelted with mud, sods, or stones. In return he with other boys would lie in wait around the Common for the Unitarian boys to come home. My father, too, has often mentioned the laying of the corner stone for this new church building when fights were constantly going on at the outskirts of the crowd while Rev. Mr. Foote preached from the text "They that have turned the world up¬ side down have come hither also." 128 DENOMINATIONS EVOLVE This church building finished and dedicated in June, 1833 was designed by Joseph Parmenter of Petersham, who also built in exact duplicate the North Church at Petersham. To this day the church in Petersham remains unchanged while the Athol building has undergone several alterations. Originally the underneath part of the building was an open place into ORTHODOX CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 1833 -1 859 TO DATE which wagons were often run. There were two doors at the front reached by a flight of three wooden steps. On each side of the top step were large pillars. Entering, one came first into a narrow vestibule where stood two stoves which warmed the church by long pipes stretching to chimneys at the farther end of the house. Over this ves¬ tibule was a small vestry used for prayer meetings in front of which projected the singers' gallery over some of the back 129 HISTORY OF ATHOL pews, supported in part by two pillars. From the vestibule two doors led into the auditorium on the same level. There was then no centre aisle but a double length of pews filled the middle of the house and a row of single length abutted against either side, leaving room for two aisles between the centre and side seats. Stairs led up from both sides into the boxed pul¬ pit. Back of the pulpit was hung a blind and over this a red damask curtain looped over a large brass knob at one side. The blinds on the outside of the house were finished in semi¬ circles at the top, the marks of which are still to be seen on this building. A cupola, painted black and holding the bell on which were cast the names of its six donors, surmounted the whole. With love and hard work this building was constructed by members of the church, all of the lumber being contributed and the land donated by Mr. Frederick Jones of Boston. Until the house was repaired in 1859 there hung a board in its front gable on which was painted the date of its building, 1833. Rev. James F. Warner of Wilbraham, Massachusetts suc¬ ceeded Mr. Beckwith on March 4, 1835 and remained until December 18, 1837. During his ministry a small legacy of $200 for the supply of the communion table and of singing was left by General James Humphrey, Esq., the cracked bell was replaced by another, and $300 was raised by subscription towards the expense of building a new vestry to replace the original one now found to be too small. Though the old vestry was torn out, nothing further was done until later on. One stormy week-end Rev. Warner's quick, excitable tem¬ perament was aroused when he expected to exchange pulpits with Dr. Sabin of Templeton. Saturday was too stormy for travel so on Sunday morning Rev. Warner made the journey to Templeton to find the good doctor still at home with no inten¬ tion of travellinq on a Sunday to keep his engagement in Athol. At once Rev. Warner turned his horse about and in due time marched with a very firm step and a very suggesive air up the aisle of his own church. In earnest he preached from the words "The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the the Sabbath," telling the whole story of the exchange. His mu¬ sical talents soon took him to New York City where he became a teacher of music, and never again took up the work of the ministry. During 1838 when Rev. John D. Smith was acting pastor, the new vestry was built "in the roof of the meeting house." Space just over the auditorium was fitted up by Mr. Parmenter and there for twenty years the prayer and conference meetings of the church were held. The floor was upheld by iron rods 130 DENOMINATIONS EVOLVE fastened to the roof; a round table circled one of these rods, rude benches served for seats and two flights of stairs led up into this place to which was popularly given the name “sky parlor." In the fall of 1839 while a singing school was in ses¬ sion in this vestry, the floor suddenly settled due to some im¬ perfection in the arrangements for its support, plaster fell into the church, and for several weeks thereafter three tall, rough pine tree trunks stood in the auditorium to uphold the ceiling. Excitement was high in the years between 1839 and 1851 when Rev. R. M. Chipman, recently of Harwington, Connecti¬ cut served as pastor. For the members of this church as well as other churches in Athol were aroused. Temperance Reform, Anti-Slavery, and the Millerite agitation shook the very faith of each person. The outcome — liquors, even includ¬ ing cider, were banned. This was too much for some twenty- nine persons who became excommunicated from the church for failure to comply. Happily, there appears no record of anyone's violating the Anti-Slavery rules. Millerism took hold for a time, gathering into its fold some Baptists and Congre- gatonalists. That story is told, however, elsewhere in this chapter. A pastorate of great blessing to the church began on Feb¬ ruary 19, 1852 when the Rev. John F. Norton was called by these people as their minister. His was the longest term of service in the history of this church. It was he who wrote "Athol in Suppressing the Great Rebellion," a most complete history of our Civil War activities. In Lewis' History of Wor¬ cester County" he wrote the Athol chapters contributing much to our published local history. In late life he wrote a history of Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire which is invaluable to that town. Born in Goshen, Connecticut on September 8, 1809 he was educated at Yale College and at East Windsor Theological Seminary, and was ordained to the ministry in 1844. He was a busy, methodical, studious, vivacious man, of a decided social nature public spirited yet conservative. A member of our School Committee in 1856 he was its Chairman when the High School opened and for six years after. As one result of Rev. Norton's second year of service, thirty- four persons were added to the church on profession of faith. Most of these converts in the slow re-awakening of the need for a better spiritual life were women; the men, twenty-nine of them, came in the greater movement of a few years later. The church grew not only spiritually but in 1 859 was exten¬ sively repaired and enlarged. A committee of John F. Hum- 131 HISTORY OF ATHOL phreys, Thomas Babbitt, Edwin Ellis, Joab Kendall, Goodell Goddard, Charles C. Bassett, and Elias Bassett was chosen to proceed with the repairs not to exceed $3,500. When the work was done by February, I860, $6000 had been expended but the building was now a place of beauty. REV. JOHN F. NORTON 1892 Raised about eight feet, the building was high enough to allow the erection of the present vestry underneath. An addi¬ tion of about twelve feet was made on the South end, new win¬ dows were put in, the whole front of the church was changed, and a tall steeple built in place of the old black belfry. In¬ side, the pulpit platform was lowered and surmounted with a new rose-wood desk, the projection of the singers' gallery was taken down, new seats were put in, and a new carpet laid. At the dedication Rev. Norton used as his sermon text "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee, how much less this house which I have builded!" It is an interesting aside that in order to turn around and stand facing the choir during the singing, some of the ladies were forced to step out into the aisle on account of the large size of their hoops worn in obedience to the fashion of that time. 132 DENOMINATIONS EVOLVE Rev. Norton left in 1868 to become pastor of a church in Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire. At his death in 1892 his re¬ mains were brought back to Athol where he had spent the prime of his life, and here he is buried at the Highlands. He left a widow and one son, Lewis M., long a professor in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge. Succeeding Rev. Norton, Rev. Temple Cutler of Skowhegan, Maine came on March 4, 1868. For eight years Mr. Cutler's vitalizing warmth nourished "the good seeds well sowed" by Rev. Norton, and he became widely loved. His thorough de¬ votion to his work in Athol found continual evidence while here and after was most signally proved by his work in behalf of the freeden of the south, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and later in Charleston. South Carolina. During his pastorate the vestry was lighted by gas, a set of gas chandeliers for the au¬ ditorium was presented by Mr. A. M. Sawyer, a fine pipe organ was placed in the singers' gallery, a silver communion service was given by Deacon Goodsll Goddard, and a new communion table given by the young people. Also, forty individual mem¬ bers purchased and presented to the Society a parsonage. On the thirteenth of September, 1876 Rev. Henry A. Blake, a native of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, a graduate of Brown Uni¬ versity and just from Andover Theological Seminary, was in¬ stalled as minister. The historical address which he gave on the fiftieth anniversary of the organization of this church is a valuable addition to the church history of Athol. After a seven years' successful pastorate he became minister of a Church in Providence, Rhode Island and then in Webster, Massachusetts. Rev. H. W. Stebbins, a graduate of Dartmouth College and Andover Theological Seminary, was minister of this church for five years. His resignation, demanded by the people, which took effect on December 31, 1881 climaxed one of the most important ecclesiastical councils ever held prior to 1900 in this section of New England. This trouble regarding the pas¬ tor nearly divided the church. The ninth minister, Rev. Edwin S. Gould, served in the 51st and 60th Mass. Regiments of the Civil War, had three years of newspaper work, and seventeen years in the ministry before he came to our pulpit in May, 1890. The present stately steeple was built in 1881. Later, in 1906, the plastered walls and ceiling of this church were cov¬ ered with steel and stained glass memorial windows added. 133 HISTORY OF ATHOL Shedding their rich colored light over this fine old church these ten beautiful windows are in loving memory of Addison M. Sawyer and Family David and Sallie Goddard (Gift of Hiram Goddard) Charles C. and Lucinda S. Bassett J. Sumner Parmenter and Edwin Ellis Phebe Sheman Gould Asa and Anna Hill Joab and Louisa Kendall Samuel Clapp and James I. Goulding (Gift of Harriet E. Phelps) Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas M. Goodspeed Gift of Junior Y. P. S. C. E. In 1929 when another major renovation of the building was carried out, the steal walls were replaced with plaster and tint¬ ed glass windows put in place of the heavier stained glass. Some fourteen years before a new pipe organ had been in¬ stalled at the right side of the front of the church, and in 1929 new lighting fixtures and carpeting were added. Since 1896 there have been only seven ministers, Rev. Charles O. Eames and Rev. Daniel I. Gross, D.D., both having served for fourteen years. Rev. Leonard W. Fowler, the pres¬ ent pastor, began his duties in December, 1945. Rev. Edwin S. Gould Rev. Rolla C. Bugbee Rev. Warren J. Moulton Rev. Charles O. Eames Rev. Elliott O. Foster Rev. Beniamin A. Willmott Rev. Daniel I. Gross Rev. Leonard W. Fowler 1890 — 1896 1897 — 1904 1904 — 1905 1905 — 1919 1919 — 1925 1925 — 1930 1931 — 1945 1 945 - to present Rev. Rolla G. Bugbee served the church from December 1896 to March 1904 and was succeeded in July 1904 by Rev. Warren J. Moulton who was accepted most enthusiastically by the church as wall as the townspeople, but after eleven months Mr. Moulton summarily closed his pastorate and at once en¬ tered the teaching staff of Bangor Theological Seminary where he spent the remainder of his active life. November 4, 1905 Rev. Charles O. Eames succeeded to the pastorate and for thirteen years served the church as its leader to be succeeded in the autumn of 1919 by Rev. Elliott O. Foster, a military Chaplain recently relieved of active service. After fourteen years service here, Mr. Eames resigned to ac¬ cept a pastorate over a Federated Church in Millbury, Massa¬ chusetts, and Rev. Benjamin A. Willmott came to the vacant 134 DENOMINATIONS EVOLVE pulpit. During the five years that Mr. Willmott remained here every department of the church prospered and it was no un¬ common occurrence to have the auditorium filled to its full capacity. During his term of service here Athol Rotary Club was formed and Rev. Willmott became a most beloved member of that civic body. Reluctnatly in 1930 the church acceded to his request and dismissed Mr. Willmott from its leadership. After much searching the church decided upon Rev. Daniel I. Gross, D.D., of Portland, Maine, as its leader and he began his duties in 1931. Dr. Gross, like his predecessor, was beloved alike by the church and the townspeople and had not death intervened it is likely that his might well have been the longest pastorate in the church's history but he weakened under the strain and died among his people on September 30, 1945. Only Rev. Mr. Norton and Dr. Gross of the long list of pas¬ tors found their last resting place in Athol's soil. When Dr. Gross became incapacitated by illness a few months before his death, arrangements were made with Rev. Leonard W. Fowler who had been just relieved of active duty as a Navy Chaplain. Mr. Fowler was no stranger to this com¬ munity for he had spent much of his early life in our adjoin¬ ing town of Royalston. In due time the temporary arrange¬ ment with him ripened into an active pastorate. Soon after assuming duties as actual pastor. Rev. Mr. Fow¬ ler took the leadership in a radical rearrangement of the pul¬ pit area in the church. Today this church known since 1926 as the Athol Congre¬ gational Church. Inc., has a newly decorated auditorium and in it many precious things given by some of its members in loving memory. The Daniel I. Gross Memorial Organ, pre¬ sented by the people, is enhanced by the Deacon and Mrs. Oren M. Lawton Memorial Chimes, given by their children and grandchildren. Lovely and simple against a background of old colonial architecture stands the altar with its gold cross and candlesticks. Presented by their children, Barbara, Leonard and Katherine, this altar is in memory of Deacon and Mrs. Daniel P. Kimball. The cross and candlesticks were given by Mr. and Mrs. Norman W. MacKay in memory of their son, Kenneth F. Other memorials dedicated on December 19, 1948 were vases, altar Bible, pulpit, lectern, pulpit Bible, lamps, contribution plates, and upholstery. 135 HISTORY OF ATHOL Sunday School Without the history of the Sunday School the story of the church would be incomplete. The church school stems direct¬ ly from the work of one, Robert Raikes of Gloucester, England, who gathered into schools on the Sabbath all the idle and poor children whom he could find and paid women to teach them to read and to learn the church catechism. For some twenty years all Sunday School teachers were paid until the beginning of the 1 9th century when they did the work gratuitously. After a time the secular instruction in reading and writing and arith¬ metic was given over to the weekday schools and the Sunday School became one for religious instruction only. Just when the first Sunday School started in Athol is un¬ known. One of the original members thought it was 1811 and Deacon Goodell Goddard said it was in 1827. But all are agreed that the beginning was made by Miss Catherine Lyman, then a day school teacher in the Bell School House that stood on the green in the centre of this village. Deacon Elijah Goddard, born on Chestnut Hill in 1771 and elected deacon of the old First Church in 1807, was Superin¬ tendent until the division of the Society in 1830. Of interest is the fact that after the Church School opened in this, the newly formed Evangelical Congregational Church, about one- half of the members were over eighteen years of age, due quite possibly to the fact that the separation was made on ac¬ count of the faithfulness of the church to the great teachings of the Bible. immediately after the separation Deacon Elijah Ballard be¬ came Superintendent, followed during the next thirty-three years by Deacon Samuel Sweetser, Mr. Lewis Thorpe, Mr. Cal¬ vin Kendall, and Deacon James I. Goulding, the latter serving for fifteen of those years. MINISTERS Rev. Mr. George J. Tillotson Rev. B. B. Beckwith Rev. James F. Warner Rev. John D. Smith — -Acting pastor Rev. Richard Manning Chipman Rev. John F. Norton Rev. Temple Cutler Rev. Henry A. Blake Rev. H. W. Stebbins Rev. Edwin S. Gould Rev. Rolla G. Bugbee Rev. Warren J. Moulton 1830 (3 months) 6- 8-1831 — 11-1 1-1834 3- 4-1835 — 12-18-1837 3- 1-1838 — 3- 1-1839 8- 15-1839 — 12-23-1851 3-17-1852 — 3-11-1867 3- 4-1868 — 4-19-1876 9- 13-1876 — 5- 1-1883 9- 1-1883 — 12- 3-1888 5-18-1890 — 7-1896 12-16-1896 — 3-1904 9. 1-1904 — 8-1905 136 DENOMINATIONS EVOLVE Rev. Charles O. Eames Rev. Elliott O. Foster Rev. Benjamin A. Willmott Rev. Daniel I. Gross, D.D. Rev. Leonard W. Fowler 1 1- 4-1905 — 10-1919 1919 — 1-1925 1925 — 12-14-1930 2-1931 — 9-30-1945 12- 9-1945 — To present South Athol Church 1831 The Town of New Salem in the first two decades of the nineteenth century was not only the most populous town in Franklin County but the largest town geographically. Grad- V t SOUTH ATHOL METHODIST CHURCH 1834 - 137 HISTORY OF ATHOL ually its territory has been taken to make a part of the Town of Prescott, to be added to Orange, and finally a considerable area joined to Athol. This easterly section which became a part of Athol in 1837 is an area where a considerable village grew up prior to its annexation to our town. One of the incidents in its development was the organiza¬ tion on December 12, 1831 of a Methodist Church. In 1836 the present church building at South Athol was erected and from that time to the present day the history of this church has been an unbroken one. Never large in membership it has been an essential part in the development of that portion of our town. For a goodly number of years we had a rather complete list of pastors, but in recent years the pulpit has been supplied by Morgan Memorial proteges and by part-time service connect¬ ing it at times with North Dana, and at other times with North Prescott and with Orange. Recently the activities of the Morgan Memorial Cooperative Industries and Stores, located in that village, have overshad¬ owed the work of this church, but the church has continued to supplement the activity of that charity. Morgan Memorial Henry Morgan, a child of the poor, early learned from his mother a watchword of hope which served as a talisman through his life of service. "Never too poor to pray. Never too weak to win." Those words uttered by Rev. Henry Mor¬ gan's mother burned in his mind and were the foundation of the Morgan Memorial work all over the world, including South Athol. In 1907 the first section of the South Athol Farm was given to Morgan Memorial by Hannah Parker Kimball to be used by the underprivileged and handicapped in Boston's South End tenements. Since that time twenty-nine camps and buildings have been erected on this farm and enough land added to make about 760 acres given over to the benefit of those children, men, and women who need vacations away from city heat. In 1948 a new camp, the most modern and best equipped of all, was built for forty boys. Besides the camps in South Athol are the Goodwill Work¬ shops, which comprise a small Rug and Blanket Factory, Canning Factory, Toy Shop, and the Mineral Water Bottling 138 DENOMINATIONS EVOLVE Plant. Income from the sale of these Golden and Pale Dry Ginger Ales helps to support these Fresh Air Camps. On May 30, 1938 this Rural Goodwill Industry Plant was completely destroyed by fire, seriously curtailing the program. Another factor also temporarily affected the output, for dur¬ ing the years of World War II the industrial program there was drastically curtailed because of the shortage of labor and the employment of workers in War industry. Today the work of the Morgan Memorial Cooperative Indus¬ tries and Stores in South Athol goes forward providing work for many including the sick and the aged who must be paid more than they can actually earn. This consideration saves them from worry, inspires them to an independent life, and compels belief that practical Christianity is still in the world. Millerism 1843 Millerism was the sole topic of conversation in Athol early in 1843. One William Miller had declared that by computa¬ tion of the Prophesies especially in the Book of Daniel, he had arrived at the conclusion that Christ's second coming to the world would occur in the later months of 1843. Many accepted this statement and prepared for the end of all things terrestial. Elder David Goddard, a Baptist minister from Wendell, had come here about 1843 and secured the use of the Baptist meeting house as a Miller Evangel. Soon the regular services of that church were all but suspended while Millerism meetings were largely attended. Elder Goddard wore himself out by his exertions and died here among the people to whom he had often declared "No coffin shall encase my form but I shall be caught upon a cloud to meet my God without being subjected to the pains of death." It is related that at one of these meetings Mr. Samuel Mann spoke at some length upon the certainty that the Lord would come upon the appointed day and announced that he had a large field of potatoes planted which he should never need and anyone who cared to might help himself to them. The fol¬ lowing day Freeman Chase took his ox team and his boys up to Mr. Mann's and dug a full cart load. On his way home he met Mr. Mann who inquired where he got his potatoes. "I was up to the meeting last night and heard what you said about your not wanting your potatoes and so as my crop is 139 HISTORY OF ATHOL not turning out very well I thought I would replenish my stock. It's all right, isn't it?" asked Mr. Chase. Mr. Mann's feeble reply/ "y-y-yes, it's all right, but if you see any of your n-n-neighbors coming, you can tell them I ain't quite as f-full in the faith as I was." One of the doctrines of Miller was that a church organiza¬ tion was un-Christian and he advised his adherents to sever their connection with religious bodies. Fifteen members with¬ drew from the Baptist Church and a few from the Congrega- tionalists. For twenty years these people remained disorganized and then formed the Second Advent Christian Church of Athol. Even in June, 1949 a gentleman in Long Island "brightened the public prints with the assertion that the world was about to tip over because of the weight of the polar ice caps." While the words of prophecy are different, the voices are the same, and it is a strange coincidence that the scientific warning of earth's doom should come of all years in 1949, for it was on December 20 just a century ago that William Miller died. Methodist Episcopal Church 1851 (Starrett Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church — 1918) The first Methodist class meeting continuing into a regular church was held in Athol on November 22, 1851. Organized by Rev. W. A. Clapp of Phillipston, it was held in a house long since demolished which stood between the railroad and School Street just south of the footway underpass. Those who gath¬ ered together in this faith were George Gerry as leader, Ephraim W. Weston, Roxanna C. Weston, Sophia Gerry, Wil¬ liam R. Battles, Cynthia Battles, James Giles, Parthenia Giles, Sumner R. Morse, Mary T. Morse, Edwin J. Decker, Roswell Graham, Sylvester Davis, and Catherine Young. Methodism in Athol actually dates back to the very first years of its introduction into New England. Only four years after Jesse Lee, the pioneer and great Methodist apostle of New England, stood on a July day in 1790 beneath the old elm on Boston Common and preached for the first time in Boston the glad tidings of a free salvation, he visited Athol and Orange to leave a series of appointments for other preach¬ ers on a circuit which was formed for this section of New England. Five years later the Orange Circuit was formed. It had its be¬ ginning from the enthusiasm of Mr. Elijah Ball when he heard 140 DENOMINATIONS EVOLVE Rev. John Hill preach in Milford, and one half of the first class were members of the Lord family: Thomas Lord, Aaron Lord, Joseph Lord, Asa Lord, Leonard Lord, Lydia Lord. The others were Nathan Goddard, David Legg, Abigail Ellis, Lois Hill, Jemima Tully, Hannah Legg, and Alice Holden. Situated on a road leading from Orange to North Orange, the first house of worship was erected in 1802. It was a plain square structure, clapboarded but never painted, with a square roof from the top of which a square timber stood perpen¬ dicularly, about six feet in the air. The inside of the house was never finished off by ceiling or partition. Resting on blocks or stools, the seats were planed boards. It never had a stove and the pulpit was a plain board front with a narrow strip on the top. To this crude building, the only Methodist meeting house within a radius of about seventy-five miles, came Bishop Asbury, the pioneer Bishop of America, and a host of other noble preachers. What tireless energy this Bishop Asbury had for he ordained upward of three thousand preachers, preached seventeen thousand sermons, travelled three hundred thousand miles, and had the care of one hundred thousand souls. Most truly was it said of him "On the Methodism of this broad continent, from the region beneath the Northern Bear to that which sees the Southern Cross, from the crowded cities on the Atlantic to the far off lonely regions, where rolls the Oregon and hears no sound save his own dashings, he has impressed the stamp of his powerful mind, his mighty faith, and his unconquerable will.,/(28) Until 1842 the name of the Circuit to which the Orange Society belonged was changed several times — to Ashburnham Circuit in 1803, to Orange Circuit in 1829, and to Northfield Circuit in 1830 — and it had eleven preachers. The year 1843 marked the end of the old Orange Society for its meeting house was sold to Mr. Elbridge Foskett who took the building down and removed it to Athol Depot, where it long stood in the rear of 145 School Street occupied as a barn and owned by Mr. Richard Fry. How early and to what extent the Methodist itinerants of the early part of the last century preached in the village of Athol Depot is not definitely known, but it was probably quite often. We know of occasional services as early as from 1815 to 1 830. (28) L. B. Caswell's "History of the Methodist Church” pub. 1902, p. 9. 141 HISTORY OF ATHOL Three men, one, Sylvester Davis, from Orange East Road, and two from our Depot Village, James Giles and George Gerry, in the fall of 1851, became impressed with the need of holding Methodist services here. When George Gerry of¬ fered his house as a meeting place it was accepted. Three persons formed the congregation that first evening. Thus the background for the first properly organized class which met in November, 1851. METHODIST CHURCH 1861 - 1918 For some months the class met at Mr. Gerry's house under the leadership of Rev. Mr. Clapp until the spring of 1852 when Rev. Charles Heywood of Gill became pastor. He did not reside in town but came here every week to preach and visit his people. At this time the place of meeting was moved to a room known as Hill's Hall in the "Arcade," which stood where St. Francis Church now stands, and later in Houghton's 142 DENOMINATIONS EVOLVE Hall where the Savings Bank is now located. The upper part of this latter building was incomplete when our people first used it. Following the policy laid down by the Methodist Episcopal Church its local organization had a change in ministers almost every two years, sometimes more frequently, and at other times the three years' tenure was allowed. The names of these good men are all recorded at the end of this story. Rev. John Good¬ win — who made shoes during the week and preached on Sun¬ day, Rev. Gardner Rice, Rev. Nathaniel H. Martin — our first minister appointed by the New England Conference, Rev. Linus Fish, and Rev. Wm. J. Hambleton are names familiar to us in our church history. Representing this church, it was Rev. Hambleton who spoke briefly at the re-consecration of the ancient cemetery of Athol on July 4, 1859. When Rev. Increase B. Bigelow took over the pastorate in 1860, it marked an interesting epoch in the history of the church for it was during this time that the church building was erected. David Smith gave the land at the corner of Main and River Streets, and Sylvester Davis devoted himself earnestly to the enterprise, pledging his property to pay monies that were due on the building. Under the direction of Rev. Bigelow, Sylvester Davis, Sumner R. Morse and George Gerry as a building committee, the construction was successfully carried out at a cost of $4,000 and on the 5th of November, 1861 the completed house of worship was dedicated. Rev. David Sherman, D.D., then presiding elder of the Worcester District, preached the sermon from John 11:11 "This begin¬ ning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him." Seventeen Methodist preachers were present. Civil War days upset the religious interest here generally for many from all Athol churches left as soldiers. Azor S. Davis, leader of our choir, enlisted. It was Rev. John M. Coolidge, Rev. Bigelow's successor in 1862, who was our minister during those trying months. A new parsonage at 91 Cottage Street was erected during Rev. C. L. McCurdy's pastorate at a cost of $3300, and $200 worth of furniture placed in it. The church was enlarged and painted, an excellent organ was installed, and a large, fine toned bell still in use replaced the old, badly cracked one. Mrs. Van Cott, so well known as a successful evangelist, held a series of meetings here with good results. It was during 143 HISTORY OF ATHOL Rev. A. F. Herrick's three-year pastorate in which he secured no less than eighty-eight probationers. There is another name familiar not only to all Athol Metho¬ dists but to New England men and women of this faith as well — Rev. John N. Mars, a colored Methodist preacher, a powerful evangelist, and a former slave who resided here for twenty years. Though born of slave parents on June 22, 1804, he REV. JOHN N. MARS 1804 - 1884 never felt a slave as his father and mother had escaped from bondage, or had committed "An Exodus" as he called it. In any event John Mars located in Athol before the Civil War. He enlisted here and was assigned as Chaplain of the First North Carolina (colored) Regiment. After the war he was pastor of a large negro Methodist Church in Philadelphia. He had a considerable number of friends here. One day in March, 1874 some of them gathered at the home of Frank G. Lord at No. 488 Main Street to present him with a gold¬ headed cane. He retired in Athol and his negro wife having died, he married a white woman and spent the closing years of his life with her at their home, 107 Spring Street. At the age of eighty, he died on September 18, 1884. 144 DENOMINATIONS EVOLVE When Rev. Wellen N. Richardson became pastor in 1887 "he found the outlook for Methodism in Athol most discourag¬ ing. Not only were the congregations small but the church building was in a most dilapidated condition. The church was settling, the belfry was rotten, and the plaster was hanging from the ceiling. With heavy heart Rev. Richardson took in the situation at once and courageously made plans. The people both in the church and out of it responded nobly and so successful were his efforts that the church, repaired and renovated throughout at an expense of nearly $4000, was re¬ dedicated on January 25, 1888. Rev. Frederick Woods, D.D. of Boston preached the sermon. Memorial windows of English cathedral glass replaced the old windows and assembly chairs took the place of the old pews. Every part of the renovated structure was so beautiful in appearance that it brought about a new era in the church. Forty years in the history of this church had passed when Rev. Wm. W. Baldwin came to the pulpit in 1891 in time to preach the anniversary sermon. For his text he used "I have set before thee an open door." In June of 1892 a new corner tower was erected under the direction of Contractor C. Burdick, to replace the steeple which had become unsafe. The "rooster" weathervane, put in place some thirty years before, was in¬ stalled atop this tower. The longest save that of Rev. Avey, and one of the most successful pastorates in the history of the church was that of Rev. John H. Mansfield who came in 1894 and served for five years. We learned that during his pastorate in Westfield, Massachusetts, 1868-70, that town experienced the greatest revival in its history. Here in Athol a spirit of harmony and spirituality prevailed, and at the close of his ministry the church was in a very prosperous condition both spiritually and finan¬ cially. Church members numbered 284 and probationers 10. He had received 152 into the church, one half from probation and the other seventy-six by letter. Extensive improvements were made in the church vestry at a cost of about $600 during the pastorate of Rev. L. P. Causey. For only two short months in 1901 was Rev. Charles A. Shatto our pastor, when he was suddenly called by telegram to the sick bed of his father in Ohio. Mr. Caswell writes: "It was on a Monday morning that we bid him farewell as he left us on his sad journey. On the next Sunday evening, June 23rd, as we had just assembled in our prayer meeting, the startling news was brought us that Brother Shatto had died 145 HISTORY OF ATHOL suddenly that morning at the home of his father." Rev. Shatto, a most brilliant pulpit orator, was the first pastor to die while in active service as pastor of the church. In loving memory of him a memorial window was placed in the front of the building. At the half century mark in the history of this church, a three-day celebration was of special significance and interest to Methodists in Athol and Orange as well as to those of other denominations. The program began on Sunday, December 1, 1901 at the morning service. Through the efforts of Leslie Hewitt, the auditorium was decorated with evergreen and laurel. Mrs. Florence Beebe was at the organ and the music during the entire program was under the direction of Charles H. Davis, choir leader. Widely known. Prof. M. D. Buell, then Dean of Boston University School of Theology, gave a scholarly address in which he emphasized the fact that all should let their lives count for Christ. In the evening Rev. (later Bishop) Edwin H. Hughes, long pastor of the Centre Methodist Church of Malden and one of the best speakers ever heard in town, held the close attention of these people when he spoke about "Christ is all and in all." The pastor, Rev. T. C. Cleveland, who had been appointed in September, 1901, took a humble place in the activities as he desired that "other faces shall ap¬ pear before you and other thoughts shall be given expression." Mr. L. B. Caswell gave the historical address and W. Scott Ward served as toastmaster. Work began in September, 1917 on the present church building, known as the Starrett Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church on Island Street. In preparation, the old Fish black¬ smith shop was torn down, and the Athol Granite Building and the former Sawin Carriage Shop were removed to Fish Circle to be fitted up for tenements. When the corner stone was laid in November, all the Protestant ministers of Athol participated in these exercises as well as Roy N. Berry, Secretary of the Y.M.C.A. and Mr. L. S. Starrett, the major contributor to the enterprise. Rev. C. Oscar Ford, District Superintendent, pre¬ sided and the address was given by Bishop Edwin Holt Hughes, who had so acceptably preached the 50th anniversary sermon. Little more than a year after the work started, the new building was dedicated on December 15, 1918. Again Dr. Ford was with us to preach the morning sermon. Bishop John W. Hamilton of Washington, D. C. gave the dedicatory sermon, and in the evening the sermon was delivered by Rev. James M. Gage, once of this church, a native son of Athol. This beautiful church building which cost considerably more than $100,000 146 DENOMINATIONS EVOLVE to erect is in memory of the wife of Mr. L. S. Starrett, who himself died on April 23, 1922 within a few days of being eighty-six years old. In the spring of 1919 Bishop Hamilton returned to our town as principal speaker at the New England Conference held here in April. This was a great event in the life of the church and the town as well. The Church School which dates back to 1826 has been an important auxiliary of the church. From the beginning of its history the church has also been noted for its choir. The music has been enriched by the beautiful new organ given at the time of the fiftieth anniversary by Mr. L. S. Starrett in mem¬ ory of his good wife who did so much for this church. PASTORS Rev. W. A. Clapp 1 1-30-1851 — 18521 Appointed Rev. Charles Heywood 1 852 (few months) by Rev. John Goodwin 1852 — 1853 Presiding Rev. Gardner Rice 1853 1855 Elder Rev. Nathaniel H. Martin 1855 1857 1 st appoint¬ ed by N. E. Conference Rev. Linus Fish 1857 — 1859 Rev. Wm. G. Hambleton 1859 1860 Rev. Increase B. Bigelow 1860 1862 Rev. John M. Coolidge 1862 1863 Rev. Frederick T. George 1863 — 1865 Rev. John Capen 1865 — 1866 Rev. Charles H. Hanaford 1866 — 1867 Rev. Charles R. Harding 1867 Supplied a few months Rev. Wm. T. Harlow 1868 1869 Rev. C. L. McCurdy 1869 — 1872 Rev. John Peterson 1872 — 1875 Rev. A. F. Herrick 1875 — 1878 Rev. L. A. Bosworth 1878 1881 Rev. Wm. Full 1881 — 1883 Rev. A. R. Nichols 1883 — 1884 Rev. P. M. Vinton 1884 — 1887 Rev. Wellen N. Richardson 1887 — 1891 Rev. Wm. W. Baldwin 1891 — 1893 Rev. James H. Humphrey 1893 — 1894 Rev. John H. Mansfield 1894 — 1899 Rev. L. P. Causey 1899 — 1901 Rev. Charles A. Shatto 1901 Two months Rev. T. C. Cleveland 1901 — 1906 Rev. Ralph T. Flewelling 1906 — 1909 Rev. Harry H. Payne 1909 — 1911 Rev. T. C. Cleveland 191 1 — 1914 Rev. Charles F. Schaffer 1914 — 1916 Rev. Edwin V. Hinchliffe 1916 — 1923 Rev. Fred M. Estes 1923 — 1927 Rev. Wellington C. Pixler 1927 — 1932 147 HISTORY OF ATHOL Rev. Everett E. Jackman Rev. Arthur A. Pitman Supply Rev. Clarence F. Avey 1932 1937 1937 — 7-1-1939 1939 1940 2-1-1940 To present St. Catherine's Catholic Church 1855 (Church of Our Lady Immaculate — 1904) Previous to 1850 there were no regular Roman Catholic services in Athol, but with the coming of the railroad several families of that faith located here. Rev. M. W. Gibson of Worcester began making regular visits about this time and soon had sufficient adherents to warrant establishing a church. One historian says that Rev. Gibson bought the old Baptist building in 1853, but the records show that it was not deeded until 1855, when on April eighteenth of that year the Catholic Diocese purchased the property at 1782 Main Street. Here the adherents to this ancient faith worshipped for thirty years until their numbers far surpassed the capacity of the building. Rev. Fr. Bannon used to come to Athol frequently to hold services before closing his pastorate in Otter River. Following him were Reverends William Orr, two by the name of Mc- Manas, R. J. Donovan, and Robert Welch. Rev. Joseph Coyne for several years held services three times each month until 1882 when Athol became a parish and Rev. Edward F. Martin was appointed as the first resident priest. Born in Barre, Massa¬ chusetts, Rev. Martin was a veteran of the Civil War before entering St. Joseph's Seminary in Troy, New York where he was ordained. These people worshipped in the Town Hall temporarily until acquiring the Drury Park lot where they began to build at the corner of Park Avenue and Allen Street in 1884. Cramped for funds, they built only the basement, roofed it over, and occupied this incompleted building for years, holding the first service there on March 9, 1884. In 1885 Father Martin built a rectory soon after the base¬ ment of the new church was erected. After removing to School Street, they exchanged with Judge Field who took over the rectory only, and they, in turn, took over for a rectory Field's house which he built in 1869 at 192 School Street. Soon after this the town acquired the west half of the Drury Park and built thereon the Riverbend School. Subsequently the 148 DENOMINATIONS EVOLVE town bought for $4000 the remaining part of the east half of the Catholic Church and the Field House, thus bringing it all into the ownership of the town. The Ellen Bigelow School now stands where the old basement of the Catholic Church stood. Eventually the church abandoned its former plans of further construction on the basement and on Sunday, October 9, 1904 the corner stone was laid for its present Church of Our Lady Immaculate on the new School Street site. Rev. D. F. Feehari of Fitchburg, a native son of Athol, gave the address. PRESENT CATHOLIC CHURCH CHURCH OF OUR LADY IMMACULATE In recent years this church has broadened its activities ma¬ terially. It purchased the Frank Starrett House at 925 Main Street where the Sisters of Mercy have been located since 1 847. Later it acquired the C. M. Sears house adjoining this property on the west designating the renovated dwelling the House of the Queen of Peace. There a Boy Scout Troop meets organized in 1950. In 1952 both the Catholic Women's League and the Holy Name Society were organized. ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIESTS Rev. Edward F. Martin 1882 Rev. James J. Howard 1903 Rev. Michael J. Curran, D.D. 1916 Rev. James P. Costello 1941 Rev. Francis J. Warburton 3-1950 — 9-6-1903 — 1916 — 1941 1950 To present 149 HISTORY OF ATHOL Adoni Shomo Corporation* 1861-1898 In the years following the mid-way period of the nineteenth century there gathered together over New England a consid¬ erable number of groups holding religious views quite in var¬ iance with those taught by the established church of Massa¬ chusetts. One of these was a company which came together on the Fuller Farm at 1847 Pleasant Street, eventually becoming in 1876 the property of this Adoni Shomo Corporation. These people had either participated in or been strongly influenced by the Millerism excitement of a third of a century before. Their leader, Mr. Leonard C. Fuller, had advised them that he had several revelations of special truths which had come to him, and they willingly followed his leadership. Gathering more adherents to themselves, their wants outgrew the capacity of the Fuller Farm and they removed to the northerly part of Petersham where they purchased in 1864 the John Sanderson Farm, which in 1845, after Mr. Sanderson's death, had been deeded to William Man n, 2nd, and by him to Peter Moore and Chandler Wetherbee. By these latter it was conveyed to the Community of Fullerites. Flere they erected a large three- story mansard-roofed dwelling, a community house, and other buildings necessary for the operation of a large farm. Flere they practiced their peculiar faith for over thirty-years. At different times one F. T. Howland of New Bedford and John C. Howe were accepted as the leaders of the community. All adherents were expected to turn into the common treasury all of their earthly possessions, and they lived and labored to¬ gether as one family with one common object in view. They were sure that many revelations came to them and that there were many answers to their prayers. The men industriously carried on the farm which yielded bounteously and the women spun and wove, and produced dairy products, butter and cheese and the like, all of which found ready market in Petersham and adjoining towns. One of their very lucrative products was the making of wine from elderberry, grapes, and other fruits. This was sold for strictly medicinal or curative purposes to a large clientele. Their un¬ fermented wine was in demand for communion services in strictly temperance churches. * Being translated: Adoni— Adoration; Shomo — Revelation. 150 DENOMINATIONS EVOLVE They did not escape the brunt of scandal. There was everr criminal charges against some of the members for immoral conduct. But regardless of all this they carried on and pros¬ pered for a goodly number of years. One revelation decreed the style of bonnets which the women should wear and they were ever after arrayed in the' peculiar headdress which was prescribed by that disclosure. But a new generation was not attracted to the rigorous con¬ fining life of these people, and the ranks were slowly depleted. The last leader of the group was one Asa F. Richards, a Civil War veteran and a man of rather strong personality. Some men in advanced years today remember going to the farm to buy a bottle of wine, of course for the benefit of a sick mother, when Mr. Richards would urge upon him instead of the one bottle which he had intended to buy, one or two extra bottles to be sure that he would have enough so that the sick mother would surely recover. Eventually a liquidation of the institution was inevitable. Their tenets did not seem to provide for any such emergency and it was a problem to know how their affairs should be closed. The final determination of proper procedure was to petition them into bankruptcy which was done in 1898, with Roswell L. Doane of Athol appointed as assignee. The few remaining members found homes with their freinds and relatives, and Mr. Doane made an auction of their entire effects. Those ac¬ quainted with usual bankruptcy procedure and know the small percentage that the average bankruptcy case yields for cred¬ itors can understand the novelty of the statement that this liquidation of the affairs yielded something like 1 10% of all liabilities and expenses. The courts decreed that the small surplus should be paid over pro rata to the living members and thus the incident was closed. The real estate of nearly one thousand acres was purchased by one, D. Ambrose Leonard of Boston, who after a few years of occupancy sold to Mr. James W. Brooks of Petersham who in turn deeded it to Harvard University. There Harvard estab¬ lished its School of Forestry. The old community building has been greatly changed and is not used extensively at the present time but new buildings have been erected which are adequate for the needs of the school. Much land has been added to the original acreage and a satisfactory adjustment has been made regarding taxation so that the Town of Petersham does not suffer too severely. 151 HISTORY OF ATHOL Second Advent Christian Church 1863-1943 Some twenty years before this church was organized its leaders had accepted the doctrines preached by William Miller, particularly concerning the interpretations of prophecy fore¬ telling the second coming of Christ to this earth. By camp and cottage meetings they had held together a considerable ADVENT CHRISTIAN CHURCH, 1871-1943, NOW GRANGE HALL number of believers from the Unitarians, the Evangelical Church, and the Baptists. Now this group on May 17, 1863 resolved itself into one of the regular church organizations of the town. 152 DENOMINATIONS EVOLVE The first church roll call contains the names of: Addison Cutting, Daniel Ellinwood, J. F. Sawtell, George A. Streeter, Ensign A. Marsh, LaRoy Ellinwood, J. F. Crawford, Daniel W. Ellinwood, Henry W. Stratton, Persis F. Cutting, Jane Sawtell, Caroline Stratton, Mary E. Streeter, Hannah Stratton, Lydia W. Kendall, Hannah Whitman, Lutherea Weaver, Fannie M. Strat¬ ton, Sarah T. Ellinwood, Hannah Ellinwood, Sarah R. Stratton, Martha J. Crawford, Anna E. Kendall, Sarah Hager, Lydia Cook, Diantha Stockwell, Wealthy J. Stockwell, and Laura M. Strat¬ ton. Meetings were held at first in the school house near the Drury Farm on the Petersham Road. In 1870 the hall of the Engine House at the Upper Village was engaged and services were held there until 1872, when a tract of land was purchased on Main Street nearly opposite the Town Hall. During the following year the present church building was erected at an expense of some $3,000. Soon after the new church was opened Rev. Roland D. Grant became pastor, serving from 1874 to 1876. Rev. Grant after¬ wards became one of the most eminent Baptist preachers of that denomination, serving churches at Beverly, Boston, Phil¬ adelphia, and Portland, Oregon. A dentist in town, Dr. James Hemenway, acted as Elder of the church after Rev. Grant left. Then came a Rev. M. A. Potter who was a decided factor here building up the church considerably. Although the tenure of Rev. J. S. Purdy in the pastorate was not a lengthy one yet he continued for some years to reside in town, being much beloved by our people and rendering a useful service as supply pastor over a number of churches in our area. Some few years ago church services were discontinued and the church building at 1278 Main Street, Athol Center, was sold to the Grange in 1943. MINISTERS Rev. Roland Grant Dr. James Hemenway Dr. M. A. Potter Rev. A. C. Johnson Rev. Frank Shattuck Rev. D. H. Woodward Rev. Charles Shurtliff Rev. A. E. Phelps Rev. John S. Purdy Rev. George Armstrong Rev. James Gardner Rev. Harold Beede 153 HISTORY OF ATHOL St. John's Episcopal Church 1864 Rev. P. Voorhess Finch of Greenfield conducted the first Episcopal service in Athol on June 19. 1864. There was no missionary work then by the denomination, except such as was done by the clergy scattered about the State, and he was glad to respond to the invitation to come to Athol. On that occasion the service was held in the Town Hall. There is no record of an Episcopal service being held prior to the Civil War years but according to Whitney, the historian, SAINT JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH there was one family of Episcopalians in Athol in 1793. After the first service in 1864 there were only occasional services held by Rev. Dr. Wm. R. Huntington of Grace Church, New York, then of Worcester, and by the clergy of various places, among them being Rev. Dr. Randall, Rev. E. P. Wells of Boston, and Rev. Mr. James, then at Fitchburg. On September 3, 1866 St. John's Parish was organized and on the third of December following was incorporated. Rev. James D. Reid was at once chosen as rector of the new parish, but- after laboring for about a year he removed from town and for several years thereafter few services were held. 154 DENOMINATIONS EVOLVE Through the efforts of Rev. J. S. Beers, diocesan missionary, interest in an Episcopal Church grew to a point where on April 15, 1889 the Parish bought the Hollon Farr home and adjacent lot bordering School Street, Park Avenue and Allen Street, preparatory to building its church edifice. At this time the sixty communicants were then holding services in Temple of Honor Hall, Exchange Street, and had just called Rev. C. J. Shrimpton of Ridgeway, Pennsylvania to the pastorate. In a short space the Athol Society realized the worth of their new pastor. An able and cultivated preacher, clear headed, a prac¬ tical man of affairs, he was admirably qualified to lead his people from a religious standpoint as well as social. Born in Montreal in 1835, Rev. Shrimpton was educated in Woodstock Institute, Woodstock, Canada and was ordained as a Baptist minister in 1861, serving churches at Stratford, Canada, and at Stillwater and Ithaca, New York. He was or¬ dained a priest of the Protestant Episcopal Church at Fayette¬ ville, New York in 1878 and was in charge of parishes in Galesburg, Illinois and Ridgeway, Pennsylvania before coming to Athol. Within a year work commenced on the church building. The laying of the corner stone in June of 1890 was an event of unusual interest. Many ministers came to assist including Rev. J. B. Wicks of the Massachusetts Diocesan Board and Rev. A. H. Vinton of All Saints Church, Worcester. The corner stone, which was inscribed by Mr. C. P. Stowe, the builder of the church, has upon one face a maltese cross cut in relief and on the other face the date. 1890. In the sealed box placed under the stone were carefully stored: The Holy Bible dated 1872; the Prayer Book dated 1886; Athol Transcript of June 24, 1890; Worcester West Chronicle of June 26, 1890; Treasurer's Report. Sketch and Ground Plan of the Church; Home Almanac published in Athol in 1877; Freedom's Sentinel first paper published in Athol on May 13, 1828; White Flag published in Athol on May 31, 1851; Boston Herald of June 25, 1890; Boston Globe of June 25, 1 890; piece of current coin dated 1 864; a silver three cent piece, very scarce; cards of several of the business men; and a brief history of the church from 1864. The corner stone was given by Mr. Holton Farr and the tin box by A. V. Fletcher. On October 5, 1890 St. John's Church held its first service in the new building and a year later the church was consecrated by the Rt. Reverend Phillips Brooks, Bishop of Massachusetts.. 155 HISTORY OF ATHOL It was one of his first official acts after assuming the duties of Bishop of the Massachusetts Diocese. At the close of World War I excavations were made under the back of the church building for a parish house. Today they have a comfortable vestry there. The following are the ministers who church: Rev. James D. Reid Rev. J. S. Beers (Diocesan missionary) Rev. Charles James Shrimpton Rev. Frederick Washburne Sandtord Rev. Joseph Almon Ticknor No Rector Rev. Henry Herbert Morrill Rev. Hervey Coke Parke, Jr. Rev. Thomas Burgess Rev. Bayard Heylin Goodwin (Priest-in-charge) Rev. H. Goring Allder Rev. Clarke Richard Trumbore Rev. Percival Matson Wood Rev. Alfred Deforest Snively Rev. Percival Matson Wood, Ret. Rev. Archer Torrey 10-1 have served over this 1866 1881 1889 1900 1906 1912 1913 1913 1915 1919 1927 1930 1934 1943 1949 ■ 5-1949 - 1867 1899 1900 1905 191 1 1915 1919 1926 1929 1934 1943 1948 10-15- 1949 To preesnt Second Unitarian 1876 (First Church Unitarian — 1922) A meeting of the people in the Lower Village of a liberal faith was held at Pequoig Engine House on November 17, 1876 to devise some means whereby they could have church services more accessible to them. Most of them were then attending the Baptist and Methodist meetings, going uptown only occa¬ sionally. At this meeting it was agreed to attempt to induce the old First Church to move part way downtown but the leaders of that church refused to make them any concessions so the Second Unitarian Church was eventually organized on June 1 1, 1877. A third of a century later it was to absorb the Old Church. The actual underlying cause of this movement was more or less antipathy toward the new pastor of the Baptist Church, Rev. E. M. Bartlett. They had enjoyed the dramatic Rev. J. C. Emery who resigned in April, but the quiet Bartlett who came in July was not to their liking. Several of the leaders of this Second Unitarian Church while it existed as an independent body were prominent in the town. 156 DENOMINATIONS EVOLVE Ethan Lord, Athol's old time miller, great-grandson of the first settler, long a pew holder in the Baptist Church, and a constituent member of this church. He developed much prop¬ erty in this village and amassed a considerable fortune. He was always a Democrat in politics even when that party was practically without a champion here. Lucien Lord, son of Ethan, was for years a leader in this church as well as the Town, a member of the first Executive Committee, long Superintendent of the Sunday School, and historian at the twenty-fifth anniversary of the church. He built the Academy of Music, the Pequoig Hotel and developed Lake Park, South Park, Pleasant Valley, and Intervale. Finan¬ cial reverses overtook him in later years but he never lost his interest in his church nor his town. John C. Hill, Judge Charles Field, Hon, Alpheus Harding, Elisha F. Brown, D. A. Newton, Nathaniel Richardson, Dr. and Mrs. Horace C. Smith, William W. Fish, Albert L. Newman, Harding R. Barber, George T. Johnson, George D. Bates, Frank E. Wing, and Edgar Vinton Wilson are a few of the good peo¬ ple who worked so hard in support of this church during its early years. Until a church building could be planned and erected serv¬ ices were held for some three years in Starr Hall, then the principal assembly hall of the town, beginning February 11, 1877. In June of that year Rev. James C. Parsons of Glouces¬ ter was installed as the first pastor. By his counsel coupled with the able assistance of his estimable wife, he did much to make the church the strong power that it was in the com¬ munity through all the years of its independent existence. After four years of service here he was called to the Prospect Hill School in Greenfield where he spent the remainder of his active life. In the fall of 1877 the Women's Alliance was organized. For over seventy-five years this auxiliary had had a prominent part in the activities of the downtown Unitarian Society. Ground was broken for the new edifice on June 27, 1880 on land acquired of Emily Knowlton and Frank G. Lord. Easter Sunday, 1881, the first service was held in the new church building, though it was not formally dedicated until September seventh. Rev. Charles P. Lombard succeeded Rev. Parsons on April 11, 1882, coming from Ellsworth, Maine. It was during his six years of ministry here that Unity Hall was erected. In 157 HISTORY OF ATHOL 1888 Rev. Lombard resigned his office and removed to Ply¬ mouth, Massachusetts where for several years he was pastor of the Church of the Puritans, the pioneer of Congregational churches on this continent. In the spring of 1888 Rev. Charles E. Perkins, a Baptist pas¬ tor at Oswego, New York, was called to this pastorate, and duly installed on June 29. A fine gentleman and a literary genius he certainly supplied the intellectual requirements to- SECOND UNITARIAN CHURCH 1881 - 1912 the satisfaction of all. I believe it was during his pastorate that the property on Concord Street was acquired, which for some years was the parsonage. After a stay of four years Mr. Perkins relinquished the pastorate and removed to Davenport, Iowa. Shortly he returned to the Evangelical teachings and occupied the remainder of his useful life in educational and 158 DENOMINATIONS EVOLVE literary work. He died at Geneva, New York on October 22, 1 922, aged 69. A recent gradute of Harvard, Rev. Walter E. Lane became the pastor on November 17, 1892. This young man for a time promised much as a preacher and a pastor but this was his first pastorate and he was new to the work. Before he fairly found himself as a minister his health failed and he gave up his position. I understand that he never after accepted a pastorate but removed to Brookfield, Massachusetts, occupy¬ ing his time in other pursuits. Rev. Carl G. Horst accepted a call to this pastorate on July 1 1, 1895 and for five years served in a most acceptable man¬ ner. This was practically the beginning of his life's work for aside from a short engagement in Pittsfield, Massachusetts he had no previous experience as a minister. Mr. Horst was a native of Germany, a classmate of the then Kaiser, but in later years when the war came no one had any doubt about the sterling Americanism of Carl Horst. It has been my privilege to feel personally acquainted with all the pastors of the Second Church but of all of them Rev. Mr. Horst has been the one who appealed to me very much. It was hard for me to be a Baptist while Mr. Horst was preaching here. In 1900 he re¬ signed and accepted a pastorate in Upton, Massachusetts, whence he went to Wollaston and from there to Littleton. Rev. John W. Barker was the sixth pastor of this church. A native of England he had served in the ministry but a short period at Marshfield, Massachusetts before coming here in February 1901. While serving in that community he had in some way come to the attention of Mr. Wilson H. Lee of New Haven, Connecticut, who throughout his long life of well over ninety years was a consistent friend of Athol, and who recom¬ mended him to our church. An accomplished public speaker, coupled with much ability, John Barker at once found a prom¬ inent place in our community. Coming to what was probably the strongest church in Athol he found an enthusiastic follow¬ ing here and for a time he seemed to be a great success, but eventually his peole began to fall away from their church and sensing the change in the attitude of his people he sought and secured another field as pastor of the church of his faith in Lebanon, New Hampshire. After some years he resigned and returned to Athol, the home of his estimable wife Minnie (Brookhouse). For several months he preached in his former church here and was received enthusiastically by our townspeople. He 159 HISTORY OF ATHOL served a few years as President of Athol Chamber of Com¬ merce and was for several years a member of our Board of Selectmen. In the "Preparedness" period previous to World War II he conducted a registration of resident aliens, and after Pearl Harbor in 1942 he became Athol's War Transportation Administrator. Ac Chairman of the Selectmen he was Chair¬ man of the town's War Relief Fund drive. In later years he has returned to the other scene of his achievement and is now residing at White River Junction, Vermont. In the autumn of 1907 Rev. Clarence L. Ball came to the pastorate and served practically two years. The church edifice erected in 1880-81 and Unity Hall were burned on January 28, 1912. When the church became homeless the doors of every Protestant Church in Athol were thrown open to it, but it wisely chose to go back — to the old First Church, by then so depleted in constituency that it had all but ceased to function. Through this eventually came about the reunion in which all rejoiced and the First Church with all its history again became an active living factor irv Athol. Rev. William D. Wilkie of Whitman was pastor during these changes, from 1910 to 1919 when he accepted a call to South Natick. During his pastorate, on October 31, 1915, the new church edifice was dedicated. Mr. Wilkie with true Christian zeal during the war period entered one of our industries and for a long time did a week's work in the factory in addition to at¬ tending to his church duties. When the Second Church returned to its original location in 1915 most of the remaining members of the First Church came with them but actual merger was not accomplished un¬ til March 28, 1922 when the Second Church was disbanded. This consolidated the old First Church of Christ in Athol and the Second Unitarian Church, in the church building of the latter, and reunited the liberal Christians of the town who di¬ vided forty-three years before when the old church refused to move at least part way downtown. Pastor at the time of the official merger, Rev. Edwin Booth Young came in March, 1920 from the Episcopal faith. Intel¬ lectual, gentlemanly, kindly, he was much beloved. Thus the Church of Christ in Athol organized by the pio¬ neers in 1750, although much changed in theology and wor- 160 DENOMINATIONS EVOLVE shipping in its fifth church building, (if we count the one burned before formal organization) is still an integral part of the religious activities of this town, under the name of First Church Unitarian. Althought Rev. Mr. Young felt for a time that the Unitarian faith more nearly expressed his religious views yet as time went along he seems to have reverted to something of his earlier Trinitarian convictions. This reversion led him to re¬ sign his pastorate here in the summer of 1925. Ere long word reached us from Northampton whence he had removed that he had embraced the Roman Catholic faith. I find little to mention and less to criticize in the succeed¬ ing pastorates of Reverends Homer L. Sheffer, Arthur S. Schoenfeldt and Frank B. Crandall, except that the last named was and still is particularly active in many branches of Ma¬ sonry. The pastorate of Rev. Leon S. Simonetti was the second long¬ est in the history of the Second Church. He was much beloved in Ware whence he came here and no voice was ever raised against him while he remained in Athol but he was irked by the lack of attendance at his services and in 1944 sought a church in Waltham, a much larger community. Likewise Rev. Truman L. Hayes felt he was sowing seed on sterile ground and when an opportunity presented itself he withdrew being succeeded by Rev. Charles Donelson, Jr., who after two years sought and obtained a church recently estab¬ lished in Phoenix, Arizona. Before Rev. Donelson left town, the church had heard and accepted Robert James O'Brien just fresh from Divinity School who was ordained and installed by impressive services October 19, 1952, the sermon for the occasion being preached by Rev> Jack A. Kent of Grafton. PASTORS Rev. James C. Parsons Rev. Charles P. Lombard Rev. Charles E. Perkins Rev. Walter E. Lane Rev. Carl G. Horst Rev. John W. Barker Rev. Clarence L. Ball Rev. William D. Wilkie Rev. Edwin Booth Young Rev. Homer Lewis Sheffer Rev. Arthur S. Schoenfeldt 6-12-1877 — 1881 4-11-1882 — 1888 6- 29-1888 — 1892 11-17-1892— 1894- 7- 11-1895 — 1900 2-12-1901 — 1907 1907 — 1909 1910 — 1919 3-1920 — 8-1925 2-1926 — 3-1928 11-1928 — 4-1931 161 HISTORY OF ATHOL Rev. Frank B. Crandall 8-1931 — 1935 Rev. John W. Barker (Acting pastor) 1-1936 — 1-1937 Rev. Leon S. Simonetti Rev. Truman L. Hayes Rev. Charles Donelson, Jr. Rev. Robert J. O'Brien 4-1937 — 10-1944 1-1945 — 2-1950 4-1950— 8-1-1952 10-19-1 952 — To present First- Church of Christ, Scientist 1898 In 1 898 those who were interested in the teachings of Chris¬ tian Science met together each Sunday afternoon to read the Christian Science Lesson Sermons together at the home of Mr. Roswell L. Whipple, who ten years previously had been healed under Christian Science treatment of a so-called incurable dis¬ ease. Later the group met at the home of Mr. Frank E. Smith, 212 Crescent Street. During the last four months of 1899 there was an average attendance of fifteen. A Christian Science Society was organized on September 15, 1899 with Mr. James F. Gilman as First Reader and Pres¬ ident; Mrs. Mary J. Smith, Second Reader; Mr. Frank E. Smith, clerk; and Mr. Roswell L. Whipple, treasurer. Services were begun on February 11, 1900 in the parlors of First Unitarian Church (now the quarters of The Athol Woman's Club). Here Mrs. Eva L. Albee was organist, and later Mrs. Burnham was organist and soloist. During the next twenty-five years various changes occurred in this church until 1926 when the present church building was opened for regular services. In retrospect some of the activities are here recorded. May, 1901 — Mrs. Mary J. Smith resigned as Reader and Mrs. Sarah C. Barney, C.S.B. was chosen to fill the place. June, 1901 — the services were in the G. A. R. Hall. July, 1901 — the hour of Sunday services was changed from 3 p. m. to 1 0:45 a. m. The Wednesday evening meetings were held in the rooms of Mr. and Mrs. Frank S. Parmenter, 419 Main Street. The average Sunday attendance during 1902 was twenty. On Wednesday evening, October 1, 1902, building fund to be sent to The Mother Church in Boston was started. December 3, 1902 — services were held for the first time in Pythian Hall and Sunday and Wednesday services were held there. During the years 1903-04-05 money was sent to The Mother Church in Boston in the amount of $242.50, $35.41 of this amount being contributed bv the Sunday School children. Sunday af¬ ternoon, June 25, 1905, Judge Septimus J. Hanna, delivered 162 DENOMINATIONS EVOLVE the first lecture on Christian Science in Athol to an audience of about 500 in the Academy of Music. The Society voted to organize as a Church in 1905. For this purpose a meeting was held on December 31, 1906 at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Frank S. Parmenter, with Mr. Hiram L. Parmenter as Chairman and Mrs. Gertrude A. S. Derby as Clerk of this meeting. Chosen as directors were: Mrs. Ger¬ trude A. S. Derby, clerk; Mr. Frank S. Parmenter, treasurer; Mr. Andrew J. Hamilton, Miss Lillian A. Amsden, and Mrs. Abbie S. Whipple. Then followed the reading of the names of the Charter Members who had written their names under The Tenets of The Mother Church: Mrs. Eva L. Albee, Mr. Andrew J. Thompson, Mrs. Clarissa Brooks Peckham, Miss Nettie O. Newell, Mrs. Gertrude A. S. Derby, Mrs. Emma L. Shepardson, Mr. Laurence I. Parmenter, Mrs. Etta M. Gorton (later Mrs. Etta G. Vaughan), Mrs. Minnie Gourley Dole, Miss Lillian A. Amsden (later Mrs. Lillian A. Waite), Mr. Frank S. Parmenter, Mrs. Adele C. Parmenter, Mrs. Emma R. Thayer. Mr. Hiram L. Parmenter, Mrs. Sarah C. Barney, Mrs. Abbie S. Whipple, Mrs. Mav Stebbins Hackett, Mr. Andrew J. Hamilton, Mrs. Rose E. Phelps, Mrs. Lizie Duran, Miss Blanche Parmenter (later Mrs. Blanche Noyes), Mr. Franklin E. Smith. Mrs. Mary J. Smith, Miss Miriam F. Smith, Mr. Charles E. Orcutt, Mrs. Hattie E. Orcutt. January 16. 1907 a meeting for the purpose of organizing a corporation was held in Pythian Hall. August 21, 1907 the following incorporators met in Pythian Hall: Mrs. Sarah C. Barney. Mrs. Eva L. Albee, Mrs. Gertrude A. S. Derby, Miss Lillian A. Amsden, Miss Nettie O. Newell, Mrs. Minnie Gour- lay Dole, Mrs. Etta Thayer Gorton, Mrs. Frank S. Parmenter, Mr. Hiram L. Parmenter, Mr. J. Andrew Conant, Mr. Andrew J. Thompson, and Mr. Andrew J. Hamilton. At this meeting the Board of Directors of the new corporate body was elected as follows: AArs. Abbie S. Whipple, Miss Lillian A. Amsden, Miss Nettie O. Newell. Mr. Hiram L. Parmenter, Mr. Frank S. Parmenter, Mrs. Gertrude A. S. Derby — treasurer, and Andrew J. Hamilton — clerk (and sworn). The charter of the corporation having been granted under Chapter 125 of The Revised Laws of Massachusetts, a special meeting was held in Pythian Hall, 456 Main Street, on Septem¬ ber 18, 1907 for the purpose of merging the unincorporated church with the new corporate body. The first Annual meet¬ ing was held on January 6, 1908. 163 HISTORY OF ATHOL First attempts to purchase a church building site were made in 1916/ and later the same year a lot was purchased from Miss Myrtie Drury at Beacon and Taylor Streets. However, on April 6, 1922 this lot was sold to Mr. J. P. McClumpha. In 1925 further efforts toward obtaining a suitable site resulted in the purchase from Mr. Frank Fuller of a lot on Ridge Av¬ enue near Exchange Street on January 14, 1926. Ground was broken in May, 1926 and building operations were under the direction of Mr. Philip R. Thayer, Architect and Chairman of the Building Committee, with Mr. Frank Herbeck as contrac¬ tor. Occupied on October 3, 1926, the church building was dedicated free from debt on Sunday, January 30, 1938. I am appreciative of the time and effort which Mr. Henry F. Houghton (a member of the Board of Directors 1940-50) gave me in writing the history of this active church in our com¬ munity. Seventh Day Adventist Church 1903 My first recollection of this faith was in my youth when Joel Crandall, an operative in Merrit L. Lee's boot shop on South Street, absolutely refrained from all labor after sundown Fri¬ day night through Saturday. But all day Sunday he could be heard vigorously plying his trade, and I believe that he was probably the pioneer here of the Seventh Day Christian faith. In later years as others of this belief came to Athol his widow and at least one of his sons were active members of their group. A Civil War veteran, Joel Crandall, then of Shutes- bury, had enlisted in August, 1862 in Co. F, 27th Massachu¬ setts Volunteers Infantry, serving until June, 1865. In 1903 one, John H. Tiney, located in South Royalston and gathered around him several of this faith. Mr. Tiney was soon ordained as an Elder and at different times ministered to these people for more than twenty years. A striking figure with a full dark beard, he was frequently seen driving in from the outskirts of town in his democrat wagon. I am grateful to his daughter, Mrs. Alice (Tiney) Turner of Phillipston who told me much of this story. Soon after the group became an organized body A. J. Clark came to them and served as their minister for a time. Mr. Clark probably v/as not ordained when officiating at South Roy¬ alston but subsequently became a fully reorganized clergyman of their faith. 164 DENOMINATIONS EVOLVE Not long after Mr. Clark came to South Royalston, Mr. Horace Mann, a devout member of the local Second Advent Church and an individual of quite some means, withdrew from that body and cast his lot with these people. He became such a vigorous advocate of the doctrines of this faith that he and his wife carried around a petition for Congress to abolish all Sunday laws, asking everybody to sign it. As there were more of the faith in Athol than in their first location their headquarters were removed here and services were held at various private homes first at 4 South Athol Road — the home of a Carlin family, then at 205 Pequoig Avenue, and finally at the Mann home, 35 Pine Court. Eventually Mr. Mann purchased the Stratton Homestead on South Athol Road and the activities of the sect followed him there. South of his home well back from the road a building was erected for a day school and a place for religious meetings. With the exception of some two or three years during the pe¬ riod of World War II the services and school were maintained there, but since perhaps 1950 services have been conducted elsewhere. Born on November 6, 1838. Horace Mann was educated at Athol High School. Bennett Hill School, and New Salem Acad¬ emy. After teaching a few terms in Athol and vicinity, he engaged in the furniture business here, also speculating in real estate and timber. He was a resident of Athol for seventy- five years, and was known to be a practical but kind-hearted man. He especially loved children and made substantial dona¬ tions to support the Morgan Memorial Fresh Air Camp, the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the Near East Relief, and many local activities. Mrs. Mabel Abbie (Mann) Hayden of Springfield, the young¬ est child by his first marriage, has been most helpful to me in furnishing much of this information. During the years when the community located around South Athol Road was the most numerous and most prosperous one of their members, Clarence Munroe, acquired the adjoining place of J. Wesley Moulton, deceased, and operated there for a considrable period a hospital and rest home, eventually re¬ moving to 44 Brookside Road where it did not long survive. Upon Mr. Mann's death at the age of ninety-one on January 17, 1930 he bequeathed his home farm to the General Con¬ ference of Seventh Day Adventists located at South Lancaster and by them it was soon sold to Mr. Arthur W. Farrington. 165 HISTORY OF ATHOL While several of this faith still reside in the vicinity of the combination church edifice and school house yet it would ap¬ pear that they have rather decreased in numbers in recent years. Although somewhat remote yet they gather their in¬ spiration and considerable of their enthusiasm from the much larger group of their faith at South Lancaster where this de¬ nomination is developing a general educational institution known as Atlantic Union College. In July, 1947, Rev. Howard E. Greene became pastor of this flock, being succeeded in 1952 by Rev. F. W. Harvey. Serv¬ ices in recent years have been held in the former Advent Church building, now Grange Hall, but more recently are being held in Phillipston Town Hall. Salvation Army 1904 Ever after the organization founded and sponsored by Gen¬ eral William Booth in England gathered a foothold in New Eng¬ land our people, who travelled to any extent away from home, were accustomed to seeing the Salvation Army holding its open air services in the city streets. But it was long years before it was thought possible for the influence of this group of reli¬ gious enthusiasts to reach our town. However, in the Christmas Season of 1904 an organizer came here and after a few weeks had gathered a few recruits. Engaging the vacant Charles F. Gage store on Main Street, east of the present Memorial Hall Building, they began to hold meetings daily. The zeal and evident sincerity of these peo¬ ple together with their stirring music attracted a goodly num¬ ber to their meetings, and for a considerable number of years their services were quite well attended. Their annual collec¬ tions at Thanksgiving and Christmas time have enabled them to do much quiet charitable work. In 1925 the New England Regional authorities arranged to purchase their barracks at No. 304 Main Street, which was the former home of Russell Smith. Here they have carried on since that time and by their weekly collections plus their an¬ nual drives have received sufficient support so that their work has not been seriously hampered. While they have never been large in numbers, yet their influence in our community has been for its betterment. 166 DENOMINATIONS EVOLVE Athol Hebrew Association 1910 Soon after the close of the Civil War, Julius Aishberg came here occasionally, first with a pack on his back and later with a wagon full of dry goods. He was soon followed by Mendell Leahberg who opened a dry goods' store in Starr Hall Block in the westerly store of the block named by Mr. Charles M. Lee, the builder and owner, Auburn Hall Bazaar. Shortly after that came one Davidson who operated a clothing store in the Stock- well Block at 461 Main Street. JEWISH SYNAGOGUE 1948 - Eventually these pioneers left us but others came in, collect¬ ing junk, second-hand materials, and dealing in real estate in a small way. Gradually their number was increased by immi¬ grants from foreign lands, from New York, and other places. Among them is recalled Abraham Baker who dealt in iron and metals, Rubin Katz, Charles Kumin — who has dealt extensive¬ ly in real estate, the three Plotkin brothers — Louis, Jacob, and Joseph; Samuel Esterman, Isaac Smargonsky, Hyman and Harry Zack, Isaac Wolper and Isaac Glaser. 167 HISTORY OF ATHOL In the early days these people were entirely without a local teacher. Eventually Isaac Glaser officiated in that capacity and was colloquially known as the Rabbi, although he never was really entitled to that title. These people formed an association in 1910, bought a tract of land at 55 Pine Street, and erected there a building for a synagogue which served them until about 1945, although in the later years it proved entirely inadequate. After consider¬ able preliminary discussion they purchased in 1946 the John M. Adams property, corner of Union and Walnut Streets, de¬ molished the building there, and erected a very attractive syna¬ gogue and assembly hall on the site. When located on Pine Street, they were officially known as Temple Israel, but the new building is designated as Agudas Achim Synagogue. But three regularly qualified Rabbis have served here and all since 1940. Their names, in the order of their service, are as follows: Rabbi S. Friedlund, Rabbi S. Segal, and Rabbi Henry Ucko. The Slavs and Their Church 1913 The author well remembers encountering in June, 1890 while enumerating for the eleventh census a family living on South Street, just east of Canal Street, which bore a name un¬ heard of in Athol. We had become accustomed to the names of the Irish, the Canadian French, and a few Italians, but the unpronounceable accumulation of vowels and consonants in this name was a distinct novelty. I spoke of it in the room of the town officers where I was a clerk and the chairman of the assessors asked me to write the name that he might include it in the Poll Tax list as a curios¬ ity, but rigid Federal regulations made it impossible for me to reveal the name or even to keep a copy of it. So the identity of this family, probably of Poles, is lost, and as the census of 1890 papers in Washington were long ago lost in a fire at the Department of the Interior, we may never know the identity of this pioneer family. But the incident fixes the date of the arrival of this first Slavic family as in the early months of 1 890. During the next decade one family after another came here so that when in 1900 I again was a census enumerator I, and the other Athol enumerators, found numerous families of this race living here. Gradually others have joined these pioneers until today probably they number one thousand. 168 DENOMINATIONS EVOLVE Slowly at first these people learned our language and our customs, but as the children attended our schools they carried home much information helpful to their elders. As a race they have proved themselves to be honest, agreeable and frugal. Many own their own homes and the younger people are ac¬ cepted in the social life of the community. i; ' ~ ■ ~ . mgaryz. — - r-^rm y SAINT FRANCIS CHURCH 1921 - Reared in the Catholic faith in their homeland they speed¬ ily sought out the local church of that persuasion and there 169 HISTORY OF ATHOL they were affiliated for two decades, but a longing for the cus¬ toms and language of their homeland finally brought about a separation from the church on the hill. They had erected their community hall on Oak (now Jones) Street and there in 1913 Rev. Francis Meskauskas as their priest ministered to them for a time. In April, 1918 they purchased of Mr. L. S. Starrett the pres¬ ent church lot and rectory at Main and Canal Streets. To the site where the church now stands, soon after 1850 John C. Hill had movr-d the ell of the old Pequoig House in which was Fish's Hall dedicated November 25, 1834 but discarded early in the owersh p of the hotel by Sylvanus E. Twichell. This building, known as the "Old Arcade" was one of the early meeting places of the present Methodist Church. In addition to the hall there were numerous tenements in the building. The rectory was built at 376 Main Street by J. Sumner Par- menter about 1854 and in 1872 was sold to Mr. Hill who moved it away to make room for "Parmenter's New Brick Block" burned in 1914. Mr. Starrett had acquired this prop¬ erty anticipating that the Methodist people would locate there with their new church, but they tenaciously clung to the vicin¬ ity of their first building at the corner of Main and Crescent Street. The present St. Francis Church building was erected during the years 1920-21 and dedicated September 25, 1921. In 1917 Rev. August Petraitis succeeded to the pastorate of this church continuing a most happy ministry until 1929 when he was given a more important position in Worcester, and Rev. Pius Juraitis succeeded him. Restricted immigration has prevented a further influx of these people to America and to Athol, but despite this the church has enjoyed a healthy growth in all lines of its activities. 170 CHAPTER XII TERRITORIAL CHANGES OF the twenty-four miles of boundary line laid out in 1733 to Perquage by Capt. William Chandler and Nathaniel Dwight, and their chairmen Thomas Chapin, Joseph Day, Ezra Leonard, and Ezekiel Smith, only about six and one-half miles bound the Athol of today. Its northeast corner was a long half mile northeast of High View on the road from South Royalston to Royalston Center; its southeast corner was in the general vicinity of Phillipston Common; its southwest corner was on the hillside southeast of White Pond; and its northwest corner was some distance down into the valley west of the Blackmer residence in North Orange. These changes have come about both by taking to other towns and additions of adjoining territory. The first of these takings had its beginning in 1773 when a larger part of the present parish of Phillipston asked to be set aside as a separate parish of the town of Templeton of which town they were then a part. Joining with these secessionists were several families of Athol and much of our area. The following years (1774) a compliant General Court granted their request, thus Temple¬ ton West Precinct was established. In secular municipal af¬ fairs these people were still a part of the parent township but in ecclesiastical affairs they held their own meetings and man¬ aged their own affairs althought their business meetings were still called by the Selectmen of Templeton. A half dozen or more of the Revolutionary Soldiers including one Captain credited to Athol were residents of the West Precinct. This secession as is noted elsewhere was far from acceptable to Athol, especially to its established church, but the with¬ drawal created far less uproar than did the next attempt at dismemberment some six years later. In another chapter we have told of the disagreement in the First Church of Athol and the eventual elimination of Rev. Humphries from the pastoral office. It happened that those desiring the ministerial resignation lived chiefly around the most populous section of Athol while the champions of Rev 171 HISTORY OF ATHOL Humphrey were domiciled in the northwesterly part of the town. These malcontents in 1781 joined with a few families in the southwesterly part of Royalston and a larger number in the ex¬ treme southerly part of Warwick and built the present North Orange Meeting House, locating it in Warwick but within a few rods of Royalston line on the east and Athol line on the south. Having this nucleus of a township they speedily asked to be incorporated as an independent municipality. In 1781 they asked for 4,260 acres, a much larger slice of Athol ter¬ ritory than was eventually granted them, as they included much of our South Main Street area. But their petition was frowned upon by the General Court and negative action taken. Again in 1782 they made another attempt, this time suggest¬ ing at least that all Athol territory north of Millers River be included in the new township, but again they failed to impress the legislators of the justice of their demands. Those were grevious days in Athol's history. She saw that ere long Templeton West Parish would become a township thus taking away several square miles of her territory and the re¬ peated and insistent demands of the northwest part of the town for liberation from the ties which bound her to the mother town must soon produce some loss of area and people. The feelings of desperation at that period are revealed to some extent by the various propositions included in the town meeting warrants when the voters were asked to request that the parish which had seceded (part of Templeton West Parish, now Phillipston) return to us; to dismember the township in various ways, and twice the voters were asked to authorize the sale of the Meeting House at public vendue, probably assum¬ ing that the town would disband and its various sections be¬ come annexed to adjoining towns, but all these proposals were rejected and the determination shown to keep the township intact but only upon the one condition that a settlement be effected with Rev. Mr. Humphrey and that he be dismissed as Athol's pastor. A session of the Legislature in October, 1783 granted the desires of the ardent rebels and established them into the Dis¬ trict of Orange, taking some 3600 acres from us. By its charter it had all the powers and privileges of any other Mass¬ achusetts town except that it was not given the privilege then inherent in every township to send a Representative to the General Court. For that purpose and that only it was annexed to Warwick. Evidently because of the strong assertions of 172 TERRITORIAL CHANGES Athol that the support of the Great Road through our town, which gave the new municipality access to the eastern towns and the State Capital, was a burden too great for it to bear, the incorporating act placed forever upon them the burden of bearing one-half the expense of maintaining the Great Bridge (Crescent Street), Bog Meadow Bridge (off Pequoig Avenue), and Tully River Bridge (rear 383 North Orange Road). For some seventeen years this unique penalty in Orange's Charter was a subject of not a little unpleasantness between the towns, but when in 1799 the Great Road passed under the control of the Fifth Massachusetts Turnpike Corporation, Athol no longer had any cost to divide with her neighbor. When in 1831 the Turnpike Corporation ceased operations these bridges had long since been abandoned as parts of the through highway and nothing was ever said about assessing Orange for their substitute. In 1786 Templeton West Parish asked for full independence and its request was granted, thus taking from our town con¬ siderably more than the 3600 acres taken by Orange. Prob¬ ably because this action had long been expected there does not appear to have been any strenuous opposition on the part of our town. Our townsman Esq. Hiram Newhall was desig¬ nated to call the first town meeting in Gerry and to act gen¬ erally as its guardian and adviser until it was well organized. In the old records we find comparatively little ado about road building and maintainance but the many bridges in the townships, particularly those over the larger streams, were a real problem. The road from Royalston to our County Seat ran a mile or more in Athol territory but entered the bounds of Templeton near the present Riverside Cemetery in South Royalston, thus putting upon that town the expense of a size¬ able bridge across the river. Templeton played a trump card in 1798 by inducing the Sessions to relay the road there moving it some fifteen rods down stream, which placed it within Athol territory and un¬ loaded the bridge burden upon this town. Then Athol rose in her wrath and refused to bear the burden of this imposi¬ tion as she termed it. After much acrimony including threats at least of Court action a compromise was effected whereby the General Court took 139 square rods 20 links of Athol, 12 square rods 60 links of Gerry and annexed them to Royalston, thus placing Royalston's road to Worcester in that town to be¬ yond the river, and loading upon it the obnoxious bridge ex¬ pense. As is told in more detail under industries, two water 173 HISTORY OF ATHOL powers had been developed in that area and the nucleus of a village was in the making. Evidently to further this in 1803 a much larger area, 755V2 acres, went out of Athol into Royalston. In connection with these changes there was at least the suggestion that all of Athol north of the river and east of Choxungus Brook (Gulf Brook) be annexed to Royalston but that dream failed to ma¬ terialize; After this 1803 taking Athol's area was the least number of acres it ever has been. Soon accessions of territory began. In 1805 Seth Phillips and Jabez Ward "with their families and all those parts of their lands which are within the bounds of the Town of Gerry" were taken from Gerry and added to us. No reason for this has come down to me. Likewise on February 7, 1816 an area near the junction of Brooks Road and North Orange Road was taken from Orange and added to us. A considerable number of residents of the South Athol area petitioned the Legislature in December, 1818 for annexation to Athol but their aspirations were not approved by Athol and they were not admitted. FAIRBANKS HOUSE, WHITE POND ROAD ABOUT 1750 Not within the limits of Athol until 1829, Demolished about 1920 174 TERRITORIAL CHANGES In 1829 some 400 acres in the Partridgeville Area includ¬ ing the Fairbanks' Grant were annexed. The residents of this "No Man's Land" had long looked to Athol as their natural affinity, had paid taxes to our town, and at various times had received assistance from it. Thus it was but a natural proce¬ dure, although it had been long delayed, for annexation to Athol to be requested. Their action was precipitated by an attempt of Ervings Grant to absorb, them, even going so far as to assess their lands and demand taxes of them. But five of these real estate holders rebelled at this. These petition¬ ing for annexation to Athol were Emerson Fay, Daniel Morton, John Stinson, Wheeler Darling, and Ephraim Fairbanks. A part of New Salem including a portion of Riceville Road came to us in 1 830. Perhaps here as well as anywhere I should tell the story of the Newton Grant, later known as Kendall Farm. June 22, 1734 the Great and General Court granted three thousand acres to Newton, Cambridge, and Lexington as compensation for maintaining the Great Bridge over Charles River. Newton quickly chose an area adjoining Athol and Peters¬ ham and filed a request to have a thousand acres there con¬ firmed to her, but careful scrutiny of the plan discolsed that it had trespassed on the so-called "Farmer's Grant" and upon Voluntown. When these two areas were deducted only 566 acres remained to Newton and that tract was confirmed to her July 20, 1735. No record exists of how Newton disposed of this land but when the estate of Samuel Kendall of Woburn was adminis¬ tered on May 30, 1770 this entire tract was a part of it for shares of it were allocated to five of his fourteen heirs, name¬ ly Rev. Samuel, Josiah, Timothy, Mrs. Samuel Brooks, and Susannah Kendall. In a plan showing this entire section, probably drawn in 1781, in connection with the agitation over the incorporation of the District of Orange, this tract is shown with the nota¬ tion "Kendall's Grant added to Athol." The Legislature required of each town in 1794 a plan show¬ ing its outline and other features. Complying with this man¬ date our Selectmen drew a plan which is dated April 27, 1795 and duly filed in the State Archives. This map shows the Ken¬ dall triangle and on the margin is the note "On this . line is annexed a plan of about five hundred and forty acres. The Inhabitants living on the same have ever been considered as 175 HISTORY OF ATHOL belonging to this town though they have never been incor¬ porated." MAP OF ATHOL, 1795 No subsequent legislation seems to have affected this area and it is still rated as a part of this town. And now we come to the last change of any magnitude made in our town lines. For the first two or three decades of the 19th century New Salem was the most populous town in Franklin County and one of the largest in area, but in 1822 a considerable slice of her territory was taken to make a part of the new town of Prescott and thirteen years later two large sections were taken from her — the one going to Orange and being all except the "Little Grant" of that present town lying south of the river, the other going to Athol and being the en¬ tire South Athol area. This last addition to Athol's area 176 TERRITORIAL CHANGES brought its total acreage up to approximately 34 square miles or perhaps two square miles less than it orginally had, but of a vastly different shape. Perhaps here it is well to mention an episode by which Athol actually lost a small acreage. In 1910a surveying party was sent out by the Massachusetts Harbor and Land Commis¬ sion to survey the municipal boundaries of the Commonwealth. Coming to Athol and running over her boundaries, they found two conflicting markers in the Eaglevi I le area. Without mak¬ ing any particular research as to which bound was correct, they sought the advice of Mr. Mendell Underwood, Chairman of the Selectmen of Orange, and Mr. Herbert L. Hapgood, Chair¬ man of the Selectmen of Athol. These men both felt that they knew the boundary, not realizing that there was an easterly jog at Eaglevi I le at quite some distance. But the engineers insisted that no jog could exist to the ancient grants. There¬ fore one must be accepted and the other discarded. These of¬ ficials agreed to accept the eastern boundary which was in¬ correct. Consequently the line established in 1910 beginning at Millers River and running southerly deflects slightly to the east of Eagleville Dam and then again slightly to the west coming back into the old line at Monument Hill so-called, on Branch Road. The corner of Orange and New Salem at the Athol line established in 1837 had been covered by the waters of Eagleville Pond and was not found by the engineers. Later, in a period of low water the writer found this bound and made measurements concerning it. In 1945 the Towns of Athol and New Salem joined in erecting a substantial new marker at this location, supposed to be the true corner of New Salem and Orange, but is in effect many rods west of the line established by the engineers in 1910. What the status is of the small area taken from Athol and added to Orange and New Salem by the action of these engineers is a matter of conjecture, but it does upset the whole survey and makes somewhat of a change in our boundary line. 177 CHAPTER XIII TRANSPORTATION FOR two thirds of a century after the white man began the subjugation of this wilderness the Post Rider brought what little mail matter there was destined for Athol perhaps bi-weekly from Worcester. The clergyman rode to his sanc¬ tuary and among his parishioners on horseback and the physi¬ cian carried his medicines in his saddle bags. In this way the news of the stirring events of the French and Indian War and the Revolution came to this township. Thus Paul Revere was antedated many years by other couriers who kept us in touch with the great events of the times. Little freight came within or went from our borders but the few essentials like sugar, salt, and rum were brought over all but impassable highways by the ox team. When during the Revolution salt became scarcer then gasoline was a few years ago, State authorities doled it out to the towns, our quota being brought hither by ox team from Boston. At length we became so far advanced that some roads were passable by the one horse shay. This conveyance came into limited use by the more aristocratic, most homes of the gen¬ try having a chaise house in its complement of buildings. Dr. Holmes asserts that the deacon built his chaise in 1755, but it was many a decade after that before these vehicles came into general use here. During the Revolutionary War, General Washington pro¬ posed a canal across New York State from the Great Lakes to the Hudson as a military necessity, but in his life time the de¬ velopment got no farther than the agitation stage. In the years of his retirement at Mt. Vernon he reflected much on the needs and advantages of this mode of transportation and soon foresaw that should his proposed York State Canal be¬ come a reality it would make New York City the great sea¬ board terminus of a huge traffic from the vast interior of our continent. With his inherent love for his native Virginia he conceived another scheme to bring this great boon of a na¬ tional seaport to the Old Dominion by developing a canal route up the Ohio to its headwaters, thence by canal and locks over the Alleghanies and down the James to the sea at Nor¬ folk. It is entirely possible that had this plan been carried 178 TRANSPORTATION ■out the position of being the greatest port on our Continent might well have fallen upon Norfolk rather than New York. Eventually the idea of water borne transportation became quite a factor in all internal developments. General Henry Knox of Revolutionary fame, a Boston book seller, first proposed a canal from the Great Lakes to Boston. His great service in the Revolution was in the transportation of supplies and munitions. Thus he came to know the topog¬ raphy of both New York and New England. He is immortal¬ ized by a series of granite markers far south of us on a long route which he took in carrying cannon and other equipment from subjugated Ticonderoga to besieged Boston. I cannot dispute the fact that he undoubtedly did occasionally take the long route from Lake Champlain southerly to Albany, thence over the southern Berkshires to the Bay Path, but I am also convinced that at other times he took the Crown Point Road built many years before which took him through our imme¬ diate region. There are well authenticated traditions that General Knox and his cannon passed through Richmond, New Hampshire, through North Orange, and through Athol. When in 1790 the Erie Canal was again seriously proposed, General Knox advanced the idea that Massachusetts should not "miss the boat" but should bring this boon to freight carry¬ ing across the Commonwealth to Boston. A progressive Legis¬ lature heeded his suggestions and incorporated his "Proprietors of the Massachusetts Canal." General Knox saw, as he had seen in land transportation, two possible routes, the one lead¬ ing through the more populous areas of Worcester and Spring- feld, and the other through this northern area. I do not know that his canal get beyond the exploration stage, but his plans and data were turned over later to another commission which actually laid out a canal across Massachusetts passing directly through our town. General travel became somewhat more frequent in the days of prosperity which our nation enjoyed during Washington's administration, and the exigencies of the times demanded a public transportation system. Then it was that a network of turnpikes was gradually established. Over Hoosac Mountain the second of these was chartered, the third from Northampton to Dalton, the fourth in northern Berkshire, while the Fifth or Brattleboro Pike was a material factor in the development of Athol by making possible a regular schedule of stages through here. The Fifth Massachusetts Turnpike Corporation was char¬ tered in 1799 to build a highway from Leominster to Brattle- 179 HISTORY OF ATHOL boro, with a branch from Athol to Greenfield. The road up to the Sentinel Elm was once a part of this turnpike, the regular travelled toll road from Boston to Brattleboro. At the foot of the hill by Mr. Zack's the route crossed Tully and then fol¬ lowed what is now a meadow road to Pequoig Avenue, then by that avenue, Fish Street, Crescent Street, School and Main Streets it passed through the town to the Templeton Road. At about 1650 Main Street, just south of the former Boutelle's grist mill, was the toll gate and mile board, sixty-nine miles from the Boston Stone near Hanover Street in Boston's north end. At Athol Center Common, now Phillips Park, the Greenfield Turnpike branched and ran down the entire length of Chest¬ nut Street, Chestnut Street West, and over a section now abandoned to South Athol Road near Mr. Waite's. Just below there may be seen the old abutments where it crossed the river, ran through ''Hog Island," close to the Proctor home at 1116 South Main Street, and then over that street into Frank¬ lin County. By act of the legislature in 1814 the two branches were abandoned in what is now the thickly settled portions of our town and the new route established from the old Methodist Church at Crescent Street west over Main Street to and across the river where the Brattleboro branch turned north on Mt. Pleasant Street, while the Greenfield branch turned west over South Main Street. Chartered on February 29, 1804 there was also the Monson and Petersham Turnpike coming into Athol over the New Sherborn Road and Pleasant Street, having its northerly term¬ inus just south of the Toll Gate. By another legislative act the Fifth Massachusetts Corpora¬ tion was authorized to extend from the main location a branch across Millers River just below Athol Manufacturing Com¬ pany's present dam and extending up Chestnut Hill Avenue and Old Keene Road, and on north through Royalston to New Hampshire line where another road extended this route to Keene, the whole route from Connecticut line in Monson to New Hampshire line in Royalston making a no inconsiderable portion of a much longer route form New York City to south¬ western New Hampshire. The Leominster-Brattleboro road prospered for many years but the Keene-New York route was less patronized, although stages were run over it on a regular schedule and it bore a heavy freight traffic by ox team which delivered our products 180 TRANSPORTATION to the seaboard and secured from there the luxuries from many lands. This, however, was both slow and expensive. Athol had become a real transportation center by the early nineteenth century. To the north the road to Keene was part of a great through way from New York into Cheshire County, to the east the road led to Boston, and to the south Monson Turnpike continued the northern road. Branching off this at Ellinwood Country Club was the Worcester route. To the west the Greenfield Pike connected with the Second Pike over the mountains while to the northwest the Brattleboro Road led to Vermont and parts of Canada. The hub of this activity was Col. Samuel Sweetzer's tavern at Athol Center Common. Here the stages from all points of the compass made connections; here were held conventions and conferences galore. "What stages they were with their heavy wheels and flex¬ ible gearing! They were painted green and yellow, with sign letters in red and the State of Massachusetts coat of arms or other seal on the door. The middle seat was supplied with a broad leather band for a back, which was unhooked while the passengers of the back seat found their places. The driver's seat was high and grand, with a black leather boot, under which were placed the mail bags, and a dog that hed been versed in the school of growls, was sure to check any imper¬ tinent curiosity in the conscientious exercise of his office. A tall whip cut the air above the seat, protruding out of a round pocket near the one high step. A tally-ho horn found a place between the driver's legs, and when it was lifted into the air, its blast caused the dogs to drop their tails, and the hares to prick up their ears, and the partridges to whir away, and the farm hands to take breath amid their work." What powers of description had Mr. Hezekiah Butterworth when he wrote this for the Ladies' Home Journal some years ago. Far-seeing citizens watched America developing and ex¬ panding and saw that New England must make physical con¬ tact with the Far West or lose her supremacy. New York State, feeling this urge, revived the plan for a waterway from the Great Lakes to her navigable Hudson River and led by her Governor DeWitt Clinton began the actual building of the Erie Canal. This created nothing short of hysteria around Boston, then the home port of ships sailing to many lands, and she cried loudly for help to save her prestige. An aroused Legislature in 1825 heeded her cry and created a Commission to devise a means of tapping the large commerce 181 HISTORY OF ATHOL which seemed destined to find tidewater at New York. The Commission engaged the outstanding engineer of that genera¬ tion, Col. Loami Baldwin. Fresh from his achievements in de¬ veloping the Locks and Canals of Lowell, which were expand¬ ing that municipality from an insignificant village into a great hive of industry, he secured the maps and plans of General Knox and essayed his explorations. Not only was the State in¬ terested but Athol citizens became aroused and on June 13, 1825 a committee was chosen to aid in “exploring a route for a contemplated canal through the town." Like General Knox, Col. Baldwin was impressed with the de¬ sirability of serving the more populous area along the suggest¬ ed southern route, later the general route of the Boston & Albany Railroad. As an outstanding engineer, however, he weighed the practicability of both routes and decided on the more northern one. This he recommended to the Commission¬ ers and under their orders completed a survey of the entire route beginning at tide water and ascending on the general course of the Concord River, over the intervening space to the Nashua near Ayer; thence along the general course of that stream to its headwaters; thence but a few miles to the Millers at Winchendon; down our river to the Connecticut; from there up the Deerfield to Florida Town; thence by a tunnel through the Hoosac Range to the waters of the Hoosac; and down that stream to the Hudson River. His plans and details are still preserved in the archives at Boston where I have recently examined them. They show 178 miles of canal with 3.281 and 34/100 feet of lockage at a total cost of $6,024,072. With hand power only and black powder for explosives one wonders if the future years of our land would have been long enough before the end of the age to complete this stupendous project. But sane men believed in it and Athol became mildly enthusiastic over the prospects of having this waterway pass thorugh her town. A kind Providence intervened and ere a dollar had been spent on actual construction of this canal another means of transportation was conceived. The Bunker Hill Monument was begun by the laying of the corner stone by the Marquis de LaFayette on June 17, 1825. Gridley Bryant of Quincy con¬ tracted to furnish the granite for this memorial. Irked by the expense of the long haul by wagon from his quarry in Quincy to Charlestown he sought means of water transportation and as an easier way of getting the stone over the few miles from quarry to tidewater he devised a tramway which should carry ^especially designed wagons drawn by horse power. He pre- 182 TRANSPORTATION sented his scheme to the Legislature and in March, 1826 se¬ cured a charter for his Granite Railway, generally recognized as the first American Railroad. This innovation instantly squelched all canal projects. Quickly the new idea caught the public imagination and in a short time the Legislature was besieged with requests for railway charters. The original proposition was to have the cars drawn by horses, although some radical individuals proposed a steam locomotive — an engine with two eight-inch cylinders weighing about five tons — that would carry forty tons' weight at the rate of four miles per hour. This particular steam engine had been invented in England and was first put into use there in 1825, at the very time when our canal route was being sur¬ veyed. Because of the public demand, the legislature appointed a committee to consider the advisability of building a railway from Boston to New York State line and on January 19, 1827 the committee reported unanimously in favor of the project. Amid much dissension as to the location of the proposed road, surveys of every possible route were made. Then came the charter granted to the Franklin Railroad pro¬ posed to extend from Boston to the Brattleboro area. This route was to be along the general course of the canal survey and at least one Athol real estate owner granted some rights of way across his land for in a deed of the so-called Jotham F. Haven place on Royalston Road (which then extended to the river) dated November 16, 1829, there is reserved "the right previously sold for a railroad." There was much consideration given to the advisability of a single or double track line, that is two or four parallel rails, but it was finally decided that two rails (one track) would be adequate with turn-outs every three and one-half miles. No mention is made in the record of the motive power pro¬ posed but as the contemplated speed was 8 miles (per hour) empty and four miles loaded it is quite clear that only horse drawn vehicles were thought of. I cannot find that any construction work was done on this railroad and its charter must have soon lapsed. The first railroad built for general use in Massachusetts was the Boston & Lowell opened for traffic a few days before the Boston & Worcester road. 183 HISTORY OF ATHOL That first road was built by or under the direction of Mr. Baldwin who made the mistake or providing too rigid a road¬ bed. He provided "fishbelly" rails laid on stone sleepers which were supported on parallel walls of masonry. It was not long before wood had to be substituted for the stone sleepers and gravel for the masonry. Practically co-incident with the opening of the Lowell and the Worcester roads., a Stephenson engine was shipped here and set up by the Englishman who came here to drive the con¬ traption, and proving satisfactory in a limited way steam loco¬ motion soon was adopted by the few roads already operating. The passenger cars used were adaptations of the stage coach and the cab for the protection of the operators was non-exist- ant, that luxury having been introduced about the time the first train came into Athol. Some written notes indicate that there was often between 1830 and 1843 agitation in Athol regarding railroad matters. This was undoubtedly occasioned by the fact that railroads nearby were being granted. When a railroad was finally built here there was much criticism about its extending from a con¬ siderable distance on the south side of the river, while the original survey had placed it in Athol on the north side of the river. The northern or Millers River route was reported by the investigation committee to be some ten miles shorter than the southern route through Worcester and Springfield, but the Hoosac Mountains were such an obstacle that the southern route was first adopted. Nearly two decades passed, however, before the Millers River Valley was assured of railroad facili¬ ties. Alvah Crocker of Fitchburg was the promoter of our entire railroad system in this part of Massachusetts. Born in Leomin¬ ster he early became a paper mill operative and in young man¬ hood began the manufacture of that product on his own. Eventually he owned in whole or in part some eight industries in Fitchburg and had wide outside interests. He found time to serve in the Massachusetts Legislature around 1836 and actively endorsed the railroad projects as they came before that body. How much of a vision he had at first of a trans¬ continental railroad I do not know, but certainly in his later years he dreamed of such an enterprise. His first railroad venture was the Fitchburg which was chartered in 1842 and completed from Charlestown to Fitch¬ burg in March, 1845. This, the first railroad in the nation to be built without State aid, covered a forty-nine mile route and 184 TRANSPORTATION was laid in twenty-one and one-half months at a cost of $1,132,000. Hardly had work on the Fitchburg begun before we find Mr. Crocker travelling through this area seeking to arouse interest in an extension through this locality. In 1842 he argued two weeks at Brattleboro before he gained a single dollar for support of his road but he triumphed and got a few subscriptions before he left. His first charter of our road came from Vermont in October, 1843, when the Brattleboro & Fitch¬ burg Railroad was legalized. This was followed by a charter in Massachusetts to the Vermont & Massachusetts in March, 1844. As a substitute for the defunct Fifth Massachusetts Turn¬ pike this line was projected and was to extend from its junction with the Fitchburg Railroad at Fitchburg to Brattleboro, Ver¬ mont, with a branch extending to Greenfield. From Fitchburg to Greenfield the location eventually chosen followed in the main the canal route laid out by Loami Baldwin twenty years before. At one time a route seriously considered for the Brattle¬ boro connection was to turn northerly at Athol passing through Tully and Blissville to Winchester, New Hampshire, and then up the Connecticut River to its northern destination, but care¬ ful consideration eventually decreed the route finally chosen. The extension northerly from Athol required negotiations with another State government (New Hampshire), then material financial inducements were offered by South Orange, Ervings Grant, and Grout's Corners (Millers Falls) to extend the main line through those villages rather than leave them on the Greenfield Branch. At length the Millers River Valley route was chosen. The engineers, enthusiastically endorsed by citi¬ zens, wanted to build the road through Westminster Center thus avoiding the horse-shoe curve at South Ashburnham and saving approximately 100 feet in elevation. But Mr. Crocker dictated that the road must go near Ash¬ burnham Center where he had considerable interests. Thus a line was projected from Fitchburg to South Ashburnham and thence to Winchendon Village. Actually this was an economi¬ cal move as the Cheshire Railroad was being built at the same time and the identical track could be used all the way to Win¬ chendon. Then the Vermont & Massachusetts could turn southerly around Lake Dennison and join the route eventually chosen at New Boston. The directors clearly realized that the proposed route through Winchendon was not in conformity 185 HISTORY OF ATHOL to the charter granted by the Legislature but they seem to have expected that their political influence and arguments of economy in construction would bring speedy change in the legal location, but they under-estimated the power and in¬ fluence of the aggrieved towns. Westminster, while not getting the location desired, yet had several miles of the right of way within her borders so could not legally complain, but Gardner and Templeton had a real grievance and they really made their grief known on Beacon Hill with the result that a non-cooperative legislature refused to amend the location as laid down in the charter. Before the final legislative decision came, the road was built from Fitchburg to South Ashburnham and another section under a different contract was built from South Royalston northeasterly to New Boston. When the railroad officials finally became convinced that they could not carry out their projected location they decreed the present location over East Gardner Hill, and also a route running almost directly south from New Boston to beyond Baldwinville. When in the early eighties the road was double tracked, the New Boston loop to the north was abandoned and a new way opened south of the river where it has recently been moved a little farther south. But the climb over East Gardner Hill was retained and is still one of the major operating hindrances of the system. I have felt for many years that it was probably to emphasize a bad course that the engineers who laid out this enforced detour through Gardner planned and actually built this operating monstrosity. It was no less than a turn around at South Ashburnham by means of an inverted Y. The trains came ud from Fitchburg head on into South Ashburnham sta¬ tion. Then the engine was uncoupled, taken onto the turntable, and after beinq turned around was attached to the other end of the train. Thus it proceeded towards Gardner. With the eastbound trains this procedure was reversed, which necessi¬ tated turning all the seats in the passenger cars. My first real experience in railroading was when the brakeman allowed me to go through the car to help him turn the seats, of course disturbing all of the passengers in so doing. But this is ahead of my story. These railroad charters did not come without much effort mostly put forth by Alvah Crocker alone. I know of at least two old Athol families who to this day retain in their strong boxes some of this original issue of Vermont and Massachu- 186 TRANSPORTATION setts stock. Mr. Crocker tells in his diary that on Tuesday, October 31, 1843 he spent the forenoon at Athol with Esta- brook, Kendall, and Jones and then went to South Orange where he "lectured to a full house in the evening" adding tersely, "The good people here have hardly thought upon the subject." This was soon after his return from England where he went to buy iron for his Fitchburg Road. A convention at Brattleboro on November 5, 1843 was at¬ tended by men all along the proposed line. After quite some discussion this was adjourned to Athol on December fourth where much enthusiasm was shown and real progress made. For fifteen years any railroad project favorable to Athol existed only on paper. Finally enthusiasm for it gathered momentum and so impressing Esq. Thorpe that in his mill book against that December date he noted a "great railroad meeting." Those men of Athol with whom Mr. Crocker conferred that late autumn day in 1843 were much aroused and interested. Undoubtedly the Estabrook referred to was "Uncle Ben," a leader here for some time, who lived at 2094 Main Street near the present Hamilton Greenhouses. The Kendall was probably Lyman Kendall who lived at 1220 Main Street and owned the mills where Athol Manufacturing Company stands. The Jones was Esquire Theodore Jones of 1591 Main Street, where Jennie Lawton now lives next to the Congregational Church. He was a power here for many years. Apparently these three men arranged for the depot location near where the A. F. Tyler Company Shop later stood at 896 Main Street as most easily accessible to the Center Village. But their plans were doomed to be disrupted by enterprising citizens of the outlying "Factory Village," the name given to the immediate section centered about the Athol Cotton Fac¬ tory, built in 1814 on the site of the Starrett Plant. Those who lived within this village were most loyal to it. Nathaniel Richardson, living where the Starrett Block now is, had his factory on the Y.M.C.A. site. He served the town in many capacities over a long period and his diary of events here from 1826 to 1883 is of great value to the historian. In collaboration with J. C. Hill, another pioneer in this community for nearly a half century, he conceived the idea that the depot had better be located somewhere contiguous to the "Factory Village" and to that end they interviewed the all powerful Alvah Crocker who gave an attentive ear to their plea but desired more concrete suggestions. So they went home and after consultation bought the James Young property at 573 Main Street, until recently the Dr. Bowker home. With this 187 HISTORY OF ATHOL Cape Cod house they acquired several acres of land extending well towards Pine Street and some distance south of Hapgood Road and secretly offered it to the railroad officials for a depot site. But another objection was raised, i.e., that the site proposed by Mr. Estabrook and others had apparently an adequate water supply from a spring situated on land now owned by the Catholic Bishop and said to be designed for a Church School. There was presumably no water in sight for the more westerly location. Resolutely Mr. Richardson went to the owners of the land in the general area of Hapgood Road and Fletcher Street and sought to buy the right to erect a dam which would take water from Mill Brook to the barren waste of the Young land for irrigation purposes. The owners readily consented to this sale. Then another interview was held and the new site formally accepted. Mr. Richardson says in his journal under date of Friday, July 2, 1847, "News having arrived that the railroad depot was to be located in our village, the inhabitants thereof assembled at Phillips Hotell and had Supper & fired cannon in commemoration thereof." Wild with rage, the residents of the Center could scarcely believe the trick that had been played on them. In the meantime construction of the railroad right of way in Athol was begun on August 16, 1845 on land then owned by Jonothan Wheeler at the "Oxbow" above the Bearsden ledge cut. Contractor Pratt with a crew of men had established headquarters the previous week near Bearsden Road about four miles east of Athol. A gang of Irishmen soon began excavations near the present depot site. These railroad employees built their modest homes along what is now lower South Street, then called "The Patch," the beginning of the Irish settlement here. The location for the depot was a sizeable hill spoken of in early papers as "the little pine hill west of the pond hole." As a part of this work there was a heavy fill required just east of the present Athol Station over a sizeable bog or swamp. Soon after this fill was completed there came a considerable rain storm one night and when the workmen arrived on the job the next day their filling had all but sunk out of sight. It was assumed that the dirt had been dumped onto a mat of floating vegetation over an ancient pond and that the rain had so increased the weight of the load that it broke through the mat. The fill was again made and has stood firm for over a century. Locomotive "William Penn," drawing a few flat cars was the first train to arrive in Athol. Slowly it steamed down across 188 TRANSPORTATION Main and School Streets on November 16, 1847. For many, perhaps most, of our people it was their first view of a railroad engine. One boy arrived at the head of lower Main Street while the train was standing there. When it whistled for a starting signal, he became frightened and ran full speed for home. The plan was, out of sentiment, to accord to the "Athol" the honor of first coming here, but a sad accident prevented ENGINE TEMPLETON OF VERMONT AND MASS. R.R., 1847 The Athol, a duplicate of this, crashed through Bearsden Bridge Oct. 26, 1847 and was wrecked beyond repair this. On October 27, 1847 engine "Athol" with two cars of railroad iron and some fifteen men on board steamed out of South Royalston on its maiden trip to Athol. When it was on the second span over the river that structure proved unequal to the strain and the "Athol" and her cars were precipitated into the river. Authorities differ as to the number of casualties, five, six, or seven, but certainly several laborers lost their lives and the "Athol" was wrecked beyond repair. Mr. Richardson said that the cause of the accident was the poor quality of the iron used in the rods fabricated into the bridge, but the directors of the road in their annual report declared definitely that the nuts had been removed "by design." 189 HISTORY OF ATHOL Probably in response to a pervious suggestion the railroad' officials advised our citizens that they would come here by special train to rejoice with us over the completion of the road to this town. A letter written on December 24, 1847 to Charles Field indicated Monday, the twenty-seventh, as the date. A meeting of citizens was quickly called and Mr. Field was chosen Chairman of the Committee of Arrangements for a general celebration and reception. Lyman W. Hapgood, fore¬ man of Fire Company No. 2, was asked to serve as Chief Marshal. He had come to Athol a few years before from Barre and eventually occupied the Col. Sweetzer House. The invi¬ tation suggested that both local fire companies participate, acting as escort. It is probable that the actual command of Mr. Hapgood's Company fell upon Laban Morse, foreman of the Company the previous year. Charles W. Bannon, foreman of Fire Company No. 1, also took part in the event and later wrote an account of it, a copy of which is in my possession. Mr. Bannon had recently re¬ moved here from Springfield and spent the remainder of his long life here. When the short hours of sunlight were gone that late after¬ noon of Monday, December 27, 1847 a special train, bearing the officials of the Vermont & Massachusetts Railroad Com¬ pany as well as many individuals who had joined the party en route, slowly rolled down the right of way into Athol. Practically the whole population was assembled to witness the spectacle. Honorable Charles Field with his committee was on hand to receive the guests. As the train stopped at the corner of Main and Crescent Streets officials descended from the train and fell in with the line of parade. Led by the band and escorted by the "Tiger" and "Despatch" fire engine com¬ panies, the officials then proceeded to Phillips Tavern, later known as the Pequoig Hotel, where a banquet and reception were held. After the festivities at the tavern the procession again formed carrying lighted candles for torches, and pro¬ ceeded back to the train which the officials boarded for their return trip to Fitchburg. Thus the first railroad train in the town of Athol was received. A newspaper clipping secured for me from the Boston Public Library by my kinsman Lucien E. Taylor tells of the proces¬ sion to the hotel, the firing of cannon, and records several names of participants in the jollifications. Of course Mr. Crocker was the outstanding figure of the occasion backed by his directors and newspaper men from Boston. 190 TRANSPORTATION Alonzo D. Phillips as landlord of the tavern was prominent in the festivities. After a few years he removed to Fitchburg where he conducted the American House for a long time. Isaac Stevens, our local attorney, "welcomed the participants in a handsome speech." Dr. George Hoyt, Esq. Eliphalet Thorpe, Dr. William H. Williams, Rev. Samuel F. Clarke, and Col. Artemas Lee were among the elect for the occasion. As one of a committee of five appointed by the town of Temple¬ ton, Col. Lee had most vigorously opposed the directors of the railroad in locating their line through Winchendon. He had been in the legislature in 1832-35 during the early days of railroad agitation and was the representative from Templeton in 1847. Henry Chapman of Greenfield is the only one listed as an outside guest or speaker. Admitted to the bar at Greenfield in 1826. he was their representative at Boston in 1834, '35, '37, and '38, and was Clerk of the Courts at Greenfield from 1840- 52. His years of service in the legislature were at a time when the railroads were developing and asking much of the law¬ makers. It seems likely that this service accounted for his coming here in 1847. Though the church records do not recognize Rev. S. F. Clarke's arrival in Athol until April, 1848, somehow he was here and was accorded a part in the program. Just what interest brought Dr. William Parkhurst of Peter¬ sham here that winter day I cannot say. He located in Peter¬ sham after the tragic death by spotted fever of Dr. Edward Flint and three children in the winter of 1810 and continued there until his death in 1852. To me it is most surprising to read of the vision of this group concerning the future of rail transportation, for they not only rejoiced at what had been accomplished but freely predicted that ere long their little Vermont & Massachusetts would be a connecting link in a great transcontinental system. To achieve this the Hoosac range of mountains must be pene¬ trated by a tunnel. In less than eight years work commenced on this project, known as the "Great Bore." It was not with¬ out much effort and political maneuvering that the Common¬ wealth was induced to undertake and continue such a project through many discouraging years. During those crucial times Col. George Whitney of Royalston was elected and re-elected to the Governor's Council at the State House where his one great aim was to keep alive the interest of the politicians there 191 HISTORY OF ATHOL in this project most vital to a large section of the Common¬ wealth. Not the tunnel alone was the recipient of State largess but the entire line from Greenfield to North Adams in my youth was the "State Road" built and maintained by State funds and sublet to the Troy and Greenfield and later to Fitchburg. The section from Bardwells to North Adams was occupied jointly with the N. Y. N. H. & H. System. I think I am safe in asserting that had it not been for the leadership of Alvah Crocker in keeping up the agitation, the through line to the West would never have become a reality. His mighty brain and indominitable energy conceived and put into execution this whole project of a railroad through these valleys as well as the passage through Hoosac Mountain. It took twenty long years, some twenty million dollars, and one hundred ninety-five lives lost to effect the completion of the Hoosac Tunnel, but on Thanksgiving Day, 1874, nearly seven¬ teen years after work was actually begun, the headings came together and the Great Bore was through the mountains. Alas Mr. Crocker had lain in his grave a year before this achieve¬ ment but it was nonetheless his brain child. First regular train service from Boston to Athol commenced on January 1, 1848, to Brattleboro in February, 1849, and to Greenfield in 1850. Mrs. Ruby Moore Downing has in her possession a copy of the second timetable issued by the Vermont & Massachusetts Railroad. Two trains each way plus one mixed train was the standard service even to days within my remembrance. There were many rules for operation of trains appended to this schedule. With no telegraph system and of course no block signals, railroading then was certainly vastly different from today. Thinking of timetables takes me back to the days when the railroads agreed on a standard time. Back of railroad days each town had its own time. Then later when trains made scheduled runs the railroads in Massachusetts planned their timecard on Cambridge time — I suppose Harvard University time. However, there was not a general acceptance of this standard time which made the situation chaotic. There were actually fifty-six various "times" on the Amer¬ ican continent but eventually on November 18, 1883, the railroads adopted standard time. We in Athol stopped our clocks sixteen minutes that Sunday morning to agree with the railroads. No, not all of us, for D. J. Mendell who carried a cane and wore a shawl, and was the editor of our second 192 TRANSPORTATION newspaper, vowed and declared that he would stay on God's time. Five wooden bridges spanned our river in 1848 on the right of way in Athol. Even today in northern Vermont and through¬ out New Hampshire there are bridges not unlike those con¬ structed here which are still in operation. The "Long Bridge," one of the four railroad bridges between Athol and Royalston was burned on April 19, 1881. Pending the building of a trestle, passengers, baggage and express were transferred around this spot for several days. This bridge was never re¬ built, however, as the river was turned so as to eliminate the need of it. Assigned the task of caring for the bridges along the route, Albert G. Moulton came here from Bath, New Hampshire in the early days of our railroad. He purchased of the Company the James Young house, remodelled it, and ended his days there in 1889. As Superintendent of Bridges his was no small task to keep them in condition. In this work he was ably assisted by Mr. Charles W. Woodward and in later years by Winfield W. Woodward, his son. Early in 1869 Willis Phelps and a few associates met a group of Athol citizens at the Pequoig House to unfold a plan for building a railroad through Athol to Keene. A year later Athol voted to subscribe for stock in a segment of this project, the proposed Enfield Railroad, and to the amount of five per cent of its assessed valuation, amounting to $90,600. This was upon the general understanding that the railroad would be eventually built and operated from Springfield through Athol to Keene, but the money, some $1,300,000, was all paid into the southerly section of the road. Although repeatedly agitated down to the close of the last century the northerly portion was never built except on paper, though the road bore the high sounding name of Springfield, Athol and Northeastern Rail¬ road. When the road was officially opened for traffic on De¬ cember 2, 1873 a train came up from Springfield in the fore¬ noon carrying officials and many prominent people from that city. A banquet was served at noontime in the Pequoig House followed by a ride around town in C. W. Moore's "Jewell." Although the stock never paid a dividend and the debt in¬ curred was oppressive during the "hard times" of 1873-78, yet it was generally agreed a generation ago that the facilities and business the railroad brought to us were well worth the cost to our people, even though early in 1880 we sold our entire holdings to Willis Phelps for $15,195.95. Mr. Phelps 193 HISTORY OF ATHOL soon negotiated with the Boston & Albany Railroad for a sale of the entire road to that corporation. Though operated with indifferent success it was of considerable value to our com¬ munity until the building of the huge Quabbin Reservoir forced its removal from the Swift River Valley and the railroad was FIRST TRAIN OVER ATHOL & ENFIELD R.R., LATER SPRINGFIELD, ATHOL & NORTH EASTERN, JULY 4, 1871 entirely abandoned. At this time many citizens felt that Athol should have been compensated when the road was abandoned, many miles of its location having fallen within the area taken over by the Metropolitan District Commission. We soon came to know the railroad personnel. Jake Bangs, the colorful conductor on the Vermont & Massachusetts Rail¬ road, and later the Fitchburg, was always immaculately dressed. Many of his cutting remarks are repeated in railroad circles today. This one should certainly be recorded for posterity. An "excursion" to Boston at half fare was advertised and it fell to Jake's lot to be in charge of the train designated for the excursionists. He attached an extra car to his train and at the various stations en route from Greenfield picked up a relatively small percentage of increase in passengers. As he pulled into Athol he saw the platform swarming with passen- 194 TRANSPORTATION gers whereupon he remarked in a loud voice to all and sundry of those within hearing, "All of Athol would go to Hell if they could go for half fare." Sam Holden was at first a freight conductor on the road but was later promoted to a passenger job. He lived at West Orange and continued his service until comparatively modern times. Exceptionally tall and well groomed, he was an out¬ standing figure. Our first station agent, Isaac Warren, lived at No. 181 School Street, where Mrs. Arthur Bowker now resides. I know very little about him but think he was Ed Warren's father. For a long time Ed was a locomotive engineer on the road. Succeeding him in 1862 came Elisha F. Brown, who had charge of the Royalston Station from its opening until he came here to live at No. 96 Cottage Street. While a resident ELISHA F. BROWN 1827 - 1901 of Royalston he represented this district in the Legislature. Mr. Brown was one of the solid respected citizens of Athol and frequently was moderator of our town meetings. As one of the founders of the Second Unitarian Church, he was its staunch supporter. Well do we of the past generation remem- 195 HISTORY OF ATHOL ber his sitting near the east door of the church with watch in hand ready to slip out and open up his ticket office for the noon train. As a local carpenter, Charles W. Woodward built many buildings still standing here and as a railroad employee under A. G. Moulton he built and re-built most of the old wooden bridges on the Vermont & Massachusetts Railroad. A native of North Orange, he came here in early manhood and died here on October 20, 1 905 at the age of 77. Early in life Winfield W. Woodward, the son of Charles W., entered the employ of the Fitchburg Railroad and continued with it and its successor, the Boston & Maine, for many years. Returning here he was with the Grout Automobile Company for a time, later buying the lumber business that still bears his name. He was an expert in all kinds of construction work and rendered much service to the town in these matters, one of which was the supervising of the rebuilding of Main Street from end to end in 1913. He was a selectmen for some years and a water commissioner at the time of his death on March 14, 1933, as well as a Director of Millers River Bank and Athol Co-operative Bank. Much work has been done since the increase of highway traf¬ fic made imperative the elimination of grade crossings by using the underpass. There was some talk in 1874 of a tunnel under the railroad from the south end of Exchange Street to Hapgood Road. It was several years before anything was done and then the problem was solved in a most unsatisfactory way by the present Tunnel Street underpass. Under the railroads just east of Mill Brook a tunnel was started in 1882. This location had been chosen eleven years before when far-seeing citizens had approached the County Commissioners about it. In the meantime we were forced to use the grade crossings at Exchange and at Pine Street. In 1894 construction began on the School Street underpass. Three years before the Selectmen of Athol petitioned for the abolition of the dangerous School and Main Streets and Chest¬ nut Hill Avenue grade crossings, and a commission was ap¬ pointed to determine how this should be done. Various plans were proposed at the hearings which this Commission held. The railroad proposed to bring Main and School Streets to¬ gether east of the present underpass. The town proposed to bring Main Street under the tracks of its old location and to carry School Street over the railroad near the present under¬ pass. Concerning Chestnut Hill Avenue all were agreed that 196 TRANSPORTATION it should go over the tracks at its old location. The commission finally decreed the present layout which was never acceptable to Athol. The School Street job was completed in 1894 but it was some years before the Main Street roadway was built in the Starrett pond. To fill this roadway into the pond the railroad company acquired a gravel bank in the rear of No. 958 to 990 South Main Street, installed a steam shovel, and transported the fill in train loads. The Fitchburg Company ran its first train, a freight, through Hoosac Tunnel on April 7, 1875. This was of great interest to Athol as it meant the opening of a direct route to the West. Three months later the first passenger train went through and a year later the first through train from Boston to Hudson River placed Athol, after some twenty years of anticipation, on a great trunk line. Previously the Vermont & Massachusetts had inaugurated a through service over its line from Boston to Albany, but ten miles of the trip were by stage over the moun¬ tain. To accommodate increasing traffic resulting from the open¬ ing of Western connections through the Hoosac Tunnel, the Fitchburg Company laid about 3,000 feet of second track east of Athol in 1876-77. As a part of this enterprise, it changed the course of the river below Farley and midway between Royal- ston and Athol, by one latter operation doing away with the Long Bridge and the Short Bridge. These operations were facilitated by a depot and telegraph office called Pequoig, established just west of the Long Bridge, halfway to South Royalston. It has always been felt that the new channel for the river dug there was inadequate and the flood of 1936 which tore out much extra space seemed to prove this. Many wondered if this channel had been built to sufficient capacity, whether the river all the way to the Orange line would have been filled with debris as it was in 1936 for there was much property damage necessitating the expenditure of some $18,000 of public funds to remove the obstructions deposited by the river in its channel. A dozen years before this project was undertaken there was a most distressing accident at the Long Bridge, a covered wooden structure. This was then only a single track railroad and the schedule called for the meeting of the afternoon trains here. On June 16, 1870 the westbound train, Sam Holden in charge, left South Royalston at the usual time and proceeded without incident through three bridges on the way here, but upon approaching the fourth or Long Bridge, the engineer saw the section gang with a hand car in the bridge and 197 HISTORY OF ATHOL naturally applied his brakes to their limit giving at the same time the "down brakes" whistle to notify the brakeman of danger. The sudden stopping of the train in the bridge created a strain beyond its power to sustain. Bridge and train were plunged into the river twenty feet below. Jake Bangs was in charge of the eastbound train waiting at Athol and when Holden's train did not arrive on schedule he wired South Royalston. Being advised that Holden had cleared Royalston Station on time he proceeded slowly easterly to find the missing westbound train. Some distance west of the wreck he met a courier running at full speed down the track and from him learned of the disaster. Bangs then proceeded to the scene and all hands assisted in removing the dead and injured, bringing them to Athol where Melodian Hall — the basement of the old Methodist Episcopal Church — was opened as a temporary hospital. No hospital was available then for the care of these victims, but nevertheless they did not want for attention. Victims were hospitalized in the homes of Pitts C. Tyler, Elisha F. Brown, C. Wright Moore, A. G. Moulton, A. Harding, A. B. Folsom, and others until they were able to go to their homes. The number of deaths from this cause is stated to have been three with some twenty others seriously injured. LONG BRIDGE WRECK, JUNE 16, 1870 198 TRANSPORTATION My father, Gardiner Lord, who was a passenger in the car which stood on end in the river, was deputy sheriff and had been attending court at Fitchburg. When the "down brakes" whistle was sounded most of the passengers jumped into the aisles and were soon thrown into a horrible mass at the end of the car, but father braced himself in his seat. When the car ceased to move, he broke a window, climbed to safety, and later assisted in the rescue work. I have heard him tell many times of finding "Aunt" Sally Fish sitting on a rock in the river and assisting in carrying her to shore. She had been to Boston to arrange for the building of the marble Fish Tomb in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. For five years after the Fitchburg was opened for traffic, it did not enter the Capitol City with its trains, its terminus being at Charlestown. Thence it conveyed by omnibus to its Brattle Street office in Boston. That was Athol's approach to the State Capitol for some two and one-half years. In 1850 the Fitchburg completed its Causeway Street Station, just east of the North Station about where the present office building of the Boston & Maine now stands. This was one of half a dozen separate Boston stations until 1893. Then the Boston & Maine, the Eastern, the Lowell, and the Fitchburg all were consolidated into the present North Station. We used the first railroad depot here for more than twenty- five years. From this station many of our townspeople left the morning of November 1, 1862 for an excursion to Groton Junction where they visited Company E, 53rd Regiment, en¬ camped at Camp Stevens near there. A roadside marker on Route 2A about a mile west of Ayer marks the position of this Civil War post. At least two of the long wooden buildings north of Shirley station were built from the Camp Stevens' barracks when the camp was demolished after the war. About the close of the Civil War when two passenger and one freight train were running each way daily, the arrival of the Saturday night train was something of an event. At 9 p.m. any Saturday night standing room in the station was at a premium. In 1873 this wooden building was moved to the south side of the track to make way for a new brick structure. For years the old depot was used as a dwelling, later a stable, and finally a store house when it was burned in 1935. Prior to the construction of their new depot, the Railroad Company removed its freight house. This structure stood where Athol Coal Company office now stands, and was a 199 HISTORY OF ATHOL wooden building into which a spur track ran. As a substitute the present brick freight house was built through which a spur track ran for some twelve years before the indoor tracks were removed and all freight loaded at the side. The Vermont & Massachusetts Depot was built here in 1 872- 73 under the especial supervision of A. G. Moulton. A local FITCHBURG RAILROAD DEPOT 1873 - 1892 mason, Henry M. Burgess, had the contract. The influence of Alvah Crocker in the railroad company had diminished by that time as he had gone to the halls of Congress for what proved to be his last public service. The newer management planned to locate the general offices of the road here, it being about mid-way of the line, but hardly had it been finished when a lease of the Vermont & Massachusetts for 999 years was ef¬ fected with the Fitchburg Railroad and the general offices remained in Fitchburg until the Boston and Maine took over the system. As there were no dining cars on the line a restaurant was opened in the "Moulton" Depot serving passengers of those trains which stopped here "20 minutes for refreshments." This eating place was long operated by E. D. Brown who oc¬ cupied the second story of the depot as an apartment. Nearly sixty years ago William E. Wood came here and succeeded Mr. Brown in his business and his residence. As traffic over the Hoosac Tunnel Route increased additional restaurant facilities were required and a sizeable kitchen, built of wood, 200 TRANSPORTATION was attached to the northwest corner of the depot. In the evening hours of July 22, 1892 an accident happened in that kitchen and soon the entire structure was in flames, destroying the entire second floor and towers of the depot. An old passenger car was speedily located nearby that served as our depot for several months. This ended the restaurant here which was quickly moved to Greenfield. The new struc¬ ture was rebuilt on the ruins for the walls were still useable. Instead of the bell, a weathervane was placed above the clock tower. As rebuilt, the tower was radically different from the old one and more in keeping with the architecture of that pe¬ riod, the first tower being a four sided flat roof affair with many doodads and much ornate iron grill work. Duplicated by another such tower on the south side of the building there were lower ones at each of the four corners. In this rebuilt station the Boston & Maine does business today. Early in January, 1900 word came to us that the old Fitch¬ burg was to be leased to the Boston & Maine. We with much attachment to the old management were disturbed. One hun¬ dred fifty citizens signed a remonstrance but without effect. Immediately after World War I a consolidation was effected whereby the Boston & Maine took over the assets of seven of its leased lines, among them the Fitchburg. This did not do away with the underlying owership of the Vermont & Massa¬ chusetts which requires the Boston & Maine to pay rental on this line until the year 2873. As the years have passed we have become thoroughly reconciled to the change and in fact glad to be on one of the main lines of a great Eastern railway sys¬ tem. The New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad which partially controls the Boston & Maine Railroad system had a Corps of Engineers quartered at the Athol House in 1912 to survey for a new and more level route for the Fitchburg Divi¬ sion from Fitchburg to Greenfield. Although this route has never developed yet it is said that the data acquired by these surveyors is now owned by the Commonwealth and the route may seme day be developed into a super highway. The history of our transportation, particularly railroading, would be incomplete without mention of those of our town who believed in it and so faithfully served it. George W. Bishop, who came to Athol from northern Ver¬ mont, was Section Foreman for a time, then Roadmaster of this Division for many years. In 1895 he was appointed one of the Railroad Commissioners of this Commonwealth which position 201 HISTORY OF ATHOL he held for many years. He was a Selectman here for two years and was especially active in Masonic circles, having been a permanent voting member of the Grand Lodge of Masons of Massachusetts for a long time. Chandler Wright Moore operated the livery stable at 80 Ex¬ change Street and ran the depot hacks from about 1850 until his death in 1900. He was the local Express Agent for nearly a half century. Homer G. Sedgwick served as local station agent for the Boston & Albany Railroad Company for twenty-five years, re¬ signing on October 21, 1902. Ginery Twichell, a native of this town and for years a stage driver throughout this area, early saw the prominence the rail¬ ways would have in the development of this country and cast GINERY TWITCHELL 1811 - 18 The only Son of Athol known to have sat in U. S. Congress his lot with them. He was successively President of the Boston and Worcester Railroad, of the Atchinson, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, of the Boston, Barre and Gardner Railroad, and of the Boston Hoosac Tunnel & Western Railroad. Like Mr. Crocker he sat in the halls of Congress for a time, being the 202 TRANSPORTATION only son of Athol so far to attain that honor. Born on Rice- ville Road, Hon. Ginery Bachelor Twichell died at the age of seventy-two in Brookline. Given by relatives in memory of this illustrous son, a memorial fountain was placed in 1898 at the center near the site of the old tavern where he drove up so many times on his stage coach. Col. George Whitney, who had much to do with expediting the completion of the Hoosac Tunnel, died in Royalston in 1897. A native of that town, he was for years its leading citi¬ zen. He represented us in the Legislature of 1859, was our State Senator in 1 863 and 1 864, and a member of the Gov¬ ernor's Council for five years. In 1877 he sought the Repub¬ lican nomination for Lieut. Governor but was defeated by John D. Long of Hingham who not only achieved the Governorship but became Secretary of the Navy in McKinley's cabinet. When in 1890 it appeared that Mr. Long was likely to be a formidable candidate for U. S. Senator agains the aspiring Henry Cabot Lodge, Mr. Whitney asked us again to send him to the House of Representatives. His request was granted. Thus he was on the job to assist Mr. Lodge and defeat his old antagonist, Gov. Long. Col. Whitney was influential in the management of the railroad affairs in South Royalston, and for many years ran the woolen mill there, later operated by the American Woolen Company. As emphasis on the acute competition our road has always endured, an explanation of the "Wagner" car will give a better understanding. From the days of the first proposed line through here to this day we have been hampered at every turn by the jealousy and restrictions of the promoters of the south¬ ern route., now the New York Central lessee. They opposed our charters and state subsidies. When trains were possible all the way from Greenfield to Troy they tied up the Pullman Company so that this line could not use its cars thus driving it to the use of the Wagner cars, produced by a company long since extinct. Further, our western connections could not be over the four track Central which prohibition drove this road into an alliance with the West Shore line. Later when that line passed under the Vanderbilt control we were gradually re¬ stricted until today only freight cars traverse the line to Rotter¬ dam Junction, miles nearer Boston by our route than over the Boston and Albany. Thus to paraphrase a witty saying of another, "Only a hog can ride in a through car from Chicago to Boston" over the Hoosac Tunnel Route. One day about 1936 word came that a freight drawn by a diesel engine had just passed Millers Falls on its way through 203 HISTORY OF ATHOL Athol. A group of us gathered at the depot and awaited the arrival of this innovation which sailed majestically through the station and was soon out of sight up the hill. This change was the death knell of the coal burner which in turn superseded around 1868 the old wood burning engines. Even the electric mules are abandoned in the Tunnel and all through traffic is motivated by this most modern development. The smoke and noise of the old railroad era are gone but not forgotten for the present high pitched series of mechanical sounds seem poor substitutes for the deep toned whistle and clanging of the big bronze bell. Thus the story of our transportation development. Without the cooperation of these towns in this valley, the railroad might never have been and without the railroad this town probably would have advanced little from a rural community. When the railroad reached Athol there were but a few small factories in the area which is now the business center. It was the railroad which moved Athol downtown, expanded its industries, pushed its residential sections outward in all directions from the Station off South Street, and made it possible for this and other communities along its route to become centers of trade and social life for the areas which surround them. The Street Railways By the middle eighties the electric motor had become so well perfected that it became feasible to employ it in trans¬ portation and the Trolley Car began to supersede the horse cars. As the use of this newly developed motive power in¬ creased, local people began to predict that ere long this inno¬ vation would be established locally. In 1890 two promoters named Dunham & Brown appeared in Athol seeking a street railway franchise and using as their sales argument that they would install the "double" trolley system" said to be an improvement over the single trolley sys¬ tem. There was already under discussion the formation of a local group to establish a trolley line but these citizens had consid¬ ered the enterprise as a local betterment rather than a profit¬ able enterprise and therefore willingly stepped aside leaving the field clear for the outside promoters. The Selectmen of Athol and Orange proceeded cautiously in the matter of granting a franchise and when it was granted it was so restrictive that it was never accepted by the propo¬ nents and the project died for the time being. 204 TRANSPORTATION As the trolleys were deemed by most of our citizens as ab- solute necessity for a progressive community a group of local citizens by 1892 had begun active consideration of financing the venture by local capital, but they speedily if not gladly suspended planning when an outside group, this time com¬ posed of citizens of Portland.. Maine, entered the field. These TROLLEY CAR men, on February 9, 1893, petitioned for a charter which was granted without undue delay and construction operations soon’ commenced. It was at first understood that the necessary car barn would be built in Athol, the first location proposed being on land adjoining the Fair Grounds and Petersham Road, but when a purchase was attempted it was found that an informed local citizen had acquired title. Next the so-called "Circus Lot" on Brookline Road just south of the first dry bridge was decided upon only to be met with the information that two1 local citizens had acquired that title. This ended negotiations for an Athol location and the site in Orange, northwest of the second dry bridge, was chosen and the car barn erected there¬ in June 1894 trolley cars began making regular trips from1 just west of Main Street Bridge to Orange but the laying of the tracks in lower Main Street was delayed by a bitter contro¬ versy as to their location, those on the north side of the street insisting that because of Main Street School the tracks should be on the south side of the street which was bitterly opposed by 205 HISTORY OF ATHOL residents there. It was at a town meeting called to determine this location that Calvin Haskell proclaimed in a loud voice "Mr Moderator, the only location desirable for the street rail¬ way is out of town." At another meeting largely attended, when long and acri¬ monious debate seemed inevitable, John P. B. Wells arose im¬ mediately after the meeting was formally opened and address¬ ing the Moderator said, "I move we do now adjourn." His mo¬ tion was supported by a heavy margin and no business was transacted, it being known that unless the town decreed other¬ wise the Selectmen would locate the tracks in the center of the Street. There was much fear that the cars would so alarm the horses of the town that driving along our streets would be dangerous. Therefore, as soon as service bgan on South Main Street, the street was full of citizens down there to acquaint their steeds with the innovation. Opening the line to the uptown area was delayed by the con¬ struction of the School Street underpass and it was not until December 1 1, 1894 that the line was opened its entire length from Athol Fair Grounds to Shelter Street in Orange. The company, as one of its very early activities, promoted an amusement park, first the old Central Park and later Brook- side Park, the latter being operated practically as long as the road continued under private management. In the early days of trolleys here a line was proposed from Orange to Millers Falls to connect with the Connecticut Valley system and some money expended in preliminary work but that line was never built. By 1 912 local sentiment was very strong for a trolley line through Petersham to Worcester but that enterprise never got beyond the stage of agitation. The promoters of the railway early acquired the franchise of Athol Gas & Electric Company and the two services (street railway and street lighting) remained under one management for several years. After some years these properties were acquired by a group of local citizens, of whom George D. Bates, William D. Lucy, Hollis M. Slate and Wilson D. Smith are remembered, their ownership continuing until the early months of 1911 when the system together with the Templeton line were bought by the 206 TRANSPORTATION Connecticut Valley Street Railway Company and in 1913 the name changed to the Massachusetts Northern. By 1920 the automobile had begun to make inroads into the patronage of the trolleys and they ceased to be profitable, then came the question of maintaining transportation facilities for few could envision the "Bus" lines of today. After much agitation it seemed wise that Orange and Athol should acquire the old Athol-Orange system and continue its operation and an enabling act passed by the legislature. Orange declined to participate but Athol voted a substantial majority to assume the ownership. An Electric Railway Commission was created with a mem¬ bership consisting of David Findlay, Edward J. Hayden, Ralph D. Sutherland, E. Warren Tyler and Winfield W. Woodward, and a bond issue of $30,000. authorized on this account. The Trustees paid something slightly over $20,000. for the prop¬ erty, the remainder of the loan being held against expenses. George S. Donley, long connected with the system, was en¬ gaged as Superintendent and he continued until the road was abandoned and its assets sold. Developments of the last quarter of a century make it ap¬ parent that the attempt to continue the road was a most un¬ wise one but we could not see it at that time and people could not become reconciled to giving up the trolleys for the then rather crude busses. It is probable that had economic condi¬ tions remained stable the road would have continued some years longer but the severe depression following the stock market crash of 1929 spelled its doom. When in March 1933 all our banking institutions were closed and our two Federally chartered commercial banks never allowed to open again the partonage of the street cars fell off to such an extent that Athol voted to discontinue operations and sell the equipment of the road. Immediately a bus franchise was much sought after, it being finally granted to Templeton Street Railway, which com¬ pany speedily engaged our former street railway superintend¬ ent, George S. Donley, as its local manager, and under his skillful operation the bus system still operates satisfactorily. Templeton Street Railway The closing days of the nineteenth century and the first de¬ cade and a half of the twentieth saw much activity in the con- 207 HISTORY OF ATHOL “struction of inter-urban street railways. Millions were lost irr unwise extensions of the trolley system and millions more es¬ caped by a narrow chance. Locally the extensions actually proposed were from Orange to Millers Falls, from Athol through Petersham to Worcester in 1900 and through Phillipston to Templeton. Only the last married project ever materialized. In August 1900 a franchise was granted to the Phillipston Street Railway and its tracks soon laid. In July 1 903 it was consolidated with the Templeton Road then having lines into Gardner, Otter River and Win- chendon. At that period it was possible to make a trip by elec¬ tric railway from Athol over most of Massachusetts, the route to Western Massachusetts being only a long a circuitous route through Fitchburg, Worcester and the Brookfields. This author once made a trip to Boston by electric car, starting in the early morning, stopping off an hour at Clinton to eat a lunch taken along, and arriving in Boston suburbs in the late afternoon. This Templeton Railway still holds its charter but its tracks were abandoned and taken up when Athol took over the Athol- Orange system. Telegraph As early as 1866 the Western Union took unto itself some 340 small independent companies which had grown up within the two previous decades. Whether it was a small independent company first brought this utility to Athol or whether the Western Union itself, grown powerful with the years, first established it here I do not know. That its beginning here was closely allied with the railroad company I do know. The development of the telegraph entailed almost prohibi¬ tive expense for an independent right of way and as the rail¬ road already owned a roadway and could easily provide pole space as well as office facilities, it is natural that the pioneer telegraph companies should exchange service to the railroad in the running of its trains for pole locations and office accom¬ modations. Some seventeen years after the message "What Hath God Wrought" was flashed over the wires, the telegraph line came to Athol. In the closing days of the Civil War Edgar A. Smith, but fifteen and one-half years old, entered the employ of the Ver¬ mont & Massachusetts as the first telegraph operator of the 208 TRANSPORTATION Athol Station. I have been told that the news of Lee's sur¬ render and of Lincoln's assassination came here over the wires, so telegraph facilities must have been available early in 1865. Sometime later Ed Smith was in ihe Fitchburg office of the Company, returning to Athol in 1873 to associate himself in the Transcript management but soon to return to Fitchburg where he became Train Dispatcher of the system. He was eventually retired and removed to Somerville, Massachusetts where he died some years ago. Who succeeded Ed Smith at the keys in Athol I do not know but in 1871 Fred H. Harvey came here as operator remaining some eight years. I well remember Fred Harvey, small of sta¬ ture, aggressive by nature, but' liked by all. In 1879 Harvey resigned because of ill health and removed to the Far West. To fill his place Zephorine Emeline Carter, then operator at Grout's Corners, was transferred to Athol and here she re¬ mained until her death on November 18, 1924. She was a na¬ tive of Charlemont who learned telegraphy at Shelburne Falls. A strong personality, she was liked by some and roundly hated by others. I always rated her enemies as those who were not willing to give their best to the service of their employing rail¬ road system. She saw this line develop from a single track local when she first went to work for it into a link in a great trans¬ continental route and then saw the iron hand of competition and exclusion reduce it again, so far as the public is con¬ cerned, into nearly its former estate. It was two years after Miss Carter came here that R. William Z. E. CARTER 1846 - 1924 209 HISTORY OF ATHOL Waterman installed in his office in the Brock Block, 560 South Street, the first telephone in Athol, and it was several more years before that means of communication came into general use, so upon Miss Carter fell not only the railroad work but also a very heavy commercial business. Her hours of employ¬ ment were from 8 a. m. to 8 p. m. with time out for two meals, but those meal hours were often impossible because of some emergency. Much of the time a night operator was also on duty but the bulk of the work fell on the day operator. A trial was made of a telegraph business office in the Pequoig Hotel lobby around 1896 but that was soon discon¬ tinued. In 1915 a commercial office opened at 62 Exchange Street which was moved to the Parmenter Block in 1917 and to its present location in 1931. After Miss Carter's death the function of the telegrapher and the ticket seller were combined and the old ticket office at the center of the waiting room on the south side of the depot building was abandoned. The Depot was Miss Carter's pride. Through her efforts the grounds were beautified and much shrubbery set out. Not without competition did the Western Union establish itself here. Evidently for some three years after the Enfield Railroad was put in operation there was no telegraph line along that right of way but by 1874 the Springfield, Athol & North¬ eastern Railroad had taken over that line and by some alliance with the Franklin Telegraph Company a line was strung from Springfield to Athol and an office established here. The of¬ fice was opened in "Woodward's new block" sharing office space with the Athol Transcript on August 19, 1874, and Ed Smith, then a member of the Transcript staff, became its first operator. I do not know just how long this arrangement con¬ tinued but I am sure that sometime before Fred Harvey left here in 1879 the Springfield wire was in the Depot Office and all under Western management. Sometime in the middle eighties another company came in here with a line strung along the highway and opened an office as I recall it in the Cen¬ tral Block at about 423 Main Street, but in a short time it was absorbed by the Western Union, the independent line taken down and the office closed. A Mr. Holman came here in 1889 seking a franchise for another competing company, the Commercial. By that time there was quite an accumulation of wires in our streets, al¬ though electric lighting was then in its infancy, and the tele¬ phone was not in very general use. The Board of Selectmen 210 TRANSPORTATION refused to grant this company the franchise asked for, so it built its line way south of the town along Chestnut Street, run¬ ning a single line into J. L. Balcom's shoe store at about 427 Main Street and began its service in March, 1890. This Com¬ mercial Company was purely a subsidiary of the Postal Tele¬ graph Company which explains why after a few years the name was changed to the Postal, continuing as such until 1944 when it was absorbed by the Western Union. Two women stand out in my memory in connection with the Postal Company. Etta Bacon for a dozen years or more was its operator. Her instruments were at the Pequoig House desk and she acted much of the time as bookkeper and assistant hotel clerk as well as telegraph operator. May B. Burnham, later Mrs. M. C. Twichell, was a pupil of Miss Carter's who for nearly a score of years was the Postal operator with an office at different times in several locations. To the end of Fred Harvey's career here few messages were received by ear, there being in every office a machine which wrote the messages out in Morse code on a paper tape much like the stockbroker's tape of today. But Miss Carter could follow the ticker by ear without difficulty, and soon eliminated the old tape machine. It has never been in use here since, al¬ though today the teletype seems in a measure to be a return to it. The Telephone Alexander Graham Bell's invention named the telephone was perfected in 1876 and first put to practical use on Lincoln's birthday in 1 877. On August 7, 1878 a promotion demonstration was held here at the Converse Ward Drug Store in Starr Hall Block and quite some general interest shown in the innovation. Among those who expressed an intention of subscribing for the service was R. William Waterman for his Worcester West Chronicle, then having its plant at No. 556 South Street on the first floor of Merritt L. Lee's Boot Shop, and when an exchange was es¬ tablished here April 19, 1881 the author's recollection is that the first instrument actually installed here was in the Chronicle office. Converse Ward was general local representative and Arthur F. P. Conant of Orange, his assistant and local operator. When first opened, the exchange's only line out of town was the one to Orange. In August of that year 1881, a line was completed to Petersham. From Boston a line was early extended to Fitch- 21 1 HISTORY OF ATHOL burg and soon put through to Gardner, but it was December 1881 when a line was built from Gardner through Baldwin- ville to Athol. However, for several months after this connec¬ tion was made conversation with Boston was not possible as the line would not carry the voice that far, communications there¬ fore being relayed first from Fitchburg and later from Gardner. Hattie E. Sawtelle soon became the only local operator, the equipment being removed from the Ward Store to a back room on the second floor of the Starr Hall Block, rooming quarters being included in the office space so that Miss Sawtelle could and did answer the infrequent night calls. In 1910 the telephone company advised Miss Sawtelle that she was eligible for retirement as a "Pioneer" but she pre¬ ferred active work and at her request was installed in the Petrsham Exchange, then being opened, where she remained until 1929. Previous to 1900 the telephone subscribers were almost ex¬ clusively for business use, but with the close of the last cen¬ tury the telephone company began an expansion program seek¬ ing to educate the general public in its value in the home and to that end offered to install its equipment free of charge for a time, reasoning as it proved correct that once a family be¬ came used to the phone in the home it would be reluctant to allow its removal. This expansion brought need for larger quarters and these were eventually found in the Academy of Music Building in rooms then recently vacated by Poquaig Club, a business office being soon established in old Millers River Bank Building just south of the exchange. 7\2 CHAPTER XIV THEY BECAME AFRAID OF CARS PPARENTLY Athol was in 1 847 so overjoyed at the com- -77^ ing of the railroad through the town that the engineers located the right of way as they thought expedient, perhaps for the Company alone, giving scant attention to the safety of our people. Eleven times this location crossed highways of the town, nine of them being grade crossings and only two, the Beardson Road and Kennebunk Street, being at a separate grade. In the former case the deep cut through the ledge at that point of crossing admitted only a bridge high over the rails. Likewise at Kennebunk Street the grade of the road had to be raised only a few feet to admit of an overhead bridge. It was well towards fifty years before all these grade cross¬ ings were eliminated. In the process and by the changes, Athol suffered much inconvenience. The first crossing encountered as the work proceeded down the hill from South Royalston was over a little used road that led to Jonothan Wheeler's saw mill on the "Oxbow" above Bearsden Road. After paying damages for several fires set by the engines on this area, the Company purchased the entire tract and by common consent the crossing was closed and the road abandoned. The Lewis Bridge over Millers River went with the 1936 flood and had never been replaced, thus the "dry" bridge across the railroad was of next to no use after that date but the railroad was not able to get the town to agree to the re¬ moval of this dry bridge until 1952. A long mile above Athol Depot, Kennebunk Street crossed the railroad by an overhead bridge to the Amsden, later the Bragg mills, but the mills were burned, the water power aban¬ doned, and the bridge long since removed. The next road encountered was less than a mile above Athol Depot at the foot of the "Long Hill" which led from Athol Common to the river just below the present Athol Manufactur¬ ing Company dam, crossing the river by a covered bridge, and then proceeding up the hill to Keene by the west branch and over Chestnut Hill to Royalston by the east branch. 213 HISTORY OF ATHOL In less than a year after trains began to run on regular schedule the grandparents of the writer returning from church to their Chestnut Hill home failed to notice an approaching train and were in a serious mishap. About the same time Asa Hill, who lived on Townsend Road, met with a similar acci¬ dent. For each of these mishaps the Railroad Company paid substantial damages. As a result of these accidents both the town and the Rail¬ road Company agreed that a change must be made. The County Commissioners were appealed to and on July 5, 1848 that board decreed that the old "Long Hill" road with its dan¬ gerous crossing on a blind curve should be abandoned and a new road and bridge be built some distance farther west. Yet the real danger of grade crossings seems to have been neg¬ lected for this new route down "Block Hill" still retained the grade crossing feature but at a point where there was a much clearer view of the railroad. This condition continued until the general and final crossing abolition of 1894. Proceeding down hill on the railroad it was no great distance before another highway was met. This was laid out by the County Board in 1832 as a substitute for the steep grades of School Street, and not many rods below that was the School Street crossing approximately where the foot underpass is lo¬ cated. These two crossings were on the main travelled ways through the town, between the two principal villages in it, and were the scenes of numerous accidents. Sometime previous to 1880 a flagman was stationed there with his little hut just west of the School Street crossing, on the north side of the road. Here for some years Alphonso Priest kept guard to warn with his red flag or red lantern at the approach of a train. About the middle eighties crossing gates were established at both the Main and School Street crossings, operated from a tower between the two, manned by Stebbins Elmore as gate operator. In 1891 George W. Bishop, Road Master of the Fitchburg Railroad, was elected one of the Board of Selectmen and chosen its chairman. Whether of his own volition or in obedience to the dictates of his railroad employer I never knew, but prompt¬ ed by some motive he set the machinery in motion to abolish the three grade crossings remaining on the Fitchburg Railroad in Athol, taking advantage of a then comparatively new stat¬ ute which provided for a special commission to decree what should be done, and apportioning the cost at 65% levied on the railroad, 25% on the Commonwealth, and 10% on the 214 THEY BECAME AFRAID OF CARS town. The town appointed a special committee to look after its interests and that committee engaged Hon. Sidney P. Smith as its counsel. The Civil Engineering force of the railroad rep¬ resented its interests. There was little disagreement as to the Chestnut Hill cross¬ ing, the raising of the southerly approach and the building of a bridge being the solution there. But as to Main Street and School Street there was a wide disagreement. The town asked to have Main Street pass under the roadbed at practically its old location east of the location of the present School Street Underpass. The railroad proposed to unite the two ways at the old School Street location and there pass under the rail¬ road. Long and sometimes acrimonious hearings were held, but in the end the commission decreed that Main Street should bridge the right of way some distance east of its old crossing paralleling the railroad by a fill into the Factory or Starrett's Pond, and School Street should pass under the railroad where it now does, the School Street foot way and sewer, water and storm drainage rights being retained by the town at both old crossings. This procedure entailed quite substantial property damages which were not wholly settled for several years. The School Street roadway was begun early in 1894, the filling taken out being utilized to grade the Lake Park School House lot which had just been acquired by the town. It was several years be¬ fore the Main Street overpass was attempted and before it was done there was a vigorous attempt to change the plan so as to provide a roadway from Gay & Ward's (now Union Twist Drill Company) to Main Street at Crescent. The present generation accepts these travelling conditions as unavoidable but some of us oldsters still regret that a more desirable solution of the problem was not then found. Below the depot about where the present freight office now stands was a private crossing, but in quite general use from South Street to Hapgood Road. We seriously regret that this was not retained, made public, and finally provided with an underpass which would have extended Hapgood Road straight to the south end of Exchange Street. This would have been accomplished long ago had our County Commissioners pos¬ sessed a little more vision or possible courage. In 1871 a group of interested citizens petitioned that august body to lay a new road "from the Upper to the Lower Village." 215 HISTORY OF ATHOL Complying with this request the Commissioners laid Hapgood Road from Chestnut Street by the old match factory to Cot¬ tage Street. Then their courage failed them and they made a leap to South Street and relaid Exchange Street from South Street to Main Street, leaving the long gap between Cottage Street and South Street for the wisdom of future ages to bridge in some way. Freedom Street was the ancient road to New Salem via a now abandoned section across the railroad yard to South Athol Road and then continuing by Fairview Avenue and Chase Road. But the railroad desired to utilize the old Freedom Street loca¬ tion for yardage, turntable space, and the like, and a compli¬ ant County Board assisted it by discontinuing the desired sec¬ tion and laying a portion of South Street and Pine Street as a substitute road. Pine Street was the scene of innumerable ac¬ cidents for it crossed some eight tracks, two at least of which led to the engine house just west of its location. I cannot refrain at this point from telling the story of Lysander Richardson's remarks concerning this crossing. Mr. Richardson in coming towards Athol had tangled with the cars, his horse had freed himself, and Mr. Richardson had in some way escaped injury, but his vehicle was a wreck. As he was gathering up the wreckage of his wagon a woman, driving alone, came to the crossing and seeing him inquired, "Mister, is it safe to go across here now?" Whereupon Mr. Richardson replied, "Just as safe as it ever will be, madam. They keep an engine in that house there all steamed up ready to start for you if they see you coming. I don't think they are looking just now so if you drive fast you can beat them to it." And the lady crossed in safety before the engine crew spied her. The County Commissioners in 1 882 discontinued Pine Street within the limits of the railroad and as a substitute laid out Carbon Street to just across Mill Brook and that section of Tunnel Street from there to the present Hapgood Road loca¬ tion south of the railroad. Although the private crossing ex¬ tending Exhange Street was closed at that time yet the Com¬ missioners failed to provide access from Exchange Street to the new underpass and the town had to lay out Tunnel Street to meet this need. At one time the present Morton Street crossed the right of way of the railroad, made a loop, and returned across it within a short distance. This loop around a sizable sand hill seems to have been abolished as an incident to the building of the railroad, the excavated material of both the road and the rail- 216 THEY BECAME AFRAID OF CARS road being used in the rather substantial fill between there and the river. West of the river was a crossing of the Greenfield Turn¬ pike, but apparently the river bridge on this turnpike had been removed previous to 1848 so the only need for the crossing was to serve a Stratton house which stood on the present "Hog Island" lot within less than five feet of the railroad. The Com¬ pany bought that property and when they resold it, they pro¬ vided a right of way around by Brookside Road, crossing the present cemetery there. Eventually Mr. James Barrett who long lived there took the buildings down and rebuilt them west of Fielding Way. The most westerly crossing in town was the so-called "Brick¬ yard" crossing just west of the present Brookside Road. At this crossing was a siding where the Smith Brickyard loaded its shipments on the cars. This Brookside Road and its extension in Franklin County was laid by the joint action of the County Commissioners of Wor¬ cester and Franklin Counties in 1832 to avoid the heavy hills and uncontrolled sand along the present Route 2. The grade of the road was depressed some three or four feet to accom¬ modate the railroad grade which made somewhat of a hazard. It was only some five years before our people were demanding a separation of the grades there. This was accomplished by de¬ cree of the County Commissioners on July 19, 1855. With the coming of the electric railroad and the through state road which was first built around that loop some minor changes have been made in the location there, but the present "dry bridge" stands much as decreed in 1855. Again when the Enfield Railroad came in the early seven¬ ties we were so anxious to get the improved transportation that we submitted to unnecessarily hazardous crossings. The traf¬ fic over that road, however, was never heavy and accidents were so infrequent that no effort was ever made to abolish any of these hazards, except that the road also crossed Pine Street and added to the confusion there. With the abandon¬ ment of this Boston & Albany branch line all crossing haz¬ ards have been eliminated, and with the passing of the horse the railroad is no longer feared. We daily suffer inconvenience because of the bungling way by which the danger was eliminated, but we have become used to it and make very little complaint. 217 CHAPTER XV AIRPORT FACILITIES RTHUR L. TWICHELL and his son, N. Hastings Twichell, secured in the autumn of 1928 some control of about one hundred acres of land on Orange plains and made a start to¬ wards developing a landing field there. Previously Levi Flagg of New Salem and William E. Taft had made abortive attempts to operate airships in this territory. All signs indicated to the rapid development of air trans¬ portation, and both Athol and Orange felt that they should make preparation for it. A group of enthusiasts was gathered together, a corporation was formed, and stock sold in the Air¬ port Company. The officers of the corporation were: President — Dr. Clarence M. Taft of Athol Secretary — -Roland A. Frye of Orange Treasurer — William F. Cass of Athol Directors — Clarence M. Taft of Athol Eben E. Gridley of Orange Howard P. Warren of Orange Carl C. Harris of Orange Frank A. Howe of Orange Dwight S. Davis of Orange Arthur H. Starrett of Athol William H. O'Laughlin of Athol William G. Lord of Athol Joseph S. Wilcox of Athol William F. Cass of Athol Roland A. -Frye of Orange Being located in Orange but with the management about equally divided in numbers and responsibility between Athol and Orange, it was known as Orange-Athol Airport Corporation, chartered on May 28. 1929, and operations were actually be¬ gun on runways on June 28, 1929. Progress was made on this airport and several local men be¬ came quite proficient in the operation of airships, carried on under the general leadership of Dr. Clarence M. Taft. On July 26, 1930 he and his student pilot, Wayne M. Thatcher, made a trip by plane to Springfield, Vermont, with Thatcher at the controls. Through some fault in connection with landing at Springfield, both of these men were killed. Following this, Mr. Winfield W. Woodward became Presi¬ dent of the Corporation, and Bud Russell of Petersham was put in charge of the port. Mr. Woodward was president but three 218 AIRPORT FACILITIES years for on March 14, 1933 when President Roosevelt called in the gold, Mr. Wodward took his from the safe and started for the bank. While driving there he died at the wheel of his car with the gold on the seat beside him. The Directors loaned the Corporation funds to build a hangar and to make material improvement on the field. But the much anticipated fleet of planes that would land there failed to appear. However, those were the days when Govern¬ ment money was available for any worthy project so the Fed¬ eral representatives were induced to make material changes and improvements at the port. Various and sundry allocations were made, much work was done, and before the Federal ap¬ propriations ceased there were three five-thousand-foot run¬ ways and much surrounding territory freed of brush and other obstructions. That the Government could make its large ex¬ penditures here it was necessary for the municipality to be in control. To that end the port was leased to the Towns of Athol and Orange, the lease taking effect on December 11, 1933. Before the termination of this lease it then became evident that the port should be municipally owned. Athol had not forgot¬ ten its misfortune in the street railway system and the failure of Orange in any way to contribute towards these losses. Therefore it was very evident that no financial assistance could be obtained from this town. Consequently the port was taken over by the Town of Orange in 1936, much additional land being acquired. After Mr. Woodward's death, Dwight S. Davis, Principal of Orange High School, was President until he took a position in Leominster. Arthur H. Starrett succeeded him and remained in office until the entire control of the port passed to the town of Orange and the Airport Corporation dissolved. There were also some changes in the other offices. William G. Lord of Athol succeeded Mr. Cass as Treasurer, to be event¬ ually succeeded by Roland A. Frye of Orange. In the dissolution the directors were repaird the principal of the loans made some years before and a dividend of some 22 percent paid the stockholders. Though entirely within the limits of the Town of Orange yet the airport is but a short distance from the Athol line and is available to Athol citizens, a decided asset to our community. In the great distress of the hurricane of 1938, for a time bread and other necessaries were brought into town by air, the only means of transportation, and were landed there. Because of impassable roads, however, Athol was compelled to take a twenty mile detour through Petersham to reach the port. 219 CHAPTER XVI TAVERNS ONG before a church was established here our forefathers ' took measures to provide for the accommodation of tran- ient travellers who passed through this region on horse back, by ox cart, and eventually in the mid-eighteenth century by stage. Probably from the beginning some log cabin in each "street" found room to accommodate the few wayfarers whom night overtook here. For over a century after the settlement of the town, innholder and retailer licenses were issued by the county officials, from whose records most of our information comes regarding these public houses. Such were the licenses granted from 1743 to 1878, when the authority to grant them was by statute transferred to the town off icialsd29) It is probable that John Smeed, one of Pequoig's five pio¬ neers, kept the first hostelry on his house Lot No. 5 on West Hill. East of the Sentinel Elm, it was also on the east side of the road, near where the Moore Hill Road reaches its most westerly point and turns north. Possibly Mr. Smeed continued as the town's landlord until the Indian uprising of 1746 when he was captured by General DeVeudreuil at Fort Massachu¬ setts. His tragic death occurred the following autumn when by the hands of Indians he was killed near the mouth of Mill¬ ers River. In August, 1746 when the Smeed family was taken captive to Canada and another Pequoig settler, Ezekiel Wallingford, was killed by the Indians, Jason Babcock became an innholder. Babcock had a good location for an inn at about No. 90 Pequoig Avenue on the County Road through the town and approximately midway between the two settlements of the township. Though he renewed his license the following year, it was but a few months before he. too. was the target of In¬ dian assault and was taken captive to Canada. No one appears to have kept an inn here in either 1748 or 1749. As Babcock went to Westboro immediately following his freedom and did not return to Pequoig until 1758, it is probable that there was no public house here for a year or two. About 1750 Robert Marble of Marlboro acquired lot No. 1 (29) See Appendix 3 220 TAVERNS WE and lots No. 4 and 5 EE. In 1751 he was licensed to keep a hostelry here, probably at about No. 500 Pleasant Street. George Cutting, who lived in Cambridge and then Worcester during the middle 1700s, acquired some considerable land in Pequoig. In 1744 he bought lot No. 6 EE "With the frame of a house standing on the same," then in 1750 lot No. 7 ad¬ joining, and in 1753 lots 3 and 4 EW "with buildings and houses thereon." Here on lot No. 7 he opened a public house as early as 1754. The cellar hole where this famous Cutting's Tavern stood was until recently to be seen at about No. 775 Pleasant Street, just north of the fort where an old roadway marked the beginning of a road to the west. Here John Murray found refreshment when he came to Athol to preside at the first town meeting and to assist in get¬ ting the new municipality started right. Not until four years after Cutting's Tavern opened did a competitor appear. Then in 1758 Richard Morton established the second hostelry, concurrent with the laying out of a county road from Petersham to what is now North Orange and another from Athol meetinghouse to New Salem. Tradition places the inn at No. 1307 Pleasant Street, while what available records we have locate it at about 581 Pleasant Street. Two years later a third license was granted to Ichabod Dex¬ ter, then of Hardwick, who had established himself a few rods south of the west end of Moore Hill Road. Born in Roch¬ ester, Ichabod Dexter lived for a time in Warwick, and later came to Athol with the Hardwick group. He took up the lands of Ezekiel Wallingford, and there on West Hill south of the Sentinel Elm, he carried on a pottery. Evidently one of his activities for some seven years was keeping a public house, for on January 1 4, 1 759 he was granted an innholder's license. Captain of our Company of Minute Men, he led his band to Cambridge after the Lexington Alarm. By 1782 he was back in Hardwick and from there went to take a prominent part in Shays' Rebellion. Leaving the field to Cutting and Dexter located in widely separated sections of the township, Richard Morton had dis¬ continued his operations as a landlord by 1762. Upon Cutting's death "at Rutland on his way home from a journey" on December 29, 1765, his son-in-law, Abner Graves, contin¬ ued the tavern until 1770 when the Cutting heirs sold it in June at public vendue to David Goddard. This purchase in¬ cluded lots numbered 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 E.W. 221 HISTORY OF ATHOL Three months later, on September 24, 1770, Goddard sold it to Beriah Ward of Petersham who operated it until his death on October 23, 1772, when his kinsman, probably his brother, took over the management continuing some twenty years. In 1783 he acquired the interst of a son of Beriah Ward, Dr. Wil¬ liam Ward, and in 1790 the widow, Hannah, with her son, Jabez, Jr., and her daughter, Sally, wife of John Oliver, Jr., likewise deeded their interest to Alpheus Ward. Alpheus Ward and his descendants gradually disposed of this real estate but it is well within the memory of this writer when Daniel Ward (whose relationship to Alpheus is not traced) resided and eventually died at 483 Pleasant Street. The deed from Beriah's son, Dr. William, to Alpheus, seems to fix the location of the road originally laid out from near the second meeting house westerly, for the description begins on the north side of the road laid westerly and adjoining Joel Morton's land and runs W. 11 V20 N. 236 rods to a stake in a swamp which must be in the Sanders Street area. Abner Graves immediately bought of Silas Marble a tract near the East end of Main Street at approximately 108 Tem¬ pleton Road, and removing there, soon opened a hotel. Graves was one of the most active men in Athol during the Revolu¬ tion. In 1778 while he was with the army at Valley Forge, the house was burned. Obtaining his discharge he returned to Athol and rebuilt his home which continued to be Graves Tavern until about 1812 when he was succeeded by his son- in-law, Jonathan Orcutt. The westerly section of the road from Templeton to Athol in 1785 is described as "thence by the house of landlord Graves to Athol meeting house." On an elm tree at the road junction just south of his house swung for many years Jonathan's sign, "Orcutt's Tavern." About 1773 David Fiske and Asa Waters, both of Sutton, settled in the northeast part of the township near the present "High View" in Royalston. Waters for some reason soon dis¬ pensed of his holdings to Fiske, who in 1773 was licensed as an innholder. His inn, the first in South Royalston, was prob¬ ably on the road from Templeton to Royalston. Fiske disposed of his holdings to Oliver Holman of Templeton in 1776 and removed from town. Whether Mr. Holman continued on with the operation of this inn during the war years is not recorded but there is reference to his obtaining an innholder's license in 1779. Probably because of disturbed conditions prior to the Rev¬ olution, there is no record of innholder licenses being granted 222 TAVERNS between 1774 and 1778. Immediately thereafter a number of new taverns opened. Leading the list in 1778 was Daniel Lam- son, located on lot No. 14 EW, who removed to Castleton, Vermont by 1788 and to Andover, Vermont in 1790. Moses Goddard, a fifer in Capt. Lord's Company, bought on March 28, 1778 the east ends of house lots Nos. 12, 13, and 14 WW, and opened a public house there on the west side of North Orange Street. On the east side of North Orange Street, Sherebiah Baker became a landlord in 1779, where our North Orange Road and Brooks Road come together. At this time Bartholemew French opened an inn probably at South Royalston, then a part of Athol. Asa Smith, licensed for six consecutive years beginning in 1782, was born and died on the site of the square house still standing at the corner of Brooks Road and Moore Hill Road. John Haven, Jr. built about 1777 the house, now much re¬ modelled, owned by Erwin J. Haven's daughter, Mrs. Evelyn H. Merrifield, on Chestnut Hill. There he resided until 1825 having been an innholder in Athol for a short time some forty- five years before. He died in Dummerston, Vermont in 1831. For years Jesse Kendall was Athol's miller. In 1784 when he was first granted an innholder's license, he apparently lived almost directly in front of the present Pequoig House. In later years he resided where the Parochial House of the Church of our Lady Immaculate stands at 192 School Street. In 1870 or therabouts his house was removed to 289-300 School Street. It is possible that in this house he continued his hostelry as it was on the County Road leading through the town. Isaac Nichols was a Royalston pioneer from Sutton. He settled on the so-called Francis Chase Place on the road from Royalston to South Royalston whence he removed to Croydon, New Hampshire about 1790. I assume that his hostelry was temporary and in the South Royalston section, then a part of Athol. In 1787 Ebenezer Newell, Esq. removed from Brook¬ field to the “John R. Hale Farm" on the hilltop west of South Royalston and was at once granted a license. He may have succeeded Mr. Nichols on this location. Jonathan Kendall lived and died on his farm just north of Chestnut Hill Cemetery but notes made long ago say that he kept a public house for at least two years at No. 1 169 Chest¬ nut Street, later a sort of health resort, and later still the South- 223 HISTORY OF ATHOL ard Place. While it was a sanitorium, Dr. George Hoyt put in a private water system from the hill south of his house and also dug a deep well under the ell of the house. Around 1832 this water cure fad had become a feature in medicinal prac¬ tice. In this house the celebrated composer, Dr. Lowell Mason began his musical career, teaching his first singing school. Jonathan Kendall bought land in this vicinity of Benjamin Fairbanks and on January 5, 1792 sold it "with all buildings thereon" to Samuel Sweetzer. SAMUEL SWEETZER 1764 - 1842 A native of Leominster, Sweetzer came here in 1791 from Warwick with his bride, Hannah Moore of Cambridge. For thirteen years beginning in 1792 he operated the principal "tavern stand" in the town, then and for upwards of fifty years located near the uptown common where four turnpikes came together. In 1805 he advertised his tavern site for sale and soon disposed of it to Thomas Lord, Jr. Sweetzer had op¬ erated a general store in connection with his tavern. This he continued to carry on for a few years finally retiring to devote his time to his large real estate holdings and his cattle drov¬ ing. At the age of seventy-eight, Colonel Samuel Sweetzer died on July 27, 1842 at his home. No. 1400 Main Street, where he had erected the house now standing at No. 71 Kenne- 224 TAVERNS bunk Street. The Athol Tavern continuel to be the center of most local activities here until finally demolished in 1854. SWEETZER HOUSE Dr. Daniel Ellinwood came here from Brimfield in 1775 and acquired what is known as the Ellinwood Country Club prop¬ erty. Evidently a tavern keeper was one of his activities there for at time. In 1788 the name of James Humphries, son of our first pastor, appears on the list. I understand his activities were as a merchant in a store which long stood south of his father's house at about No. 1015 Pleasant Street, and that it was only as a dispenser of strong liquor in this store for which the li¬ cense was asked. On a site marked by the masonic tablet at 824 Pleasant Street, William Crosby's inn was opened in 1791. Early in the life of our town's masonic history, a special meeting of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts was convened at Crosby's tavern to constitute Harris Lodge A F and A M of Athol on October 13, 1803. Isaiah Thomas, Grand Master, had driven up from Worcester "with a coach and span of black horses." After the preliminaries at the tavern, a procession was formed, led by a band of music, and proceeded to the meetinghouse where a sermon was preached by Rev. Elliott of Watertown and the officials duly installed. The members then returned to the tavern where they partook of "sumptious entertainment." Masons from many miles away came to this celebration while the townspeople laid aside all ordinary tasks to view the novel spectacle. 225 HISTORY OF ATHOL Two years before the feast of Saint John the Divine had been celebrated here with marked success. The offer of Brother Crosby to furnish the entertainment for 7/6d ($1 .25) per plate was accepted. Brother Crosby, realizing that the success of the occasion rested upon him, outdid himself. The day came, a perfect day in June, 1801, and from the country roundabout, from Greenfield and Northfield, Warwick and Orange, from Hardwick, Barre and Petersham, from far and near gathered the brothers. All roads led to Athol and to Crosby's inn that "... stood near where the old fort was On east side Athol Street. Near where the Boston Road turned off Through what is now a farm; Where Minute Men began their march At Lexington Alarm." This crossroads where Crosby's Tavern stood indeed became a center of activities. The road from Boston came in from the east, the road from the Connecticut Valley from the west, while the present Street was the main north and south thorough¬ fare through the township. The east road has long since been obliterated but it is interseting to trace it easterly through Lake Ellis, across the Sutton farm, and then on east over Lyons Hill. Over this road the supplies from Massachusetts went to the army during the many campaigns against Canada and over it the troops of the Colony made their way into the northern Connecticut Valley. There were numerous retailer and some innholder licenses granted within the next thirty years, between 1796 and 1826, all of which are carefully recorded in Appendix 3. Hezekiah Cheney, John Dodds, Joseph Crane, John Adams, Abiel Par- menter, Jeremiah Morton, and Aaron Brigham are some of the good, solid names on the list. In 1800 some five years in advance of the turnpike exten¬ sion towards Keene, Joseph Paine, one of our Revolutionary soldiers, was licensed to entertain at his home on old Keene Road, southeast of its junction with Logan Road. His sign, "J. Paine, Innholder" was in the attic of the house when it burned on April 26, 1902. The day before the fire occurred, the town had bargained for this old tavern as a pest house for use in the prevailing smallpox epidemic. During the night fol¬ lowing, the house burned to the ground and it is assumed that alarmed neighbors took this means of preventing the nearness of this menace to their health. 226 TAVERNS It is probable that Gad Pierce, Jr. of Royalston operated here at J. Paine's tavern in 1802. Dr. Samuel Rice removed here in 1793-4 and located at No. 219 Pleasant Street. Evidently he dispensed ardent spirits as a side line, but I very much doubt his ever having operated a public house. The year 1811 seems to mark the beginning of the long mercantile career in Athol of Esq. Theodore Jones, never a landlord but long a merchant at No. 1576 Main Street. With industry came workers who needed lodging. The Athol Manufacturing Company became an active part of Athol's life in 1814. The old "cotton factory" on Crescent Street and many other buildings were erected, one of which was the "Fac¬ tory Boarding House," then at No. 119 Crescent Street but FACTORY BOARDING HOUSE, 121 CRESCENT STREET, 1815-1902 NOW A DWELLING AT 88-90 FISH STREET now removed to No. 88-90 Fish Street. Col. Nathan Nicker¬ son once of Cape Cod and later of Phi 1 1 ipston came here as one of the executives and in his name a license was issued. Un¬ doubtedly the retailer's license was for the "Company Store" at No. 584 Main Street where the Memorial Building now stands. June 19, 1828 was a holiday for all the Factory Vil¬ lagers as they took time off to assist in the rasing of an addi¬ tion to the Factory Boarding House which was to include an Assembly Hall. Isaac Nichols succeeded a Mr. Albee as keeper 227 HISTORY OF ATHOL of the Factory Boarding House on March 10.. 1827 and re¬ mained its landlord until the financial crash of 1839. On june 27, 1811 Thomas Lord, Jr. "swapped" his tavern stand, formerly owned by Samuel Sweetzer, for the farm of Zachariah Field on Northfield Street and the two men ex¬ changed residences. Mr. Lord resided in Northfield the re- BROOKS TAVERN mainder of his days and there some of his descendants still remain. Capt. Field, a descendant of the original purchaser of our lands from the Indians, officiated here as landlord until 1826 and here his son, Hon. Charles Field, was born. On June 5, 1826 Capt. Field "swapped" stands with Justus Preston of Greenfield and after that Mr. Preston carried on the Athol stand for about two years, when Joseph Young seems to have been forced to take over under his mortgage which his father-in-law, Zachariah Field, had given him some years before. In the succeeding ten years the inn was operated by several men as tenants of Mr. Young, among them Chester Pomroy, Abner Young — a distant kinsman of the mortgagee owner, Loring Jacobs, and John Allen. Eventually on March 13, 1838 title passed from Joseph Young to John Brooks of Orange thus for the succeeding sixteen years the stand was "Brooks' Tavern." "Brooks' Tavern" Termination of Mr. Brooks' management was eventually ibrought about by the sale of liquor during the temperance 228 TAVERNS movement. In February 1826 the American Temperance So- city was formed in Boston, and from this pioneer effort grew the great Temperance Crusade which ended so disastrously in the Eighteenth Amendment and the ill advised Volstead Act. By 1830 this novel idea had taken substantial root in Athol as is evidenced by the refusal of the Selectmen to "approbate" the granting of licenses in Athol. This Board of Selectmen consisted of James Young, Eliphalet Thorpe, and Josiah Fay. Nothwithstanding this disapproval by our town fathers, the County Commissioners proceeded to grant the usual licenses. Evidently the action of the Selectmen was not obnoxious to a majority of our voters for these men were con¬ tinued in office in 1831-32-33. Residents of the Center had for some time been disturbed over the large supply of liquor dispensed at the tavern. The Washingtonian Temperance movement had appealed to many who became total abstainers while others seemed to indulge more freely than ever. A celebration was held in 1844 on Athol Common to further the temperance cause and the pro¬ ceeds donated to the tavern keeper if he would name his house "The Temperance Hotel." To this he agreed and the sign was installed. After a short time when the agreement seemed forgotten the residents became determined to eradicate this nuisance. To accomplish this, a considerable number in 1854 banded themselves together and bought the entire property of John Brooks for $4700. The committee representing these citizens was Isaac Stevens, Esq., Lyman W. Hapgood, and James M. Lee. This purchase not only included the old tavern which stood in front of the present Summit Block, but some eighteen acres of pasture land extending to the west of High Street and north of Liberty Street. The old hotel was moved to locations on Central Street where some parts of it are still in use as dwellings, streets were laid out, house lots plotted and readily disposed of. Cen¬ tral Street, Park Street, Tremont Sareet, and the south end of High Street were a part of this plan. Summit House To compensate for this loss of a hostelry at the center of the town, arrangements were speedily made by some of Athol's citizens with two young men to provide a new and modern hotel. Samuel Lee, then twenty-three years old, and Charles Horr were given $1800 and a deed to the land at the corner 229 HISTORY OF ATHOL of Main and Common Streets. There they speedily erected the Summit House., then the last word in hotel arrangements. A dedication ball marked its opening on Apri I 1, 1858. Although they themselves operated this hotel for only a year, yet these two men continued as its owners for ten years, renting the SUMMIT HOUSE 1 858 - 1929 stand to various operators. The Directory of 1859 contains an advertisement of William Richardson as the Proprietor em¬ phasizing the fact that Oysters at Wholesale and Retail may be purchased in the Summit House Saloon, also. Fruit, con¬ fectionery, cigars, nuts, ice cream, etc. constantly on hand." One store in the Summit House block was occupied by F. C. Parmenter, later by E. A. Thomas, and another by George Black, the tailor. He was town agent and had the sale of liquor for medicinal purposes, though it has been said that the same could be secured without a prescription. On January 1, 1864 Messrs. Lee and Horr conveyed this real estate to one George D. Utely and less than three years later Mr. Utely, then of Ware, sold it to Addison M. Sawyer. Evidently Mr. Sawyer had just come into some of his fortune made through his inventions and he was seeking an invest¬ ment. This venture proved to be in the nature of a permanent one for he had lain in his grave long years before his widow finally in 1906 sold the property to Harley H. Graves, taking, however, a substantial mortgage in payment. 230 TAVERNS After a few years this mortgage was in default and agents of Mrs. Sawyer's foreclosed it in 1914. Title was for a time held by various members of the Rome family at Fitchburg. Eventually on August 2, 1929 the plant was sold to one Wil¬ liam B. Weiner who at once conveyed to Storealty Company, which corporation razed the hotel and erected the present Summit Block. I have not available anything like a complete list of the men who operated this hotel for the some sixty-five years it remained after Mr. Sawyer made his "investment," but I do recall a few — Albert Miller, Jesse Brown, Mr. Jenni- son, George H. Prouty and later his estranged wife, Bell Ains¬ worth Prouty, George A. Whipple, John C. Stone, and Harley H. Graves. Athol House Near the depot in 1 873 A. G. Moulton built a two story hotel with a mansard roof and stable next to the railroad tracks and named it the Athol House. Albert Miller was operating the Summit House at the time but was attracted to this new loca¬ tion and soon became its owner. The hotel was opened for business on September 15, 1873. Mr. Miller retained ownership for a considerable time but op¬ erated the hotel only infrequently. Rufus T. Shumway, and Martin Richardson are recalled as early landlords. On April 12, 1882 it was leased to Hollis M. Slate who carried on for a few years, changing the name of the inn to Slate's Hotel. Mr. Slate had come to town a few days before as manager of an itinerant Indian show selling Kickapoo Indian Oil, had board¬ ed at this hostelry, and was impressed with it and the town. Immediately severing his road show connections, he settled here, remaining until his death in 1909. After selling the hotel to William H. Killay, he owned and managed much real es¬ tate. One of his developments was around the old Wallet Shop property on Maple Street. In the depression of 1893 the property was owned by Wil¬ liam H. Killay who abandoned it for a time. During this season of abandonment it caught fire on April 14, 1894 in the middle of a cloudy night and was severely burned. The ruins were purchased by John C. Stone who materially changed the form of the structure and made of it an attractive hostelry. Following several years of occupancy by Mr. Stone there have been numerous landlords. Remembered among them are M. O. Perham, F. A. Larrow, Robert Johnston William E. Scully, C. Frank Doolan, Vincent Amatto, and Salvatore G. Tisciunerc. 231 HISTORY OF ATHOL The City Hotel Houghton's Block was built in 1834 by James Young as a mercantile building only, but through the succeeding forty- seven years it was gradually expanded into a business block HOUGHTON'S BLOCK, ATHOL DEPOT ABOUT 1875 Edw. E. Thorpe at First Post Charles Field, Jr., at Second Post Bigelow's Soap Wagon at Right with a hall and offices upstairs. On March 30, 1881 the build¬ ing was seriously damaged by fire and soon thereafter acquired by Mr. George H. Cooke who forthwith restored it into a three story block. The two upper stories were taken over by Pierce and Goodell who in May, 1882 opened up these rooms as a boarding house. A clothing store on the west side of the street floor was 232 TAVERNS opened by a Mr. Packard of Springfield, who called his estab¬ lishment Packard's One Price Clothing House. Mr. J. T. Stevens of Ware bought out the boarding house in August, 1884 and quickly changed its name to the Stevens House. When M. O. Perham succeeded to the ownership of this hostelry business in March, 1888, he quickly changed its name to City Hotel by which it was known until the block was razed in 1929 to make way for the Athol Savings Bank Build¬ ing. After five years Mr. Perham disposed of his hotel to Harley H. Graves who operated there some four years. Since then other proprietors have been M. C. Leonard, Mr. Reid, Thomas E. Murphy, William P. Fox, James Reiley, and John R. McWilliams. Commercial House — Leonard Hotel In those days of prosperity and optimism midway of the Benjamin Harrison administration when the problem of the politicians was to find means to dispose of the surplus funds accumulating in the Federal Treasury, there was a real demand for more modern hotel accommodations. Miles L. Mowry had come to Athol from Greenfield in 1880, buying the restaurant business of Emory Gage, and had eventually become the occupant of a considerable portion of the W. W. Fish Block, naming it the River House because of its proximity to the South Branch of Millers River over which a portion of this block overhung. Sensing the demand for a modern hotel he cast about for a suitable location. At 550 South Street there was standing the dwelling house and glazier's shop of Mr. George W. Woodward who had become attracted by the rapid development of Onset in Barnstable County as a summer resort. In May, 1890 when Mr. Woodward offered his real estate for sale at public auction, it was purchased by Mr. Mowry. Very quickly the dwelling house was removed onto Fitch¬ burg Railroad land at 54 Carbon Street where it still stands. The glazier's shop was removed to 115 Marble Street and converted into a dwelling, being demolished later to make way for the Metropolitan Air Goods Factory. By August 1, 1890 building operations were begun, the structure was com¬ pleted and formally opened as the Commercial House on May 28, 1891. For a time this was the outstanding inn hereabouts but the erection of the Pequoig Block soon after detracted from its permanent leadership. 233 HISTORY OF ATHOL On a Thursday evening, November 5 in 1891 with nearly one hundred citizens of Athol gathered at Landlord Mowry's new Commercial House, now the Leonard Hotel, the Poquaig Club was founded and with five changes in locations it con¬ tinued as Social Club of Athol citizens until as of May 1, 1952 when it dissolved and surrendered its charter. After five years' operation Mr. Mowry sold his business to Frank B. Kendrick and John B. Connors and returned to Green¬ field. In the succeeding years the hotel was operated by four landlords — Charles A. Piper, F. E. Reed, C. H. Ames, and W. H. Winans. A long tenure of occupancy began in 1903 by the Leonard family. Michael C. Leonard disposed of his City Hotel and taking his younger brother, Edward D., in partnership with him took over the Commercial House. Soon after these brothers were established there, the title to the real estate passed to E. D. Leonard's brother-in-law, John Cotton. Michael C. Leonard retired from the business in September, 1903, dis¬ posing of his interest to his partner, who subsequently acquired the real estate title holding it until his death. On November 14, 1916 the structure was seriously damaged by fire. After it was restored the name was changed to The Leonard by which it is still known and hotel operations were resumed in May, 1917. In the last years of his life Mr. Leonard sold his liquor license and gradually curtailed hotel operations. A few man¬ agers took over the business with indifferent success. Athol Rotary met there when first organized in 1925 and continued its patronage until the dining room was closed January 1 , 1 945. Since then it has operated as a rooming house only. The Leonard Estate sold the real estate soon after his death and the title has changed hands several times since. During the housing shortage in World War II, it was de¬ cidedly useful, and now as a rooming hotel coupled with several tenants as Old Age Assistance cases, it still has it uses. The Pequoig House Pequoig Hotel, one of the famous hostelries on the old Brat- tleboro Turnpike, became a tavern about 1830 and remained such until its destruction in 1895 to make way for the present Pequoig block. As already stated it is probable that Jesse Kendall operated a hostelry of sorts at approximately this location under his inn- 234 TAVERNS holder's license granted in 1784 but apparently the inn was soon discontinued for there is no mention of it when that area passed to Simeon Fish in 1795 and this writer well remembers a statement made to him by "Aunt" Sally Fish that she re¬ membered when the Pequoig House building was a private residence. When the water mains were laid through Main Street in 1876 there was uncovered within the present bounds of that street the cellar hole of a house which old residents said was an original Kendall Homestead, of which there must have been more than one as there were several families of that name in town in that era. Probably in some years of prosperity, perhaps after Main Street from Crescent to the river was laid out in 1814, a substantial mansion house was built which readily lent itself to hotel uses. The beginning of this tavern centers about Samuel Newhall, who was born in Athol in 1800. At twenty-six he married Betsey Fish and in 1830 his wife's kinfolk set him up in the hotel business on the north side of the Brattleboro Turnpike in the Factory Village. This is the first record I find except the Jesse Kendall license of a hotel on that spot. After three years he was succeeded by Henry Fish, then the owner of the real estate, who gave a dedication ball for one hundred and fifty people on November 25, 1834. It must have been a memorable affair for Esq. Thorpe noted in his old mill book, "Glory enough for one day." In 1836 Mr. Fish yielded the management to one Sewell Thompson, but three years later he reappeared as the licensee. For long years Julius Ashberg, a travelling Jewish peddler of dry goods, invariably made his headquarters here while in this section. Beginning soon after the close of the Civil War, he made frequent trips throughout this part of the country first carrying his pack on his shoulders but soon acquiring a pair of horses and a large box-like wagon. He kept no account books and although he extended credit to many people over a wide area, he could instantly tell any one of his customers just how much they owed him. His death in Hartford, Connecticut on July 1 1, 1887 must have been noted with re¬ gret by those at the hotel who saw him so often. In 1842 Alonzo D. Phillips became the landlord, continuing substantially ten years. Of conditions surrounding this public house in the forties Mr. Henry S. Miner of Gilbertville wrote under date of January 6, 1891: 235 HISTORY OF ATHOL "Many a good sing has been had in the back parlor of the Pequoig House by Charley Bannon, John Maynard, S. M. Os¬ good and myself, which was pleasing to outsiders. PEQUOIG HOUSE 1830 - 1895 "Capt. Cassidy was the Major Domo at the Pequoig. He was a good-natured Irishman who had many a joke played on him. The late J. C. Hill delighted to hector him, so much so that the Captain gave him the name of the Hell man, and would say, There comes the Hell man and the pony/ "The hardest joke for the Captain to get over was this. He was always boasting he could drive any horse any 'parson' could drive. I had one at that time and my impression was that if he could drive her single, he would be the first man that ever did it. We bet $1 .00. The crowd was anxious to see the sport. I hitched her to an express wagon, where she would have to draw a little. The Captain jumped in, took the reins and com¬ menced the task. After some urging the mare turned her head around and looked at him. 'Hist, ye Divil, ye look 'tother way, will ye plaze?' said the Captain, and after going through the Irish vocabulary he laid down the lines with a sorrowful coun¬ tenance and said, 'It is not in the power of any parson to drive her, the d--d animal is past driving — these Yankees are great on playing tricks.' The Captain never heard the last of driving the Root mare." When Henry Fish died in 1846 his widow took over the management of his sizeable estate. She soon disposed of the 236 TAVERNS hotel to its operator, Alonzo D. Phillips, who on January 5, 1851 conveyed the entire property to Sylvanus E. Twichell of Orange, a native of our town and brother of the great developer of transportation, Ginery Twichell. Mr. Twichell and his wife, Mersylvia, gave the hotel its unique name which still clings to it. In August, 1851 Mr. Twichell was appointed the Athol Depot Postmaster. His predecessor, Joseph W. Hammond, appointed when the office was established in 1849, left town with Mr. A. D. Phillips to join with him in the management of the American House in Fitchburg. The post office was at once removed to the hotel and remained there during the rest of Mr. Twichell's life. Before 1850 J. C. Hill removed the ell of the Pequoig House down street to make way for a larger annex. This ell became the "Old Arcade" at main and Canal Streets, which was burned on December 2, 1898 beyond repair. In the hall of this build¬ ing the local Methodist Church had held its first meetings outside of private homes. March 3, 1864 Mr. Twichell conveyed the hotel to John M. Smith and Sullivan Moore who less than three years later deeded it to Orrin F. Hunt and Adolphus Bangs. After a year AlJOLfHUS bangs 1830 - 1913 Landlord of Pequoig Hou;e 1876 - 1886 237 HISTORY OF ATHOL the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Bangs, a Civil War veteran, became the sole proprietor and operator of this famous hostelry. The fact that in 1870 sixty-three hundred ■end thirty-five guests registered at its desk attests to its popu¬ larity. With the good natured and jovial Mr. Bangs lived his own father, Joel Bangs; also his wife's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph F. Packard; as well as his daughter, Emogene, with her husbands, Charles Lovett and after his death her second hus¬ band, Al Fairbanks. "Grandpa" Joel Bangs, who had spent his earlier life in the south part of New Salem but had lived in Athol for forty years, died at the hotel on November 17, 1891. His part of the management was to toddle out on the front porch at meal times dressed in a frock coat and tall hat and sound the gong. After nineteen years as its landlord, Mr. Adolphus Bangs leased his property and retired from active 'control. The old hotel office was the gathering place of the leaders of the town six evenings a week. For fifty years this office had been the meeting place of the business men of the town. They gathered nightly to hear the news and discuss affairs in general, the meetings being dubbed the "Pequoig Senate." The fireplace in the north end of the room gave a cheerful aspect to the smoke-filled room. But a new landlord made them less welcome, so on November 9, 1891 the Poquaig Club was organized to assure a continuance of their gatherings. First, they had rooms on the second floor of the bank building where Judge Duncan later had his offices. These being hardly adequate, they arranged with Lucien Lord for quarters in the new Academy of Music building. The present telephone rooms were built for them and there they stayed for nearly twenty years. For years the membership roll of this club included the name of about every prominent man in town. In 1892 Mr. Lucien Lord had so far progressed with his elaborate real estate enterprises that he insisted he must have a street opened through land he had acquired of the Sally Fish estate, across the west end of the "Island" to his flourishing Lake Park, but the ell of the old hotel and its tavern barn blocked his way. After some negotiations he became the owner of the entire hotel property and proceeded to build the present Pequoig Block. The town accommodatingly laid out Exchange Street north for him, he taking the contract to build the road including the two bridqes at a ridiculously low figure. In his building program he hired H. P. Cumminqs and Company of Ware as contractors to erect an immense barn on the ex¬ tension of Exchange Street just laid out. This building, which 238 TAVERNS is now the A. K. Turner barn, was built to replace the hotel stable, demolished when the street was made. In his operations to finance the hotel building he borrowed of the Ware Savings Bank on a first mortgage and a substantial sum of his friend, George D. Bates on a second lien. The "hard times" of 1893 were his undoing and although he car¬ ried on until 1900, he finally sought relief in the bankruptcy court. Mr. Bates foreclosed his mortgage and he and his heirs remained its owners for a quarter of a century, eventually selling to the Garbose interests. It is impossible to name all who have operated this old inn and its new building in the more than sixty years which have elapsed since Mr. Bangs retired from active control, but several names are recalled — Jaquith & Howland, George F. Lord, Aldrich and Stone, Frank A. Aldrich alone, Oscar C. Allen, Marcus Livingstone, and William P. Fox. Verily, the automobile, the quick lunch, and the wayside cabins seriously curtailed the patronage of the old taverns, which two generations ago were the center of activity in all of these towns. With the evolution of transportation so the change in the sequestered life of this little town nestled in the hills, which in 1952 is a sizable industrial center. Instead of the picturesque stage and occasional trains, fast transportation both by train and airplane is now readily available, and the atomic age which evolved during World War II has brought the problems of a mechanized world to our very doors. 239 CHAPTER XVII HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS IT may not be true of Athol as is alleged of many New Eng¬ land towns that its streets were laid out first as cow paths, but it is true that many of our roads follow the general course marked two centuries ago by the Pioneers as they hewed their way through the forest. !n the eight years from 1886 to 1894 Athol developed rapidly from a rural town of several villages into a young metropolis and with this growth came advancement along many lines. The town instructed the Selectmen on October 6, 1892 to investigate as to the cost of naming all the streets and roads and the numbering of the streets, but these officials seem to have neglected their duty in this respect, for no report was forthcoming from them. On March 5, 1894 the matter came up again in town meet¬ ing and a committee of seven representative citizens was ap¬ pointed to suggest official names for all the streets and ways in town and to adopt some standard system of street number¬ ing. At the "April Meeting" of 1894 this committee reported a list of names for all the public ways in town and for several private ways and alleys. With one amendment regarding Mechanic Street, this report was adopted and the committee continued to adopt the numbering plan and put it into effect. At that time a standing ordinance or bylaw was adopted de¬ creeing that as new streets or roads are laid out, with the layout shall be reported a name for the new way. The membership of this committee was E. V. Wilson, Samuel Lee, William H. Mellen, Thomas H. Goodspeed. L. B. Caswell, Lucien Lord, and Dr. James Oliver. Their work of well over a half century ago has stood the test of time, very few of the names adopted at that time having been changed. After quite some investigation the committee decreed that a system of ten foot lots should be adopted and that this should be uniform throughout the town, there being no devia¬ tion from the rule, even when streets are crossed or common 'lands abut the street. 240 HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS In the early summer of 1894 a contract was made with two then young men, Carl W. Hunt and William G. Lord, to do the entire numbering survey without cost to the town, their compensation being the perpetual privilege of keeping their records secret and divulging them only to those who would engage these men to attach metal numbers to their property, the price of these numbers or letters to be: one letter or figure 25c, two figures 40c, three figures 45c, and four figures 50c. As these numbers could be bought for two cents apiece it can be readily figured that there was accruing to these contractors a compensation averaging around thirty cents per front tene¬ ment entrance. After the measuring was done Mr. Hunt had a business opportunity out of town and sold his interest in the enterprise to Mr. Lord, who proceeded to canvass the town, selling door numbers to a great majority of the property owners. In the late autumn of 1894, Price, Lee & Co. purchased the informa¬ tion for their forthcoming directory and some four years later the town appropriated $125.00 to purchase a copy of the records for the use of the assessors, the figure representing an estimated $25.00 expense of making a copy and $100.00 for the secret information. This copy was made and delivered to the assessors early that sumner and was used by them in making up the valuation of that year, but before another year rolled around the copy was lost and has never been found. Mr. Lord then loaned his records that the assessors might make themselves another copy, which was done that season, but that copy proved to be so full of errors that it has never been of any practical use to the town. As new buildings have been built or old ones moved or altered, Mr. Lord fixed the proper number for the entrance and entered the information on his records, even when this entailed numbering entire new streets, and furnished the information without a penny of compensation since the payment of $125.00 by the town in 1898. About 1915 Mr. Lord made himself a new loose-leaf record book of this numbering and on this new book entered the new numbers as determined by him. In 1947 the town appointed a committee to revise its by¬ laws of which the writer was a member. In the course of the deliberations of this committee I offered the suggestion that I be relieved of further responsibility regarding this number¬ ing, offering to donate all records in my hands. The by-law committee recommended to the town that the records be deposited with the Town Clerk and that the Highway Surveyor 241 HISTORY OF ATHOL be charged with the field work. After word was received ire late 1950 that our by-laws had been approved the records were turned over as agreed upon and the street numbering is now in charge of these two town officials. This venture proved profitable to the contractors as an initial investment, but if some fifty-six years' service (occasional to- be sure) is taken into account it was no bonanza. In fixing names for the various ways and byways the Com¬ mittee tried to use names already in use as far as possible and where there was no such name, tried to perpetuate some name fitting for the locality, endeavoring to avoid duplication. Many near duplicates were either decreed by the Committee in 1894 or had been adopted since, so that after forty years there was considerable confusion. In 1932 the town appointed Mr. Lord, who has been familiar with the system from its inception; Clarence E. Deane, then Postmaster; and Arthur S. Bisbee of the Telephone Company staff, to revise the list and eliminate duplications as far as possible. This committee made a tentative proposition eliminating all duplication and then gave a hearing on the matter, but the protest was so strong that in a few cases the committee yielded and allowed a Park Avenue and a Park Street and a Highland Street and a Highland Avenue to remain, but did succeed in eliminating the triplicate name Highland Place by changing it to Auburn Place. Some years since, this author wrote for Athol Daily News "Highways and By-ways of Athol" telling in detail the story of each public way in town but that story seems to be too voluminous for inclusion in this history. Of the numerous sub¬ divisions that in the last ninety years have been made of Athol territory, there is a story to tell which follows in chronological order: The Sally Fish Development This was the putting on the market of a considerable portion of the old Fish homestead in the Walnut Street area. The land was owned by Henry Fish and at his decease in 1846 became the property of his sons, Ezra Wilson and Samuel Fish, both minors. Their mother, Sally Fish, quickly became their legal guardian and lost no time in offering quite a section of their farm for sale as building lots. Church, Walnut, Union, the north end of Canal, Maple and the west end of Newton Streets were plotted by her and in a comparatively few years all became 242 HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS public ways and the land bordering on them was all taken up by new purchasers, excepting only the Baptist Church lot and the present Fish Park, both of which were donated by Mrs. Fish for public use. On March 20, 1854 John H. Partridge, auctioneer, con¬ ducted a sale of several tracts of land belonging to the Henry Fish heirs; his report of the sale is as follows: Building Lot No. 1 west of S. E. Twichell sold to J. C. Hill $500. Building Lots No. 2 & 3 west of the foregoing sold to Geo. Farr $950. Hop Meadow — 24 acres sold to Samuel Newhall at $91.00 per acre. Island Lot sold to Benjamin Estabrook for $500. The Lot over the River sold to Asa W. Twichell for $575. To the modern reader this may need some interpretation: Lot No. 1 is clearly the First National Bank location, Lots 2 and 3 are presumably all land west of that location to Church Street; Hop Meadow was the intervale land north of Main Street and West of Canal Street; the Island Lot was all the Island and Marble Streets area. The Plantation We have already alluded to the wave of Temperance en¬ thusiasm which gripped this town around the middle of the last century. The crusaders were particularly vigorous in their denunciation of the management of the old tavern near Athol Common. Although the Selectmen had refused to recommend that a liquor license be granted by the County Commissioners to this tavern yet that County board over-ruled the local of¬ ficials. Then our citizens determined to eliminate that hostelry and formed a group of their number to acquire the real estate and remove the building which had become obsolete after sixty years of use. With the building they acquired some ten acres west and northwest of its location. All of Central and Tremont Streets and considerable portions of High and Park Streets were laid out on this land and building lots offered for sale. The old tavern was dismembered, parts of it being converted into dwellings along the southerly side of Central Street. An offer of a bonus of $1000. was offered to anyone who would build a new hotel. The offer was accepted by Charles Horr and Samuel Lee, who the next year built the Summit House still remembered by many of our people. The bonus paid was not adequate to cover the losses incurred by these two then young men and they barely escaped bankruptcy because of the venture. 243 HISTORY OF ATHOL The name came as a joke at first. Frederick Jones, son of old Prescott Jones had gone to Boston to seek his fortune in our Capital City but made frequent visits to the old home town. In the spring of 1854 he came here, just after the streets had been marked out. Upon looking over the layout, he remarked that it was "quite a plantation" and that name has stuck to the section to some extent to this day. The Jonathan Drury Development The "hard times of 1857" soon followed by the Civil War, precluded any new development activity for some years, but at length the war was over and quite a period of general pros¬ perity ensued. Encouraged by this general prosperity Jonathan Drury came down from the farm on the Garfield Road, where he had cared for his wife's parents, and first bought the Salmon D. Prouty saw mill on Petersham Road, now owned by the Mann Lumber Company. Soon leaving this, he joined with Fred Allen and a few others, organized the Union Furniture Company, developed a water power, and built a factory on Mill Brook below the match shop. Sensing a shortage of house lots, he with two associates, both of whom he soon bought off, bought of Mrs. R. C. Alexander some fifty acres south of the High School, laying out some twenty streets and building lots far in excess of the immediate needs of the town. The town at one time refused to proceed with him as rapidly as he wanted it to go and refused to accept Allen Street and Park Avenue as public ways, but Mr. Drury with his character¬ istic Yankee insistence appealed to the County Commissioners who saw the vision the town could not see and ordered the streets accepted and built. Now a school house lot, the whole area bounded by Allen, Riverbend and Congress Streets and Park Avenue, was planned by him as a public park, which he named Drury Park. For some years it was used as such, one of the earliest uses being on July 4, 1867 when a Temperance mass meeting was held there. My first recollection of the Evangelists, Moody and Sankey, was July 29, 1877 when they held open air meetings at this park. But over expansion and the "hard times of 1 873" eventually overcame this worthy citizen and his property was taken from him by his creditors and his spirit was broken. He lived for some time at 184 Allen Street in one of the many houses he had built. Eventually even this shelter was taken from him and in Athol Almshouse he ended his days. 244 HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS Although he left no salable assets, yet to straighten out his affairs, it was necessary to probate his estate; thus the will he drew in the days of his prosperity is on file at Worcester Pro¬ bate Court, where anyone may read its provisions. I like best to remember Mr. Drury as revealed by this testament, wherein he planned to set up a not inconsiderable fund to be loaned at not over 5% interest to deserving young people to aid them in acquiring a home of their own. The Charles W. Davenport Development In the same period of prosperity that Mr. Drury laid out his extensive subdivision there were two active operations going on on the north side of the River. One was centered along Orange Street where several acres adjoining the Davenport home place now numbered 384 Crescent Street were opened up. Wellington, Pierce, Orange, and Myrtle Streets were laid out at this time and several houses now standing there were erect¬ ed, but it was many years before the lots laid out were oc¬ cupied to any great extent. In fact, there are still a few vacant ones which were plotted seventy years ago. This venture did not prove profitable to the promoter and eventually he was compelled to compromise with his creditors, thus avoiding any bankruptcy proceedings. The Cardany and Fish Tract About the same time that Mr. Davenport cut up his land into house lots Joseph B. Cardany and William W. Fish bought a considerable portion of the Charles Goddard land, the house being at 434 Crescent Street, opening up this area for oc¬ cupancy. The southerly part of Brattle Street, Laurel Street, and the westerly part of Goodale Street is in this area. Even¬ tually these partners divided the part of their holdings that the public had not absorbed, Mr. Fish taking the section east of Silver Lake Street and Mr. Cardany the portion west of that street. Long years ago the Fish Family sold most of their frontage on Silver Lake Street for the homes there but only very recently has the bulk of the Cardany portion been taken up, the present Lenox Street (easterly section) having until within a comparatively short time been held by Mr. Cardany's daughter, Mrs. Mann. Ridge Hill And now we come to the era of official names for the sub¬ divisions. Sally Fish had long since laid both her sons away. 245 HISTORY OF ATHOL first in the stone tomb and later in the marble tomb at Mount Pleasant, and thus succeeded to the ownership of all the Fish holdings. To the time of her death in 1887 she employed a caretaker and carried on her farming activities, her garden being the present Academy of Music lot and her pasture the Ridge Hill section. By her will she stipulated that her home place should not be sold for many years but her executors and trustees decreed that the term "home place" meant only her buildings and closely adjacent land. As her estate was sadly in need of ready cash they put her cow pasture on the market and speedily sold it to George D. Bates, D. Appleton Newton, and Leroy C. Parmenter, who proceeded forthwith to lay out the whole territory into lots, naming their entire tract Ridge Hill. Being almost within a stone's throw of Pequoig Square these lots were quickly in demand. Although a small section around Shore Drive is still unoccupied yet most of the area was quickly built upon, soon becoming one of the out¬ standing residential locations of the town. Lake Park Soon after the Sally Fish Trustees sold the Ridge Hill area they put her outlying lands on the market. South and west LUCIEN LORD 1840 - 1916 246 HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS of Silver Lake were some thirty-five acres covered with heavy forest, which had been in the Fish Family many years. Seeing the availability of this acreage for house lots, Mr. Lucien Lord negotiated for it and with his brother-in-law, G. Everett Pierce of Royalston, soon acquired title and shortly lumbering opera¬ tions were in full swing there. Mr. William H. Mellen located his steam mill where the Lake Park School now stands and the lumber was stuck up on the Stratton meadow west of Fish Street. This Stratton meadow as well as the James Cotton meadow northwest of it was soon acquired and the whole area laid out by Mr. L. B. Caswell as Civil Engineer into some 217 building lots. The project speedily met favor with our towns¬ people and as fast as an area was opened up many building lots would be sold and a considerable number of houses erected. Had Mr. Lord ceased his real estate operations for a decade or more after the Lake Park venture it would seem that he might well have continued in affluent circumstances and the town been spared the serious slump in real estate values that followed his further operations. Lake Park was a timely de¬ velopment and is today one of our best residential areas. South Park Ethan Lord died in Athol in 1889 at a ripe old age, leaving many acres of land as a part of his large estate to be divided among his next of kin. For the succeeding three years during the lifetime of his widow, Thankful (Richardson), his estate was kept intact, but after her decease it was divided among his four children who had survived him. In this division Mr. Lucien Lord took many acres of land that were then of very small value but which to him seemed to have much potential worth. One of these tracts was located just south of the town where the new Sanders Street had been cut through less than ten years before. Almost immediately after this land became his individual property, Lucien Lord cut off the heavy growth of timber, some of it a remnant of the primeval forest, and taking into association with him Mr. William D. Luey, then cashier of Millers River Bank, they soon had Mr. Caswell busy laying out streets and building lots, naming this new tract South Park. Lucien Lord adopted the slogan “Outlay for rent is money ill spent" and launched upon an advertising campaign the like of which Athol had never before seen. Comparatively few lots in this area were sold to bonafide home owners but many people, encouraged by the success of Lake Park, bought there 247 HISTORY OF ATHOL as a speculation or investment, whichever term you choose to apply to the general buying spree which ensued. The 129 lots on this tract were certainly not needed at that time but a confiding and hopeful public might well have ab¬ sorbed the surplus without serious effects on the general real estate market had that been the end. Fairyiew Encouraged by the success of Lake Park in the northern part of the town and the continued upward trend of general business through the Harrison Administration at Washington, Lewis Sanders conceived the idea of a development west of his millyard. Enlisting with him Leroy C. Parmenter, then a hardware merchant and one of our Board of Assessors, they acquired a considerable area on the hilltop and most approp¬ riately named it Fairview. Some four or five houses were built there before the "hard times of 1893" when all activities suspended and the whole project lay inactive for many years. Eventually Wilbur H. McKellips acquired the unsold portion of the original tract together with considerable additional land, making in all some 55 acres, which he passed on to James Pettine for development. The original plan was never recorded but of the subsequent project there is a very good plan on file. Comparatively little of this pretentious subdivision is in any sense developed at the present time. The affairs of both the original developers were eventually wound up in the courts of bankruptcy. Mr. Sanders removed to the State of Washington where he lived and mildly pros¬ pered for a considerable number of years, but Mr. Parmenter died in Athol quite tragically and suddenly soon after this real estate venture. Hillside Another outstanding Athol citizen who died in the period of prosperity and expansion some ten years before the close of the last century was John C. Hill, born in (North) Orange, John Cheney, and early a power in this community. He in¬ herited from his adopting father Abijah Hill, his home farm, the homestead being now numbered '201 South Main Street. He had in his busy life developed much real estate, largely industrial enterprises, but had kept most of his home place intact. After his death in March, 1890, his three children almost at once began disposing of his large holdings of real 248 HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS estate situated in all sections of our town. Encouraged by the success of their contemporary, Lucien Lord, they also divided a portion of their lands into streets and building lots. Their first offering was the section southeast of South Main Street, the frontage on that street finding a ready market, but the street laid parallel with that thoroughfare and much nearer the river, named by them W Street, has never even after a half century become attractive for home buildings. Their next move was to open up some ten acres bounded on two sides by Mt. Pleasant Street, which they named Hill¬ side. The map that I have of this sub-division is dated 1895 but my remembrance is that the tract was originally put on the market as early as 1893 and at once become a minor compet¬ itor of the extensive Lord activities of that period. A factor in overloading the real estate market in those yeares were the 68 lots on this tract. After sixty years, perhaps two-thirds of these lots have been utilized for homes, the remainder being utilized for farm land. The names of the streets on this tract are par¬ ticularly confusing, the three leading off Mt. Pleasant are J, C and H (the initials of the old-time owner), while the one leading off South Main Street is D Street, named after Dolly (Smith) Hill. Intervale The Satinet or "shoddy" mill of David E. Tebo at Pinedale was burned on April 5, 1893. Mr. Tebo forthwith announced that he could not rebuild there unless he could have a better means of access to the village, Silver Lake Street being then the only road to it from Athol. A revived and enthusiastic Board of Trade, of which Lucien Lord was Executive Secretary, cried aloud for a new road from Pequoig Square to Furnace Village, which of course would pass by Lake Park and through Pinedale. With very little delay the present Exchange Street north of Main Street and Pinedale Avenue was laid out and accepted by the town. Incidentally Mr. Tebo never made any real move towards rebuilding his mill at Pinedale but I have always believed that he urged this new road in good faith, fully intending to make use of it. Before he got started to re-establish himself, however, the business slump of 1893 was in full swing and ere long he was able to buy the plant of one of his competitors at Enfield on practically his own terms. He thereupon deserted Pinedale and Athol and established himself in Enfield, where his busi¬ ness continued many years. 249 HISTORY OF ATHOL The new road to Pinedale, spoken of at length above, prac¬ tically bisected a 35 acre tract which Lucien Lord and his brother, Ethan Jr., had bought of the Mersylvia Twichell estate in 1875, the whole title having been acquired by Lucien after his brother's death. Perhaps Mr. Lord's better judgment whispered a caution to him but a louder voice emphasizing his successes so far drowned out any warning that may have been suggested to him. Here was a most desirable area for home sites, on a modern road to the north and near his Lake Park, then an assured success. Should this desirable area lie idle for perhaps many years until even the ultra conservatives ad¬ mitted a call for it? No, a thousand times No! Opportunity knocked at his door and he would bid her welcome. Although he had just represented his town on Beacon Hill as our Republican Representative yet he had been born a Democrat and had in his youth always espoused the party of Jefferson. Thus he might well attribute to pure slander the cry that the ascension of Grover Cleveland for a second time to the Presidency had sapped the public confidence and produced the panic then upon the land. He forged ahead, developed his tract, named it Intervale, and alone in a develop¬ ment for the first time, he advertised as never before. Al¬ though he never sold, before his bankruptcy, half the 156 lots he laid out there, yet he did make sufficient sales to cover the fair value of the land before he began, together with all incidental expenses of survey, and so forth. Thus he con¬ vinced himself at least that this venture had been a success and he had triumphed over the depression. Pleasant Valley While developing South Park and Intervale, Lucien Lord had built the Academy of Music building, had bought the old Pequoig House and built the present Pequoig Block. These were perhaps much an over-building of our then mercantile demands as his three subdivisions were of the home site mar¬ ket, but the financial institutions were still ready to advance him money and he seemed, to conservative citizens, to have completely lost his head. Out south of the Lower Village beyond the then end of Sanders Street was another area which Mr. Lord had taken as a part of his inheritance from his conservative father. There were the clay pits where the pioneers of Pequoig made their brick, there were over a hundred acres that might well be cut up into house lots. Evidently believing that Lady Luck had 250 HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS taken up her permanent abode with him he again set Mr. Cas¬ well to work with his transit and Joseph Adams with his team and scraper. Soon Pleasant Valley, with nearly six hundred lots, was thrown upon an over-burdened market. Industry was at a standstill in those hectic days and there was quite a period during which not a factory whistle blew in town. Public enterprises like a sewer system, the grade cross¬ ing elimination and Lake Park School kept some employment in town and a little money in circulation. In this condition of affairs the real estate market tottered and fell. Foreclosures were common and evictions numerous. Many of the lots bought with hopes of profit the few preceding years were taken by the tax gatherer, to be in turn acquired by a new group of speculators at calamitous prices. Gradually Mr. Lord was stripped of his assets and at length he was hailed into the debtor's court. For six years he held on hoping against hope that the tide would turn and he would re-establish himself un¬ til finally one blustering January night in 1900, while the elite of Athol were gathered in the Pequoig House which he had provided for the convenience of the whole community, Lucien Lord, no longer bidden to their feasts, sadly climbed the stairs of the Bank Block into Wilson's office where I was a law student, and with much emotion signed a petition into voluntary bankruptcy. In fifty-three years since the ending of this remarkable period of real estate expansion, Athol has scarcely grown to need half the home sites provided for it well over a half cen¬ tury ago by this public spirited though visionary citizen. Prospect Park The depression of the last decade of the nineteenth century ended rather abruptly upon the ascension of William McKinley to the presidency in 1897 and the ensuing Spanish-American War of 1898 and there followed a few years of prosperity. In these years, numerous groups of real estate promoters combed New England for prosperous towns where a new land develop¬ ment would be likely to succeed. Strangely enough one of them decided to venture a subdivision here despite the hun¬ dreds of idle lots in the market. In 1900 Otis C. Thayer of Worcester opened a tract in the Simonds Street area, naming it Prospect Park. This tract was far enough away from the downtown section which had been boomed in the not distant past so that it found some interested buyers. Although only 251 HISTORY OF ATHOL a small proportion of its lots have ever come into actual use yet my guess is that it was a moderate success financially. Goodale Heights Prosperity continued to smiie upon Athol and the remem¬ brance of the calamity of the nineties gradually faded from memory, so that the town was ready for another speculative venture. McNamara & Coughlin came here from Providence in 1910. Sensing the situation, they bargained for the Solon D. Goodale farm in the Brattle Street area and by ultra modern methods of promotion launched a mild boom, disposing of most of their projected lots in a very short period. Several houses were built, others started and then abandoned but the large majority of the lots were unoccupied and in the hands of the original buyers or of local speculators who have picked them up in the last thirty years at comparatively low prices. In 1941, Sunset Terrace was opened by the Cass family east of this subdivision and has increased the marketability if not the selling price of these lots. Pleasantdale Encouraged by the success of Goodale Heights, McNamara & Coughlin went searching for another area for their opera¬ tions. The tract reclaimed from the wilderness by Lewis Sanders a quarter of a century before for his mill site was not only vacant but going back to its natural state. These promot¬ ers acquired this and by still newer and more unique methods successfully put over the sale of the lots. This was the era of unrestricted immigration and many Lithuanians were coming to our town, gravitating to the sec¬ tion south of the railroad. People of this race were the pre¬ dominating purchasers of lots at Pleasantdale. With an in¬ herent love of the soil and a prodigious energy they soon had most of the 202 lots improved and occupied. The area is owned almost exclusively by home owners, there being very few, if any, vacant lots for sale today in Pleasantdale. Washington Park It seemed in 1900 as though Lucien Lord was broken in spirit and would never recover any appreciable amount of his enthusiasm which had brought him, with many of his friends and supporters, so much grief. But after a decade of business inactivity, during which time he served as Town Treasurer and 252 HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS an Assessor, something of his'old fire returned. Acquiring of his brother-in-law, George E. Pierce, the so-called West Brook Farm he again employed Mr. Caswell with his transit and soon put out a plan showing some 216 building lots which he of¬ fered for sale. Athol was far short of absorbing the upwards of a thousand building lots which he had within the then twenty years past put on the market. It is more surprising that Mr. Lord at¬ tempted this promotion than it is that the public refused to become interested in it. I think he made a very few sales there, perhaps three or four. Then becoming convinced that he at least could not float another subdivision, he turned the whole area back to his brother-in-law, who soon sold the section west of the Brickyard Road to Jordan & Sellick, who re-surveyed that area and gradually disposed of the lots laid out by them. Since less than two score of these lots are occupied today, even this small portion of the pretentious plan cannot be counted a success. Park View This tract of land lying between Gage Road and Partridge- ville Road was long owned by Mrs. Adolphus Bangs, landlady of Pequoig House and by her sold to Diamond Match Company. Early in the real estate boom of upwards of a half century ago Augustus Coolidge acquired an option on the land and laid the whole tract out naming it The Peach Orchard. But that was before the days of the auto, yes before the electric car made its appearance here, when buyers were not attracted to a loca¬ tion so far from the center. After many years of idleness Hamilton & Kumin bought it of the Diamond Match Company, soon passing the title along in 1925 to Edward P. Massee of Providence. He re-surveyed and actively promoted the proposition for a time, but with the com¬ ing of the most recent depression he ceased his activities and the title reverted to Mr. Kumin. Recently there has been quite some activity along Coolidge Street and the public begun again to take an interest in the locality. Sanders Terrace In 1924 Alexis J. Grennon acquired several acres south of Harrington Street and naming it Sanders Terrace laid it out into building lots. A few houses have been erected along Birch and Wood Streets. Looking to future building activity buyers are gradually picking up other lots. 253 HISTORY OF ATHOL Mapledale In May, 1862 Amos Doane of Royalston bought of David’ Goddard, who then lived at 680 Chestnut Hill Avenue, a part of the westerly portion of his farm and started to build thereon a pretentious home, which he never completed. This whole tract, comprising about five acres, was sold in 1868 to S. S. Farrar of Roylston, who at length sold it to J. Sumner Par- menter and Alpheus Harding. The Doane buildings were never completed sufficiently for occupancy. As they were well roofed they withstood the ravages of the elements and stood there unfinished for nearly twenty years, being commonly called "Doane's Castle" or "Doane's Folly." Dr. Marshall L. Lindsey acquired the property in 1881 and gradually made the buildings habitable. Soon after his death in 1898 this was sold to Arthur F. Tyler and E. V. Wilson. Mr. Wilson soon acquired the Tyler interests and entered upon a major plan of alterations and improvements. The Doane barn became the house at 151 Silver Lake Street and the dwelling house was numbered 165 in that street. Some two acres of this area were acquired by the town as a school house lot but the remainder was the property of Mr. Wilson at his death in 1923. His widow soon sold all north of the school house lot to Albert A. Brouillet, who laid out a street graciously named Wilson Avenue and along it some eighteen building lots. The whole subdivision was given the name of Mapledale. Sunset- Terrace In the heyday of Lucien Lord's prosperity he acquired sev¬ eral acres of the Hollis Goddard farm directly west and north¬ west of his home at No. 441 Chestnut Hill Avenue, eventually selling it to his uncle, N. Henry Richardson, who built the house at 486 Chestnut Hill Avenue. After Mr. Richardson's death this land was not disposed of with the homestead but was ultimately sold to N. D. Cass who used it many years for agricultural purposes. In 1941 his son as local agent cut up the southerly portion of the area into some 12 building lots, naming the subdivision Sunset Terrace. Goodale Street was already laid out along the southerly boundary of this tract and in 1941 Dinsmore Street was ex¬ tended from the adjoining Goodale Heights easterly along the northerly line of the lots to Chestnut Hill Avenue. 254 HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS Ardendale One of the many tracts of land owned by John C. Hill at his decease in 1890 was a considerable acreage west of the Syl- vanus Twichell lot, later developed as Intervale. After this latter subdivision was developed the Hill heirs contemplated another development west of it on their land. To that end they made some surveys and staked out a few streets but the collapse of the real estate boom of that period ended their scheme. The land was sold to Elton M. Bassett and in the adjustment of his estate passed to his son, Harry E. Bassett, who, encouraged by the era of World War II pros¬ perity, re-surveyed the tract and put it on the market. The some eight acres in the subdivision is laid out into 42 lots with three streets — Western Avenue, Bird Avenue and Castle Avenue, running north and south through it and one street, Lynde Street, along its northern border, Lenox Street as al¬ ready existing being along its southern line. Abutting Castle Avenue on the west the United States Government built seven buildings out of Army Camp Barracks which relieved the hous¬ ing shortage for a time but these were finally abandoned and razed in 1952. Sunshine Park A considerable acreage of the J. B. Cardany land west of Silver Lake Street was eventually acquired by Exilda Adams, wife of Horton Adams. The southerly half of this acquisition was conveyed to Mrs. Adams' daughter, Celia E. Horrigan, and the northerly part including the dwelling eventually went to the Fredette Family. For years these people, especially Mr. Horrigan, struggled to get a road opened through their tract and at long last suc¬ ceeded in getting the easterly end of Lenox Street accepted and built. This opened up a very desirable area for develop¬ ment. The Horrigans built themselves a home there and have their entire area well planned and many lots sold. Mr. Fredette's area was quite some larger. He has plotted his entire holdings there, named them Sunshine Park, laid out many streets, and sold many building lots. Eventually the Locke family opened up another tract west of this which Edgar H. Locke acquired of Mrs. Lizzie (Cardany) Mann, and the three have been since 1940 the area of more new homes than any other section of our town. Various Other Subdivisions It would be difficult to enumerate the remaining minor sub- 255 HISTORY OF ATHOL divisions that various owners have put on the market in the last forty years. Slate & Lord in 1907 opened up a considerable acreage at White Pond for summer cottage lots and although this was slow in developing, yet today it is practically all disposed of. Hamilton & Kumin opened up an area off Silver Lake Street, near Sportsmen's Pond but there has never been much activity there. Around 1905 Herbert S. Goddard built Sunrise Terrace and gradually sold perhaps a half dozen lots there, following it about 1935 by Pitman Road. Admittedly this is not a complete list of all the various de¬ velopments projected in the last hundred years, but I think it enumerates most of the major, as well as some of the minor activities. 256 CHAPTER XVIII ASSEMBLY HALLS I^ORSAKE not the assembling of yourselves together" ad- - monishes the Holy Writ, but it would seem that our ances¬ tors confined their assembling to their religious services. Thus in all our towns we find until modern times no place of gen¬ eral assembly save the Meeting House. Every tavern worthy of the name had some sort of a hall adequate for a small assembly, but it was the church edifice alone that could contain the masses. We find no reference in local annals to any public hall un¬ til about the close of the eighteenth century. Other chapters of this book tell of the tavern at the Center first operated by Smauel Sweetzer around 1792. Here was a sizable public hall which continued to serve our people until the building was removed in 1854. Across the way on the corner of Grove Street was the Dis¬ trict School building, now the dwelling at No. 2 Morse Place, the second floor of which was an assembly hall. It was in that hall that all public gatherings were held after the burning of the third meeting house on July 2, 1827. After that catastrophe our citizens set about providing them¬ selves not only with commodious church building now stand¬ ing at 1307 Main Street but also the Town House, built at about 1521 Main Street, now the dwelling at 1476 Main Street. In 1847 the town disposed of this building but not un¬ til it had made a treaty with the First Unitarian Church and thrown huge timbers across the interior of their Church Build¬ ing thus making a Town Hall which was to serve the town as its only official meeting place for nearly 75 years. In Eliphalet Thorpe's old mill book under date of November 25, 1834 is the notation "Dedication of Mr. Fish's Hall by 150 people — glory enough for one day." This refers to the as¬ sembly hall in the ell of the Pequoig House, which ell before 1 860 was moved to the corner of Main and Canal Streets where St. Francis Church now stands and used as a public hall there for some years. That was the first public hall in the Factory Village and served that section of the town until 1847 when the present Baptist Church edifice was built by joint collab- 257 HISTORY OF ATHOL oration of the church and the townspeople, the upper auditor¬ ium to be exclusively a place of worship while the lower story or present "vestry" was Union Hall, to be used by all the vil¬ lage folk. Public spirited citizens in 1871 provided Music Hall, ade¬ quate for the needs of the whole town at that time. Dedicated on February 7, 1872 it was located at the corner of Main and MuSIC HALL, CORNER MAIN AND GROVE STREETS, 1872-1876 Grove Streets with a row of stores along the southerly side, and the main entrance to the auditorium from Main Street. This, while it lasted was a source of pride to the whole town but its duration was short for on April 8, 1876 a disastrous fire entirely consumed it. Rumor to this day throws suspicion on a citizen whose insurance realized as a result of the fire was quite ample but no evidence sufficient to warrant criminal action was ever obtained. Hardly had this enterprise become a reality when Mr. Charles M. Lee began preparations to provide the Lower Vil¬ lage with a similar assembly hall. His Starr Hall at corner of Main and Exchange Streets was dedicated on January 8, 1873 and there for a decade the entire lower village flocked for all kinds of assemblies. There Hi Henry's Minstrels gave their an¬ nual show, there we were thrilled by Uncle Tom's Cabin as 258 ASSEMBLY HALLS portrayed by a road troupe, there the Second Unitarian Church met for some two years, there Hubbard V. Smith Post G.A.R. was instituted, there were uncounted Spelling and Singing Schools, and there in the day of rabid Temperance agitation were held the trials of several who were accused of dealing in contraband liquors. Mr. Albert Ellsworth in 1883 built a rather crude but com¬ modious skating rink at the corner of Exchange and South Streets and soon this ground floor auditorium superseded Starr Hall in the affections of the people. In 1892 Mr. Ellsworth replaced this building with a modern Opera House which served the Community until it was burned December 8, 1929. In 1892 Lucien Lord built his Academy of Music which complimented the Opera House in supplying the needs of Athol for it had a level floor while the Opera House was slanted towards the stage. Here were held political rallies, some town meetings, and many dancing parties. With a determination that it should never compete with the local “Movies/' and in¬ spired by the local theatre management, the dismembering of this hall was accomplished after it was acquired by Tully Lodge of Odd Fellows. A part of it is the District Court Room and another section the Lodge room of that society and its affil¬ iates. A few years after the Second Unitarian Church was built, a rather crude addition called Unity Hall was affixed to its north side. This had an ample stage and a good floor with galleries on three sides. In it were held the many social activities of that church when it was more prosperous than it is today. By the fire of January 28, 1912 not only the church edifice but the Unity Hall was destroyed. The new church with its Unity Hall in the basement seems to be ample for the needs of that church in these days, but fond memories cluster around the first Unity Hall and the many activities. Tyler's Hall Following a disastrous fire of the furniture finishing shop at 576 South Street on February 24, 1877 Pitts C. and Charles H. Tyler built the present building there with two commodious stores on the ground floor and an assembly hall occupying all above the stores. This they named Tyler's Hall which was for a generation a real competitor of Starr Hall for all sorts of gath¬ erings. Here noted temperance advocates lectured, political rallys were held and Masonic Balls enjoyed. The author well re- 259 HISTORY OF ATHOL members attending there the graduation exercises of the Class of 1879 of our High School. The hall was the first voting place of Precinct two after the town was divided into precincts in 1889. After the Webb's Block fire of December 21,1 890 Star Lodge and all other Masonic bodies tenants with them in the burned building held their meetings in Tyler's Hall until new quarters were provided them in Richardson's new block some ten months after the fire. ATHOL MEMORIAL HALL In later years it was the lodge room of the Eagles and finally the Franco-American Naturalization Club. In recent years the building was acquired by one Ephraim Corriveau and by him the assembly hall was built over into apartments. For some years Athol had discussed a new Town Hall Build¬ ing but had taken no effective action along the line until after World War I when Mr. Frank E. Wing and a few others seized upon the desire to build a Soldiers' Memorial. Easily they con¬ vinced the town that it was expedient to combine this with a Municipal Building. Mr. Wing, being treasurer of the Star- 260 ASSEMBLY HALLS rett Company, had no difficulty in getting the ear of Mr. L. S. Starrett and inducing him to donate the present site for this purpose. A considerable number of citizens saw many objections to this location because of its proximity to the railroad, the ne¬ cessity of providing for an adequate passage of water under the building to Lord's Pond, the limited area of the lot and the apparent large expense of foundations there. These peo¬ ple approached Messrs. William G. Lord and Nathan D. Cass, the owners of the Sally Fish homestead with a frontage of something over 30 feet on Main Street and nearly five hun¬ dred feet on Exchange Street and having a total area of some¬ thing over 2/2 acres. Because of the apparent public demand for this location these men agreed to donate this lot to the town if it desired to locate its Memorial Building there. The Academy of Music auditorium, then called Lyric Thea¬ tre, was crowded to capacity at the annual Town Meeting on February 17, 1919 at which time these two offers to the town were both presented and discussed. The offer of Mr. Starrett was enthusiastically received while scant curtesy was accorded the Lord and Cass offer. At this meeting a building committee consisting of Frank A. Ball, Emmett L. Worrick, Albert Ellsworth, Dr. D. G. Coolidge, A. Foster Hamilton, John F. Hayden, and Frank W. Gleason was appointed and a quarter of a million dollars was appropri¬ ated for their use. Subsequent appropriations were made until when finished and equipped the total cost of this enterprise was in excess of $315,000. The corner stone was laid on June 22, 1922, the address of the occasion being delivered by Hon. Channing H. Cox, then Governor of the Commonwealth, and the finished building was dedicated on June 17, 1924, the address being delivered by Gen. Clarence R. Edwards, late commander of the Yankee Division. The author of this work was engaged to provide the lists of names for the memorial tablets in the rotunda of the building which entailed a year's research, only actual cash ex¬ penditures being charged the town. This building, with its Memorial Hall seating approximately 1400 and its Liberty Hall below seating about half that number, has proved invaluable to this town. Other Assembly Places As moving pictures became a reality one or two small audi¬ toriums were improvised out of vacant stores but were short¬ lived. 261 HISTORY OF ATHOL Eventually Athol Amusement Company acquired the Ells¬ worth Opera House and installed a regular movie program. The talking movies had scarcely been installed there when the Opera House was in ruins. The fire was December 8, 1929. Then began a rather feverish competition to build a modern attractive movie house. Garbose Brothers had acquired the Stockwell and later the Fay properties on Main Street, and ac¬ quiring back land of William G. Lord, by then the sole owner of the Lord's Pond area, they erected the present York and Fay Buildings, with York Theater a considerable part of the York bui Iding. Co-incident with this Mr. Charles H. Cooke likewise began operations on the Capitol Theatre. Selling the Adin H. Smith barn at auction he utilized its driveway as his entrance, and its location with a substantial addition purchased of Mr. Lord he devoted to his main theatre building. After much acrimony and some litigation the two theatres operated separately for a time and then the Garbose interests acquired a long-time lease of the Capitol and operate it only on occasions when their York is inadequate for the patronage. Long ago Houghton's Hall, where Athol Savings Bank now stands, was available for limited use but mostly it was used for Methodist Church services and later as a Masonic Hall. The hall in Fuller's block uptown was long a Masonic Hall, later Grange Hall and finally the headquarters of Parker Post G. A. R. That body previously occupied a hall at about No. 1616 Main Street, now long since demolished. George S. Brewer built his block at the corner of Chestnut Street in 1883 and in the hall there Athol Lodge A.F. & A.M. met until it removed downtown in 1913. Early in its history the basement or "vestry" of the old Methodist Church at the corner of Main and Crescent Streets was called Melodian Hall but I am not aware that it found general use as a public assembly place except for the activities of the church which owned it. In the Cardany Block at No. 39 Exchange Street there was long ago Temple of Honor Hall, now Eagles Hall, and in that hall many semi-secret societies have met throughout the years. In the hall above it. The Odd Fellows, Red Men and Knights of Pythias have met, each one for a decade or more. 262 ASSEMBLY HALLS When Millers River Bank Building was built in 1890, 1891, the third and then upper story was leased to Corinthian Lodge No. 76 which after ten years removed to the Simonds Block which it named Pythian Block, and the various Odd Fellow groups took over in the bank block, moving from there to Academy of Music in 1929. About that time the building was renovated and another story added. The two upper floors re¬ mained idle until 1943 when the Knights of Pythias returned there after some fourteen years in the Cardany Block. Three years after Hubbard V. Smith Post, G. A. R. was or¬ ganized in 1 882 George H. Cooke acquired the Emily Knowlton residence at No. 466 Main Street and rebuilt it first into a two- story block adding another story in 1886. That new Grand Army Post soon became his tenant and remained as such until provided with quarters in Memorial Building in 1923. He named the block Grand Army Block. The hall was pri¬ marily for the Post and its affiliate organizations but was sublet to some extent. There Corinthian Lodge met for a time and likewise it was the early meeting place of Athol Woman's Club. In 1913 Mr. L. S. Starrett built the Starrett Block on the site of the old Nathaniel Richardson homestead and long before it was completed had leased the upper floor to the Masonic orders; even Athol Lodge, organized as a strictly "Uptown" in¬ stitution, listened to the siren call and forsook its habitation on the hill to become a tenant there. All the Masonic bodies of the community meet there in a hall designed and built at no small expense for their use. About 1911 George H. Cooke acquired the Adin H. Smith property at No. 485-4491 Main Street and in 1913 removed the dwelling to the rear, building on the site a three-story block which bears his family name. The third floor was arranged for a lodge room and a lodge of the Loyal Order of Moose was tenant there for a time. In 1919 the local Council Knights of Columbus took over the quarters, remaining until 1952 when they removed to the former dwell¬ ing house at 881 Main Street owned by the Catholic Church and named Queen of Peace Community Center. 263 CHAPTER XIX SCARE OF 1794 — WAR OF 1812 IN conformity with the thought of other sections of Massa¬ chusetts, Athol was strongly Federalist in the early years of the last Century. One episode which we are at a loss to explain broke in upon the calm of our quiet town. On July 28, 1794 the Selectmen convened the town in spe¬ cial meeting with but one article in the warrant which read as follows: "To see what encouragement the town will give to those men in this town who shall enlist in the Continental serv¬ ice in order to make up this town's proportions agreeable to a law of this Commonwealth." Josiah Goddard, Esq. presided as moderator, and it was "voted that the town will give each non-commissioned officer and private soldier who shall enlist in the service of the United States agreeable to the present requisition seven dollars per month ensuing what is given by authority (except what is given for clothing) during the time they are in actual service and until they have reasonable time to return. Also voted that the Town give to each soldier who shall enlist agreeable to the present requisition one dollar for Enlisting." After passing the above vote, the meeting was adjourned for one hour and upon reconvening was dissolved without further recorded action. I search my various United States' histories in vain for any general calamity that should have caused this rather excited action by the good men of Athol. It is true that on June 6, 1794 an order was issued by the Adjutant General at Headquarters in Boston calling for "a de¬ tachment of 80,000 men, including officers ... to be made from the Militia of the United States, to be completely armed and equipped according to law and held in readiness to march at a minute's warning." Nearly 12,000 men was the propor¬ tionate number expected from Massachusetts. No reason is given for this order except that we are to "be prepared for any exigence which the nature of our political situation may involve." 264 SCARE OF 1794— WAR OF 1812 It is also true that President Washington at that time was somewhat disturbed over the so called “Whiskey Rebellion" in western Pennsylvania and some weeks later than the date of Athol's special town meeting called for fifteen thousand men, but this call was made only upon four adjacent states — New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. It seems almost incredible that news of this trouble could have reached us so soon after its beginning, which seems to date from the attack upon General John Neville's house on July 16, 1794. WAR OF 1812 President Jefferson's embargo against all imports from Eng¬ land and France was ultimately a boon for New England, but was not accepted as such. I say it was a boon to us for from its promulgation dates the development of our country industri¬ ally. When the Yankee could not buy foreign goods he began to devise means for making them himself and soon became no small competitor of the older nations. To Athol came a scythe shop, a paper mill, and eventually a cotton factory which en¬ tirely changed the policy of our citizens from a community striving only to provide for itself by selling a surplus of live stock to other towns to a growing industrial center. Following the trend of the times, Athol met in special town meeting on August 31, 1808 and passed the following peti¬ tion: "To the President of the United States: The inhabitants of the Town of Athol in the County of Worcester and Common¬ wealth of Massachusetts in legal town meeting assembled, beg leave respectfully and unanimously to represent that although the evils resulting from the late embargo laws may not be so immediately and sensibly felt by inland towns as by our sea¬ ports, and although the farmer may not at present so much as the merchant feel their deliterious effects, yet they are con¬ sidered of sufficient magnitude to create a general alarm and distress in this interior part of the country, and that the ruin of the husbandman will soon follow that of the merchant un¬ less said evils can speedily be removed. We therefore pray that said laws may be suspended as soon as may be consistent with the nature and fitness of things, and as in duty bound will ever pray." Failing in this attempt to convince the Chief Executive of the nation of this error, our people met again the following winter, and appointed a special committee consisting of James Oliver, Joseph Pierce, James Humphrey, William Young, and 265 HISTORY OF ATHOL Joseph Proctor to draft a statement of its convictions. In a short half hour this committee had compiled its document and presented it for acceptance. The statement read as follows: "That whereas civil liberty and the pursuit of happiness are considered by us as inalienable rights, and no less essential to the good and well being of Political Society than publick au¬ thority, therefore; Resolved that we will never surrender these Rights but with surrender of our lives and as the late measures of our national administration by which our commerce is well nigh destroyed, the right of Trial by Jury in many instances taken away, the civil authority subjected to the military, stand¬ ing armies distributed over our peaceful land and the right of property left unprotected, are in our opinion, partial, unjust, inexpedient and unconstitutional, the opinion of any earthly judge to the contrary notwithstanding, therefore: Resolved that we are not bound to support and we will not support such measures: Resolved that we will contribute all in our power to aid and support our State Legislature by all proper means, in opposing such oppressive measures hoping and earnestly re¬ questing that Honorable Body not to quit their posts until they shall have asserted the Sovereignty and Independence of this State and secured to its citizens their wonted privileges. James Oliver, Chairman." Only Abner Twichell and William Young, members of the drafting committee, are recored as dissenting. In that time of national turmoil it was noticeable that the established church, Congregational, was almost unanimous in its condemnation of the war. The comparatively few dissenters from the "standing order" were largely attracted by the liberal religious convictions of Jefferson and openly supported Mr. Madison, who was a creature of Jefferson, in his war activities. I know nothing about the convictions of this William Young, but Abner Twichell was one of a group who had joined the (West) Royalston Baptist Church in 1776. Rev. Lucius Paige in his history of Hardwick gives the best picture of which I know concerning the attitude of the people in general towards the war effort. When the call for troops came a gathering was called in the meeting house, the author¬ ities urged compliance with the request, and a drummer was sent around and around the hall striving to encourage men to enlist. The net result of his efforts was the securing of one man as a convert. I know of no such attempt at compilance, but from all the records I find it appears that our people de¬ clined to support their government in its extremity. 266 SCARE OF 1794 — WAR OF 1812 The only sizeable non-conformist group in Athol at that time was a feeble branch of the Templeton Baptist Church which developed in later years into the First Baptist Church of Athol. Most of these people seem to have been anti-mili¬ taristic in their sentiments, largely influenced by the attitude of their leader, Rev. Elisha Andrews of Templeton who in that town became one of a committee to draft a remonstrance against the war. One of the prominent leaders in that little group of Bap¬ tists was one Benjamin Fairbanks, a Revolutionary War veteran on our list of soldiers in that war. A letter from one of his descendants brings the information that his son, Jonothan Fairbanks, served in this war as a Private. I find this record to be as follows: Private 40th U. S. Inft. Capt. Leonard Ross, enlisted July 1, 1814 at Fort Hancock, Mass. Discharged March 31, 1815, at Boston. This Jonothan Fairbanks seems to be the Jonothan Fairbanks who died in Athol on July 28, 1823.. but we have no sure rec¬ ord of his birth nor of his marriage. We have a record of a Jonothan who was baptized here on October 12, 1766, but he is listed as son of Jonothan and Ruth. I also find the record of intention of marriage of a Jonothan and Lydia Bellows of Western (Warren) March 6, 1807 and the birth of six children to Jonothan and Arseneth, two of them born in New Salem and one in West Royalston, between 1806 and 1820. Although Massachusetts had refused to comply with na¬ tional orders in the early days of the war, yet in its latter stages when the British held control of all Northern Maine and were said to have designs on the Massachusetts' coastal towns, war activity became quite a necessity. A call was made in Septem¬ ber, 1814 upon the military companies of the State to guard the coast, and there was a general response to that call. At the time Athol had no organized military company but there was one in Royalston and two in New Salem. To these companies our citizens joined themselves in that emergency. For ten years or more the Federal Government refused to recognize this service as having official war connection but eventually adjustment of the expense was made with our Commonwealth and all participants officially recognized as having served their country in the emergency. Years ago the records of these militia companies were edited and published, a copy being donated to each public library in 267 HISTORY OF ATHOL the Commonwealth. I search in vain for Athol's copy, but that of Royalston has been preserved and from it I give below such names as I can definitely tie to Athol: HILL, JOHN — Mass. Militia in the War of 1812-14; pages 16, 89, 93, 252, 258. Corp., Capt. Stephen Blake's Co., Lieut. Col. W. Ryerson's Regt.; Capt. S. Merrill's Co., Lieut. Col. E. Hale's Regt.; Capt. A. Williams' Co., Lieut. Col. J. Page's Regt.; Capt. B. Brown's Co., Lieut. Col. S. Town's Regt. raised at Royalston. LEWIS, HIRAM — Mass. Militia in War 1812-14, page 93. Capt. B. Brown's Co., Lieut. Col. S. Town's Regt. raised at Royalston. THAYER, JESSE — Mass. Militia in War 1812-14, page 95. Capt. J. Nye's Co., Lieut. Col. S. K. Chemberlain's Regt.; Lieut. W. Whitaker's Co.; Lieut. Col. Town's Regt. TWICHELL, BENJAMIN M. — Mass. Militia in War 1812-14, page 95. Lieut. W. Whitaker's Co., Lieut Col. Town's Regt. TWICHELL, JOHN — Mass. Militia in War 1812-14, pages 95, 181, 252, 255. Corp. and Lieut.; Lieut. W. Whitaker's Co., Lieut. Col. Town's Regt.; Capt. James Wallace's Co., Lieut. Col. J. Coming's Regt.; Capt. Stephen Blake's Co., Lieut. Col. W. Ryerson's Regt.; Capt. Stephen Blake's Co., Lieut Col. W. Ryerson's Regt. WHEELER, ZACHEUS — Mass. Volume Militia in War 1812-14, page 66. Capt. A. Powers' Company, Lieut. Col. T. Long- ley's Regt. 268 CHAPTER XX INDUSTRY HE character of the employment of Athol citizens has been one of gradual transition from an almost purely agricul¬ tural community into a manufacturing center. Previous to the beginning of the nineteenth century the great industry of the town was cattle raising, the outstanding operator being Col. Samuel Sweetzer who owned vast areas of pasturage in this and adjacent towns, but the great major¬ ity of our people were occupied in tilling their small acreage farms and providing for their individual wants. Previous to about 1 800 the entire industries of the town were the "four grist mills, six saw mills, and fulling mill and one trip hammer" recited in Whitney's History of Worcester County (1793). The beginning of these was the saw mill, 1736, and the grist mill, 1737, which the proprietors of the township bar¬ gained for with Mr. Samuel Kendall of Woburn, granting him nearly all of the present business area of the town as compen¬ sation for the saw mill, and an area extending from Athol Manufacturing Company plant southerly to beyond the Upper Common as his inducement to build the corn mill. The best information available places the saw mill at Free¬ dom Street and downstream from the roadway and the grist mill at approximately the site of the present Memorial Hall Building, being moved before 1760 to Freedom Street east of the roadway. Aside from this use of Millers River apparently no further attempt was made to harness its waters for a full half century and then the operations were within the present limits of Royalston. For a full century after our town was settled the only indus¬ trial powers available were derived from our brooks and rivers, thus in tracing their history and development I have chosen to write about them by the streams they are on rather than to list them in any other way, including of course those later fac¬ tories which have sprung up away from the water powers. 269 HISTORY OF ATHOL South Brook Except for the Kendall mills, probably the first industrial plant in the township was what is known as the Ellinwood plant at Doe Valley Road.. Thus I begin my industrial story with that brook, called by the pioneers South Brook, but now gen¬ erally known as Ellinwood Brook. This Doe Valley water power was first developed by Dr. Joseph Lord who lived at about 1790 Pleasant Street. This Was on 100-Acre lot No. 23 drawn by Zachariah Field and sold by him to Joseph Lord and Ephraim Smith. Joseph Lord conveyed his half to his son, Joseph Jr., July 4, 1752, making no mention of any buildings on the lot but excepting a highway nine rods wide called the Stone Pit Path. This road was formally approved by the Proprietors December 9, 1761, and alludes to Joseph Lord's Saw Mill. Joseph Lord, Jr., conveyed to Dr. Ebenezer Hartshorn, and he in 1775 sold to Dr. Daniel Ellinwood. After his death in 1794, his son Daniel acquired title from his associate heirs, and he in 1814 sold an undivided half of the plant to Abel Bigelow, grandson of William Bigelow, a pioneer in the New Sherborn area. In this deed reference is made to both a saw mill and a carding machine "thereon." February 15, 1831, Daniel Ellinwood died, and October 7, 1840, Abel Bigelow also deceased. In 1841 the entire title passed to Daniel Ellinwood's son, D. Austin Ellinwood, who continued in ownership until his death in 1884. He built a new mill in 1846 and this mill building was burned May 4, 1876, but was rebuilt and business carried on as before. Later owners have been Alba K. Litchfield, Albert E. Litch¬ field, James M. Lee, and the Mill Brook Associates who then contemplated raising the dam in connection with the Lake Ellis improvement. The mill buildings disappeared about 1900 and since then this has been one of the abandoned water powers in town. A short quarter of a mile downstream from his mill site, another saw mill was built, probably by Josiah Wesson. In 1837 this mill was owned by Henry Humphrey and by him sold to John Stockwell and Chester Crawford. Some au¬ thorities place Addison Cutting and Humphrey Fay as oper¬ ators there, but long ago the location was acquired by D. Aus¬ tin Ellinwood and the mill abandoned. 270 INDUSTRY Long prior to the Wesson development, another saw mill was built on this same brook but much farther west. About 1740 one Deacon David Sanderson, on the right of Joseph Brown, was allotted a 100-Acre lot near the west line of the town and both sides of South Brook not far east of White's Pond. Out of this were made conveyances to Jotham Death, Stephen Stratton, Joseph Fay and Obadiah Marsh, and at least two of these grantees were for a time operatives of the saw mill on this site. Eventually this mill came into the ownership of Abner Stratton and through him to his son, Amos T. Strat¬ ton, who later abandoned the power. Except that this abandon¬ ment came before the location, sometime after 1870, of the Enfield Railroad which passed through this mill pond, we have no close date of its final use. It is interesting to note the interest of Petersham people in this immediate vicinity. The pond, as stated, just west of this mill site is known as White Pond but this is evidently an ab¬ breviation of its original name. White's Pond is said to have been first discovered by Capt. John White of Lancaster, one of the original grantees of Voluntown (Petersham): the 100- acre lot of which this Stratton saw mill site was a part was evi¬ dently chosen by "Dekun" David Sanderson of that town, and as the name Marsh is frequently found in the early story of this neighboring town of ours, it is not unlikely that Obadiah Marsh had Petersham connections. In White Pond Road just south of where an old road from New Salem to Petersham crosses was until recent years a decided incline known as "Marsh Hill" said to be named after one of that name who lived at the hill¬ top. Perhaps it was this Obadiah who settled there. On South Brook west of White Pond were at least two other powers but as these were in New Salem until 1 837 our informa¬ tion concerning them is even more meager than is our knowl¬ edge of those within our original limits. A few rods west of White Pond Road, Ebenezer Stowell built a dam and saw mill in 1828 and apparently at that time raised the outlet from White Pond several feet, thus making of it a substantial reservoir. Subsequent owners appear to have been Asa Farnsworth, Chauncey Lothrop, Cyrus Bassett, Gilbert Southard and John R. Pierce. During Mr. Southard's ownership the business was most prosperous the product being nest measures and like utensils. To the area around this mill was attached at that time the name "Southardville" but it has been discontinued for many years. 271 HISTORY OF ATHOL Eventually Rev. Lysander Fay acquired the mill power and rights and it was one of the assets of his estate at his decease on July 9, 1881. The mills on this brook below its confluence with South Athol Brook will be spoken of later in this chapter. GILBERT SOUTHARD )821 - 1898 Mill Brook We have no record or tradition as to when or why Mill Brook was so named. It is mentioned in the record of the second contract made by the proprietors with Samuel Kendall at which time so far as we know no power had been developed there, except the saw mill on Freedom Street which originally was purely a Mill Brook power as the canal from the river into its pond was not excavated until some twenty years or more later. In relating the story of the mills along this brook and the other streams we will (as we have done in the story of South Brook) tell the story in the order of their location, beginning at the head waters rather than by dates of development. About the middle of the nineteenth century industrial de¬ velopment along Mill Brook made a more steady flow of its 272. INDUSTRY waters imperative, and to accomplish this a group of these mill owners planned a series of reservoirs to impound flood waters and release them in periods of drought. This original group consisted of Abram and Ira Oakes, owners at Pegville, Edwin Ellis, owner at Water Street, Festus F. Amsden, then interested at Mechanic Street, Jacob S. Cooke and Laban Morse at Pleasant Street, and Dexter Cheney, an adjoining owner, Theodore Jones at Mechanic Place, Frederick Jones and Milton Baker at Chestnut and Main Streets, and Lyman W. Hapgood at Chestnut and Hapgood Streets. The first reservoir built by these associates was in Athol, a short half mile south of our former Welfare Home; the next and larger reservoir, known as No. 2, was perhaps a quarter of a mile south of No. 1, its dam being in Athol but much of its flowage area in Phillipston. As this is written, studies are being made looking to the taking of this No. 2 reservoir for an additional source of water for Athol's Municipal Water System. No. 3 reservoir was built about 1854, on a small brook tributary to Mill Brook and a short half mile northeast of Peg¬ ville. Some time later these associates were incorporated as Athol Water Company, thus forcing Robert and Solon Wiley to adopt another name for their original municipal water system. They chose Athol Acqueduct Company as their name but at a later period Athol Water Company became Athol Reservoir Com¬ pany and still later Mill Brook Associates and Athol Acqueduct Company became Athol Water Company. Downsteam from these reservoirs the first industrial plant we come to was at "Pegville", the dam being west of Garfield Road and the mill pond extending well east of that road. Here long ago was a flourishing mill producing a variety of wooden items including shoe pegs. It was operated by Abraham Oakes and later by his son Ira, one George Wilder, and for a short time L. J. Whitney. In early deeds, Abraham Oakes describes himself as a "plough maker" which is not inconsistent with the operating of a woodworking plant as these implements were made entirely of wood previous to around 1835. According to my notes this mill was first taxed in 1833. When the use of wooden pegs in the manufacture of foot¬ wear ceased, this property fell into disuse and was eventually acquired by Athol Water Company and a mechanical water filter installed there. Since the construction of the filter beds off the north end of Hillside Terrace, this power has been en- 273 HISTORY OF ATHOL tirely idle although the dam is maintained by the Water De¬ partment. Next below this filter location is a substantial stone dam said to have been built by the Pegville owners when their business seemed to warrant expansion, but my information is that the project was never completed. Next on the stream and just east of Petersham Road was a substantial reservoir built as an auxiliary to the saw mill below. The reserve waters from this pond were released into a small fore-bay west of Petersham Road, thereby wasting fully half the available "head" for this mill. Various owners recalled are Edward Drury, William B. Spooner, Orcutt and Samuel D. Prouty, Jonathan Drury, Eric D. Walker, Edmund Moore, Charles H. Butterworth, and T. Sidney Mann the present own¬ er. The land and buildings are utilized by the Mann Lumber Company, but the use of the water power was discontinued some twenty years ago. Pressing hard upon the tail race of this last named saw mill are the waters of Lake Ellis, the most pretentious development on Mill Brook. Much of the land covered by these waters was, previous to about 1840, a peat bog from which that fuel was cut at times. EDWIN ELLIS FACTORY, WATER STREET, ABOUT 1885 Across this bog the road to Templeton and Boston crossed when first laid out in 1754, this section being a cordroy or log road. 274 INDUSTRY June 22, 1843, Timothy Hoar, William Fletcher and Jonathan Kidder acquired some fifteen acres of land which later became a part of the Ellis plant. At approximately where Water Street crosses Mill Brook they built a dam of rather large proportions utilizing the water to produce power for a woodworking mill which they erected west of the dam. There is some evidence that this mill power was a rejuve¬ nation of a mill power long before developed and abandoned on this site, but the mill pond dates back only to 1843. The entire area was a part of a hundred acre lot (126 acres) laid out to John Ballard on the right of John Fiske and is numbered 47 on the plan. Kidder, early in 1845, disposed of his share in this enter¬ prise to his partners, and the preponderance of evidence is that later in 1845 Mr. Fletcher likewise retired from the busi¬ ness. On December 18, 1845, this dam suddenly gave way re¬ leasing a large volume of water into Mill Brook. The Hoar factory was destroyed, as were several others down the stream. Succeeding this disaster, the ownership passed through sev- DEA. EDWIN ELLIS 1822- 1888 275 HISTORY OF ATHOL eral hands until finally on March 13, 1852, it became the property of Edwin Ellis, a native of (North) Orange who speed¬ ily developed it into a prosperous industry continuing until his death on July 9, 1888. Succeeding him, his family carried on for a time. In 1889 the Athol Reservoir Company entered upon a plan to improve the water powers of Mill Brook by increasing many fold the storage capacity of Lake Ellis. It acquired the old Ellinwood dam and power on Doe Valley Road, got assents to flow intervening land, and asked the town of Athol, in the guise of improving Water Street, to rebuild the Ellis dam raising its spillway three feet, giving assurance that if this could be done the reservoir company would attend to all other details including land damages and the building of a new dam at Doe Valley Road with the spillway the same height as that contemplated at Lake Ellis. Against the better judgment of many citizens the appropriation was made and the prosecution of the work delegated to Gardiner Lord, Orrin F. Hunt and Henry Grey, its Selectmen, with the addition to the committee of James M. Lee, O. A. Fay and James F. Whit¬ comb. The Water Street job was completed in 1889 as directed by the town, the spillway was raised the full three feet and an iron bridge constructed carrying Water Street across the dam, but none of the waters of Lake Ellis have ever flowed over that spillway for the agreement of Athol Reservoir Company was not kept and no dam was built at Doe Valley Road. The bridge at Water Street was maintained until 1948 when it was removed and an earthen roadway constructed above the spillway. The 1889 construction provided for a pen stock into the Ellis Plant and through this for sixty years a moderate supply of water has been released into Mill Brook, but all surplus or flood waters have found their way into South Brook and through it into White Pond, Rohunta and Millers River. Adverse economic conditions eventually proved to be the undoing of the Ellis family. To add to their troubles the plant was destroyed by fire on May 15, 1896, but was rebuilt and was again in operation in less than a year. Bankruptcy pro¬ ceedings ensued in late 1897 and the plant was sold at auc¬ tion to Alfred J. Raymond and Millard W. White, both of Royalston; Mr. Raymond also purchasing the Ellis homestead at 1405 Main Street. 276 INDUSTRY Mr. White soon retired from the business leaving Mr. Ray¬ mond as sole owner and he carried on an active business there for some thirty years. Eventually financial difficulties overtook Mr. Raymond also and the plant again went under the auctioneer's hammer. After a relatively short period of idleness it was acquired by Swift River Box Company/ a refugee from North Dana which village was wiped out by the huge Quabbin Reservoir project, and by this company active operations are still continued there, but it is many years since the water power at this plant has been utilized. Next on this stream is the so-called Morse plant at the end of Mechanic Street. Here about 1833 Timothy Hoar built a dam and factory and began manufacturing there. The factory was burned February 14, 1842 but "by the exertions of the (fire) company the lumber house and small shop were saved." (Records of Engine Co. No. 2). The factory was rebuilt only to be destroyed again when the dam above gave way December 1 8, 1 845. L. MORSE AND SON SHOP ABOUT 1879 Soon after this disaster Mr. Hoar sold this plant to Washing¬ ton H. Amsden and his brother, Festus F. Amsden, natives of Dana who had recently removed here. These brothers con- 277 HISTORY OF ATHOL tinued there until March 4, 1864 when fire again destroyed the plant. Mr. W. H. Amsden then purchased the Kennebunk Street plant and removed the Amsden business there, the Mechanic Street plant being sold to Laban Morse who, with his sons Henry T. Morse, Leander B. Morse and Frank F. Morse, re¬ moved their furniture manufacturing from Main Street, corner of Pleasant Street, and there it continued under the name of L. Morse & Sons for seventy-five years. Henry T. Morse re¬ tired from the business and removed to Boston, Laban Morse died January 31, 1890, Leander B. Morse died November 3, 1924, and Frank F. Morse died April 1, 1916, but he had been inactive in the business for some years before his death, the burden of the management falling upon Sumner L. Morse, son of Leander B. Morse, who actively entered into the business in 1886. March 23, 1935, the business, then a Massachusetts cor¬ poration, was sold to Robert E. Greenwood, once of Gardner LABAN MORSE 1812-1890 but later of Fitchburg, under whose management it became bankrupt and was liquidated. Since the bankruptcy various 278 INDUSTRY small industries have occupied some of the smaller outlying buildings but the main plant has been abandoned as a factory and allowed to decay. It was entirely removed in 1953. Soon after the sale of the business to Mr. Greenwood, Mr. Sumner L. Morse resumed manufacturing in a small way in a disused barn which stands on the spot where his grandfather started making furniture over a century previously, and there he continues in business. Below this Morse factory site and above Spring Street there was long ago an impounding dam storing surplus water for the powers below but this has been abandoned many years. Mill Brook, until perhaps 1830, after leaving the Morse plant ran northerly across Main Street into an area of low land southeast of Summer Street, probably having sometime con¬ tinued northerly across Winter, Glen and Kennebunk Streets into Millers River, although its main course, either natural or artificial, turned south from the Summer Street area, recrossed Main Street, flowing thence in its present course into Lord's Pond. As the mills below were developed the course was changed, cutting off the flow across Main Street. The whole area near the junction of Main and Pleasant Streets was originally owned by a family named Wood who pioneered here from Stowe. In the original division of the house lots in Pequoig Lot No. 1, E E was drawn by John Wood, and four other tracts in that immediate area were allocated to a kinsman, Jeremiah Wood. Adjoining some of these was 100-acre lot No. 25 set off to Isaac Ball out of which this family acquired some acreage. In fixing the location of this No. 1 E E it must be borne in mind that as originally laid out, Pleasant Street ran in a straight line its entire length, the deflection at Kelton Street having been effected by the Worcester County "Sessions" some sixty years later. This would bring Pleasant Street into Chestnut Street probably slightly west of the Evangelical Congregationaf Church. The Wood residence was at approximately 1729 Main Street. Between Spring Street and Pleasant Street there were two and possibly three water powers developed. The first to develop here was Paul Morse, a tanner, who purchased of Esq. Humphrey, administrator of the estate of Kimball Wood, one acre and eighty-six rods of the House Lot, it having a frontage of 16 rods on Main Street and 23 rods on 279 HISTORY OF ATHOL Pleasant Street. On this he built a house (probably the one now numbered 44 Pleasant Street), a bark house, built at about 1719 Main Street and now the dwelling at No. 100 Bearsden Road, a hide mill about on the site of the present S. L. Morse Manufacturing Company building at 38 Pleasant Street, and a Curry Shop, possibly the building now a dwelling at No. 1 Morse Place. Here he conducted a successful business until his death, June 25, 1841. His business was continued by his sons, Laban and Sumner Morse, until the buildings were de¬ stroyed by the freshet of December 18, 1845. July 10, 1847 the Morse brothers conveyed the bark house to Dexter Cheney who converted it into a wheelwright shop. From this point this title was merged with two other acquisitions of Mr. Cheney, recited below. In 1851 Mr. Cheney conveyed it to Jacob S. Cooke, also a wheelwright. After Mr. Cooke's death, Febru¬ ary 4, 1876, the property passed by conveyance to George S. Brewer. Mr. Brewer was a native of Petersham who had come here in the early seventies. His first activity was in company with Dwight E. Bass in the woodworking business at the Hapgood mills. In 1873 this partnership was dissolved and Mr. Brewer, in company with his brother-in-law, Warren D. Lee, were active for a time. Part of the Main Street mill was occupied for several years by Dennis Goddard, box manufacturer, but this business was purchased by Mr. Brewer in 1892. The old factory was burned but was speedily rebuilt and operations resumed. House finish, screen doors and windows were among the prin¬ cipal activities there. In January 1900, Frank C. Hastings and Christopher J. Kratt joined with Mr. Brewer in organizing Athol Toy Company which operated only about a year under that management. Messrs. Hastings and Kratt sought other employment and Mr. Brewer turned his interest to automobile sales and repairs. The toy company was sold to Charles F. Porter who three years later sold it to N. D. Cass who speedily removed it to his Freedom Street plant, selling the Brewer plant to Joseph Wil¬ cox who removed his comb business there from the brick fac¬ tory at 1 225 Chestnut Street. Through some prosperity and much adversity the Wilcox family carried on here until 1942 when the factory was sold to George Gerry & Son, an industry whose long established loca¬ tion had been purchased from them by L. S. Starrett Company for expansion purposes incident to World War II. Previous to this Gerry acquisition the corner lot had been acquired for a 280 INDUSTRY gasoline filling station but the larger part of the extensive fac¬ tory erected by the Wilcox interests passed to the Gerry owner¬ ship. In 1809, Esq. Humphrey conveyed another part of lot No. 1 lying east of the bark house to Nathan Stone who, on April 6, 1814, conveyed it to Jesse Thayer. December 21, 1815, Mr. Thayer conveyed it to Timothy Hoar, Jr., a native of West¬ minster who had recently come to town. Mr. Hoar erected a two-story building thereon which he used as a combination dwelling house and wheelwright shop, the dwelling being for a few years occupied by his brother, William. Power for his shop was obtained from water taken from the bark house flume through a penstock to his breast wheel. About 1832 during his tenure at that location, he bui It for a home the house numbered 1702 Main Street, and the building numbered 1706 Main Street. in which he established the first bakery in Athol. In his wheelwright shop he is said to have installed the first circular saw to be operated in Athol and to have been an early manu¬ facturer of matches there. The combined industrial and residential property on the southwest side of Main Street was conveyed by Mr. Hoar on February 12, 1833, to William Fletcher and Stephen W. Bliss, the latter a native of Royalston who had recently removed here. These owners converted the industrial section of the prop¬ erty into a blacksmith shop, utilizing the water power to op¬ erate a trip hammer. After five years Mr. Bliss conveyed his interest in the property to Mr. Fletcher who, on April 4, 1845, sold his holdings to Dexter Cheney. Since this conveyance this title has merged with the other Cheney purchases. December 6, 1826, Paul Morse conveyed a tract at the corner of Main and Pleasant Streets to Joel Stratton, carpenter, who erected thereon a two-story building which he used as a carpenter's shop. In 1832 Mr. Stratton sold this property to Elbridge Boyden, a native of Orange (Fryville) who is described as a carpenter but who later removed to Worcester and became a successful architect. Among his local achievements were the designing in 1859 of the ornamental front and spire of the First Baptist Church, the Starr Hall Block 1872, and the rais¬ ing of the ceiling of the Athol Town Hall 1880. Apparently Mr. Boyden resided at 25 Pleasant Street. After some eleven years' operations there, Mr. Boyden disposed of both his shop and his dwelling and removed from town. One generally accurate chronicler states that the shop passed into’ 281 HISTORY OF ATHOL the control of Frye & Humphrey but the records at Worcester indicate that the dwelling was sold to Isaac Stevens, Esq., while the "shop built by Joel Stratton" was deeded to Barzilla J. Whitney who the next year conveyed it to Jotham Lincoln of Orange, who in precisely one year deeded it to Robert E. Car¬ penter also of Orange and in just another year passed the title to Whitman T. Lewis. On the same day that he made this pur¬ chase Mr. Lewis acquired the adjoining property of Dexter Cheney. Mr. Lewis was a marble worker who operated there until 1851 when he resold to Dexter Cheney, thus giving Mr. Cheney the ownership of the three little industrial plants and the Main Street frontage from Pleasant Street southeasterly to the "Stockwell House," all of which passed to Mr. Brewer with his other purchases at this location. Crossing Pleasant Street we come to another area which was a hive of industry. This, like the area above it, was originally owned by the Wood family, ten acres of the area having been allotted to Jeremiah Wood as holder of the rights of John Smeed, one of our five original settlers. May 14, 1788, Jeremiah Wood conveyed all the land be¬ tween Pleasant and Chestnut Streets to Kimball Wood who speedily erected a grist mill and soon thereafter a blacksmith shop. May 2, 1790, Mr. Wood sold the south half of his pur¬ chase to John Howe, a blacksmith. From Howe the ownership passed through Joshua Moore, Abraham and Nathan Derby to Prescott Jones in 1809, and by him in 1826 to Joel Stratton who the same year passed the title to Alden Spooner who de¬ veloped the power where the Brewer-Carlson garage now stands, and there for some years operated a cabinet shop. For several years he was associated there with George Fitts, Esq., under the name of Fitts and Spooner, in making many articles of household furniture. Pieces of this furniture are not infre¬ quently found in these days by antique dealers and collectors. One of Spooner's activities was making coffins to measure. When a death occurred in town, measurements were taken by kind neighbors who "laid out" the body, a messenger was dis¬ patched to Spooner's Shop where a coffin was fashioned with bent sides, stained with lamp-black, and delivered in a few hours to the messenger. Mr. Spooner's charge of some three dollars for this coffin was the only expense of a funeral in those days. The building standing in the rear of the Brewer & Carlson garage was built on this lot by Mr. Spooner for a home. Mr. Spooner survived until 1877 but this property passed out of 282 INDUSTRY his hands in 1846. Successive owners of the tract have been Sylvester Stockwell and Benjamin C. Skinner, John F. Hum¬ phrey, J. W. Ellis, Blake & Bruce, Theodore Jones, Reuben Stratton and his sons Henry W. Stratton and Frank R. Stratton, John E. Woodis and George S. Brewer. The Spooner dwelling was eventually converted into a blacksmith shop. James D. Ahern, Joseph H. Haskins and Isaac J. Dodd are remembered as blacksmith with a rather long tenure there, Mr. Ahern hav¬ ing removed there from a building which became too obsolete for use at about No. 1690 Main Street. The northerly corner of Main and Pleasant Streets was sold to Dexter Cheney who carried on a portion of his rather exten¬ sive wheelwright business there. When in 1867 Athol found the old No. 2 Engine House on Common Street inadequate for its needs, it acquired a frontage on Pleasant Street of Mr. Cheney and when in 1896 expansion was again imperative it acquired of Mr. Dodd, then the successor to the Cheney title, a considerable larger area selling the old engine house to him to be removed to his remaining land. In the decade following the Civil War, when Luther Ramsey was building the popular "Orange Sleigh" at Orange, his brother, John Ramsey, competed with him for a time by mak¬ ing an "Athol Sleigh" in this Cheney shop. Reuben Stratton began the manufacture of matches and packing boxes on the small brook near Petersham line eventu¬ ally removing to the Spooner Shop. He was succeeded by his sons, Henry W. Stratton and Frank R. Stratton, who took in as a co-partner their kinsman, Albert C. Crawford. As Stratton Brothers & Company this firm operated in the Spooner plant until 1885-6 when they built a new factory at No. 168 Hap- good Road, their successor in the old plant being John E. Woodis. Subsequently Mr. Brewer acquired the plant and established his automobile business there, razing the old plant in 1909 and building the present Brewer & Carlson garage there. Next on Main Street below the Spooner shop stood the build¬ ing still there known to a recent generation as the "Boutell Mill." There, as has been stated, was a grist mill and long thereafter, south of the mill, a blacksmith shop. In this grist mill building were located many small industries for a century after it was built. In 1834 the manufacture of sash was begun there and con¬ tinued for the succeeding forty years by a considerable number 283 HISTORY OF ATHOL of different owners including Alexander K. Spooner, Perrin Bliss, John Boutelle, Gamaliel Smith, Josiah Haven, Edwin Ellis, Warren Amsden, and Charles Frye, Joel Stratton, Abra¬ ham Oakes, Benjamin Estabrook, Lyman Kendall, Joseph P. Moore, L. V. B. Cooke, Sullivan Moore, James Kelley and Charles C. Phelps. John W. Burbeck was associated there for some years. GRIST MILL, ETC., 1629 MAIN STREET WITH ALDEN SPOONER HOUSE AT LEFT In 1 873 title passed to John Boutelle and he, his sons, Harry F. and George W. Boutelle, and the latter's children, James and Bernice Prussman, carried on until 1936, then the Potter of Greenfield interests operated the old mill for two years, and then the business was discontinued. The old mill is now the only commercial laundry in town. The northerly portion of the lot conveyed by Jeremiah to Kimball Wood was first used as a blacksmith shop, perhaps the first in town, but very soon Mr. Wood entered into a contract with one Sylvanus Sherwin to build and operate a fulling mill there. A generation ago, remains of the old water power for this clothier's shop were still to be seen there. Apparently the clothier's operations were not an outstand¬ ing success for late in 1793 the whole area, including this shop, was sold by Mr. Wood to Prescott Jones who soon discon¬ tinued the fulling mill and established a tannery there, the first of that industry to be established in town, so far as is known. Mr. Jones retired from active business in 1825, his 284 INDUSTRY sons, Prescott Jr. and Frederick, taking over management of affairs, but shortly after that Mr. Prescott Jones, Jr., removed to Boston where he was engaged as a dealer of hides and leather until his death in 1839. Prescott Jones, Sr., died in Athol, April 19, 1828, but his widow retained an interest in the business until her death, May 26, 1835. Frederick Jones in 1831 added to the tannery business the manufacture of heavy shoes and brogans, changing the product four years later to boots. A few small operators had preceeded this family in making footwear but the Jones factory was the beginning of footwear manufacture on a larger scale which was the outstanding in¬ dustry of our town for nearly three-quarters of a century. In 1838 he removed to Boston where with his cousin, Nahum Jones, he continued as a footwear distributor for over thirty years. Those remembered as having been associated with him in the tannery here are Fisher A. Wilder, Jacob Tyrell, Peter Moore, David B. and Otis P. Davenport. Associated with him in the footwear manufacturing business was Stillman Simonds, under the name of Jones & Simonds. In 1837 a brick factory was built for the manufacture of boots at the Main and Chestnut Street corner, and in 1844 a sizable wooden addition was erected. Co-incident with this 1844 expansion there came into his employ one Milton Baker, then thirty-two years old, a native of (North) Orange, and a son of Sherebiah Baker. This employment continued until the death of Mr. Simonds, May 15, 1850. In the readjustment made necessary by this death, Mr. Baker became a member of the firm, the name being changed to Jones & Baker. About 1870 this partnership was dissolved and Mr. Baker removed to Worcester where he died in 1876. In 1872 our County Commissioners decreed a widening of the "Narrows" and in accomplishing this, the entire Jones buildings at the corner of Main and Chestnut Streets were demolished. Prescott Jones built, and he and his family occupied as a home, the house now standing at 1249 Chestnut Street, but originally it stood more than its width west of that location, 285 HISTORY OF ATHOL it having been moved to the east in 1887 in connection with the erection of the brick factory adjoining it. When Milton Baker came into the business he took up his residence there, continuing until his removal from town in 1873. CORNER MAIN & CHESTNUT STREETS ABOUT 1860 After the old factory building was demolished, this Main Street corner was soon acquired by James M. Cheney and by him sold to George S. Brewer who in 1883 built the present block standing there. During an industrial boom in 1887 a group of citizens or¬ ganized Athol Building Company and speedily removed the Jones-Baker house which was followed by the erection of the present brick factory on that site. This was built for the use of F. W. Breed of Lynn who operated only a few years when he discontinued, and Hill & Green, who had originally located farther west on Mill Brook adjoining Riverbend Street, took over the plant. After successful operation for ten years, this last named business removed to Dalton and the brick factory was speedily taken over by Joseph Wilcox who brought here from Leomin¬ ster in 1900 a celluloid business which developed rapidly. In four years the business had outgrown the old Hapgood 286 INDUSTRY Match plant and this brick factory, being idle., was speedily taken over by him. Later the business was moved again, this time to the former Brewer location at Main and Pleasant Streets, and Athol Board of Trade early in 1916 induced Fess Rotary Oil Burner Company to locate in the brick factory. The owners of this business had a vision of the day when oil burners would be a standard equipment for homes as well as industries but they were unable to develop a burner satisfactory for domestic use and the competition in the industrial oil burner line was too keen for them, thus after a short period the attempt was abandoned and the machinery removed. Next at this plant was Keeler & Company who bought the real estate in January 1920, and for a few years manufactured shoe findings there. In 1923 the occupancy of this plant was taken over by George H. Webster Sole Company, the local manager being Mr. Oscar L. Horton. Eventually the factory was purchased by this company and Mr. Horton was until recently the sole owner of both the business and the factory. He has now sold the factory, retired from business and died February 5, 1953. Mr. Horton acquired the homestead at 1192 Main Street, built in the Civil War period by Lewis Thorpe, subsequently owned by Sereno E. Fay, Marshall B. Waterman and Leland B. Taylor and in 1937 demolished the dwelling and erected his residence there, the outstanding dwelling in our town. Inter¬ ests far from Athol in later years took much of Mr. Horton's attention but he found time to participate in local affairs in many ways. One particular mill can never grind again with the water that is passed but this truism does not prevent other mills from utilizing the waters. The laughing water of Mill Brook would seem to be tired after its many labors in its course from Phillipston Reservoir to the Webster Company tail race, but as it sped down the valley it recuperated its energies so that when it met another task at its Chestnut Street crossing it was a more powerful stream than when it left its head waters. Here just east of Chestnut Street the waters were again impounded and put to work. If we construe the chain of title correctly, Samuel Kendall considered this immediate area a part of the Corn Mill Lot allotted to him October 18, 1738, and conveyed by him April 287 HISTORY OF ATHOL 10, 1746 to his son (in-law), John Brooks of Lancaster. Feb¬ ruary 19, 1771, John Brooks conveyed by the same descrip¬ tion to Seth Kendall. Neither of these deeds make any mention of any mill on the lot but the later deed does say “there is a way three rods wide through said lot." In 1785 title passed to Joel Kendall. From various allusions on these deeds it is apparent that a saw mill stood there and that as early as 181 1 it was known as Kendall & Graves Mill, although we find no Graves name in the chain of title. In 1834 Joel Kendall conveyed this water power, taking however precaution against competition in his own business by stipulating that the power shall never be used for a saw mill or a grist mill. The grantee in this transaction was Dr. George Hoyt who proceeded to build and equip a mill for the manufacture of matches in which he was actively engaged until his plant was wiped out by the flood of December 18, 1845. After some three years of idleness the location was acquired by Lyman Hapgood who had previously been engaged in wood¬ working business on Petersham Road and later on Upper Main Street. Mr. Hapgood installed a forty-foot overshot wheel, LYMAN W. HAPGOOD 1811-1874 288 INDUSTRY thus utilizing all the available head there, and erected a mill for the manufacture of match splints which he continued until his death October 18, 1874. Following his demise his son, Herbert L. Hapgood, and his son-in-law, Almond Smith, continued the business, part of the time as managers for a non-resident owner, until 1892 when a sale was consummated HAPGOOD & SMITH MATCH SHOP to one Edson Fitch. Mr. Hapgood soon retired from the busi¬ ness but Mr. Smith remained with it as long as it continued in Athol. Mr. Fitch soon conveyed the entire works to Diamond Match Company who in 1898 built a new plant adjacent to the Rail¬ road at the end of Electric Street and removed thither, thus abandoning the Hapgood Street plant. This match plant has furnished a ready market for untold millions of board feet of lumber cut from a wide area surround¬ ing Athol, most of this acreage having little or no value except for timber growth. In the years of its activity here the manage¬ ment repeatedly stated that on an area extending from around Keene, New Hampshire, southerly, to some miles beyond Athol, grew the most desirable pine timber in all New England. Their activities not only created a ready market for lumber but kept the market price for timber above that paid in other New England areas. 289 HISTORY OF ATHOL Mr. Almond Smith continued with the company as a lumber buyer until its removal from the State. For several years Mr. Fred M. Clough was the local manager for this large corpora¬ tion, removing from town in the early nineteen hundreds to become manager of a shredded wheat factory on the Pacific Coast. The last manager here was Joseph J. Dearborn who at the time of his death April 26, 1923, was Chairman of our Board of Selectmen. For about four years following June, 1900 the plant was occupied by Joseph W. Wilcox as stated in the previous page. This was the last industry to occupy the old plant. Hardly had the waters performed their task at the match shop before they were seized and conveyed along the hillside in a canal to fall upon another forty foot water wheel carrying more machinery. This mill privilege was developed on the southerly part of a large tract once including the match factory which came down in the Kendall family to one Rebecca C. 1922 and Helen G. Estey assumed her position, remaining about a year when she was succeeded by Margaret Baker Foley who resigned on January 1, 1927. 419 HISTORY OF ATHOL Gladys C. Green became librarian in June, 1927 which posi¬ tion she still holds, much to the satisfaction of all who use the library facilities. In 1933 a signal honor came to Miss Greene and through her to Athol when she was chosen to exchange places for six months with an English librarian. She was as¬ signed to Maidstone, Kent, and the librarian there, Mary Stanley-Smith, came to Athol. Miss Greene brought home much help to our library and our people, while Miss Smith en¬ deared herself to all who came in contact with her here. Fifty-two people have served on the Library Board, twelve women and forty men. Of these, six were lawyers, and ten clergymen. The longest service was that of Arline H. Bond who served from 1920 to December, 1952, all the time as Clerk of the Board. Next in length of service were Mrs. Bond's mother, Sarah H. Smith, and Lilley B. Caswell, each of whom served twenty-eight years, seven of them as Chairman. The library building was planned for general library purposes on the first floor with a sizeable assembly hall with stage and other rooms in the basement but hardly had the building been opened for public use when the local Red Cross Chapter was admitted as a tenant in these basement rooms and although that space could well have been used for some years by the library it was not until mid 1953 that the Red Cross finally vacated and a renovation of the lower rooms begun. 420 CHAPTER XXVI POLITICAL NTIL Athol was incorporated in 1762 our people were en- titled to no voice in the Legislative halls at Boston, but it was thirteen years after we might have legally sent a rep¬ resentative to the General Court before our people availed themselves of this right. With the general interest in things political incident to the separation of Massachusetts with the other twelve colonies from Birtish allegiance came the urge to have a voice in mak¬ ing the momentous decisions of the times. We accordingly designated Capt. John Haven as our Representative in 1775. For several years prior to 1792 our town records show no action regarding election of our Representative, but the fol¬ lowing list is prepared from all available data in the State Archives. Prior to 1 858 compensation for members of the legislature paid by the Commonwealth was only travelling expenses to and from the Capitol City. The State paid only one round trip for each annual session leaving all further pay to be provided by the home town of the Representative. Thus it was not in¬ frequently voted "not to send a representative this year." The State Constitution permitted fining of the town of failure to send a representative and thus on several occasions a fine was imposed upon our town for its neglect of this duty. I think in each case future appeals secured a remission of the fine so I find no record of Athol having ever paid a fine for this neglect. In 1858 a generous legislature established a salary of three hundred dollars for its membership and made further somewhat adequate compensation for mileage. As previous to 1858 a majority was necessary for the elec¬ tion of our Representative several ballots on succeeding days were sometimes required to effect an election. Such was the case in 1849 when Stillman Simonds was elected on the third ballot for the legislature. A hopeless deadlock occurred in 1853 when after numerous ballots the meeting was adjourned without effecting an election. 421 HISTORY OF ATHOL Previous to 1857 a certain number of Senatorial seats was alloted to each County and their entire number was elected on one ballot by all the municipalities of the County. With this system giving a decided advantage to the more populous areas of Worcester County it is not surprising that before the es¬ tablishing of the Senatorial District system in 1957 we had but two Senators from Athol. By the apportionment of 1857 ours was the Second Wor¬ cester District comprising Athol and Royalston. This remained unchanged until 1876 when the number was changed to the Eighth Worcester, but no change was made in the component towns. In 1886 Athol, Royalston, and Phillipston were desig¬ nated as the First Worcester District and that number has been attached to us ever since, but there have been some changes in the member towns. In 1906 Petersham and Dana were fur¬ ther additions. In 1916 Royalston was transferred to another district, Barre replacing it in the First District. A drastic change was made in 1936, Royalston and Winchendon being grouped with us, which is the present arrangement of our district. SENATORS FROM ATHOL 1817 — Gen. James Humphrey 1818 — Gen. James Humphrey 1 843 — Benjamin Estabrook 1 858 — Charles Field 1859— Charles Field 1 879 — Alpheus Harding 1 880 — Alpheus Harding 1891 — Sidney P. Smith 1 892 — Sidney P. Smith 1929 — Thomas J. Worrell 1930 — Thomas J. Worrell DELEGATES TO CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS State Constitutional Convention of 1779: Josiah Goddard, Capt. Ephriam Stockwell. Federal Constitution of 1788: Josiah Goddard. Mass. Constitutional Convention of 1 820: Rev. Joseph Estabrook. Mass. Constitutional Convention of 1853: Lyman W. Hapgood. Mass. Constitutional Convention of 1917: A. Foster Hamilton. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS 1860 — Charles Field — Republican 1 896— Augustus Coolidge — Republican 1908 — Almond Smith — Republican 422 POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVES FROM ATHOL AND AFTER 1858 FROM OUR REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 1775 — Capt. John Haven 1776 — Capt. John Haven 1777 — Capt. John Haven, William Bigelow 1778 — Capt. John Haven 1 779 — Josiah Goddard 1782 — Hiram Newhall 1784 — Hiram Newhall 1785 — Hiram Newhall 1 787 — Jesse Kendall 1 788 — Josiah Goddard 1 792 — Josiah Goddard 1 795 — Josiah Goddard 1 796 — Josiah Goddard 1 797 — Voted not to send 1798 — Josiah Goddard 1 799 — Josiah Goddard 1 780 — Josiah Goddard 1 800 — Josiah Goddard 1 802 — Eleazer Graves 1 804 — Eleazer Graves 1 805 — Eleazer Graves 1 806 — James Humphrey 1 808 — Samuel Young 1 809 — James Humphrey 1 8 1 0 — James Humphrey 1 81 1 — James Humphrey 1 8 1 2 — James Humphrey 1 8 1 3 — James Humphrey 1 8 1 4 — James Oliver 1 8 1 5 — James Oliver 1 8 1 6 — James Humphrey 1 81 7 — Eleazer Graves 1 8 1 9 — Joseph Proctor 1821 — James Humphrey 1 823 — James Humphrey 1 825 — James Humphrey 1 827 — Dr. Ebenezer Chaplin 1 829 — Dr. Ebenezer Chaplin 1830 — Col. Samuel Sweetzer 1 832 — Eliphalet Thorpe 1 833 — Col. Nathan Nickerson 1 835 — Benjamin Estabrook 1 836 — -Benjamin Estabrook 1 837 — Benjamin Estabrook and James Young 1 838 — Benjamin Estabrook and Abner Young 1 839 — Benjamin Estabrook 1 840 — Theodore Jones 1841 — John W. Humphrey 1 842 — John W. Humphrey 1 843 — Theodore Jones 1 844 — Samuel Sweetzer 1 845 — Theodore Jones 1 846 — Samuel Sweetzer 1 847 — Nathaniel Richardson 1 848 — Rev. Lysander Fay 423 HISTORY OF ATHOL 1 849 — None chosen 1850 — Stillman Simonds 1 851 — Nehemiah Ward 1852 — Benjamin Estabrook 1 853 — 4 ballots, no choice 1 854 — Josiah Haven 1 855 — Laban Morse 1856 — James I. Goulding 1857 — Charles Field 1 858 — Isaac Stevens 1 859 — Col. George Whitney of Royalston 1 860- — -Nathaniel Richardson 1861 — Elisha F. Brown of Royalston 1862 — Farwell F. Fay 1863 — Alpheus Harding, Jr. 1 864 — -Ebenezer W. Bullard of Royalston 1865 — Calvin Kelton 1 866 — William W. Clement of Royalston 1 867— Alpheus Harding, Jr. 1 868 — Jeremiah A. Rich of Royalston 1869 — Thomas H. Goodspeed 1870 — Benjamin H. Brown of Royalston 1 871 — Ozi Kendall 1872 — Col. George H. Hoyt 1873 — Col. George H. Hoyt 1874 — Jeremiah A. Rich of Royalston 1 875 — Edwin Ellis 1876 — William W. Fish 1 877- — Joseph Walker of Royalston 1878 — J. Sumner Parmenter 1879 — Leander B. Morse 1 880 — Russell S. Horton 1 881 — Ira Y. Kendall 1 882 — Henry M. Humphrey 1 883 — Dr. Frank W. Adams of Royalston 1 884 — C. Fred Richardson 1885 — Washington H. Amsden 1 886 — Benjamin W. Rich of Royalston 1 887 — Sidney P. Smith 1 888 — Sidney P. Smith 1889 — John D. Holbrook 1 890 — C. Waldo Bates of Phil I ipston 1891 — Lucien Lord 1 892 — Charles A. Crossman 1 893 — Col. George Whitney of Royalston 1894 — C. Waldo Bates of Phil I ipston 1 895 — Harding R. Barber 1 896 — Harding R. Barber 1897 — William H. Mellen 1 898 — Oscar T. Brooks 1 899 — Phineas S. Newton of Royalston 1 900 — Charles A. Carruth 1 901 — Charles A. Carruth 1 902 — Edmund C. Shepardsonl 1 903 — Edmund C. Shepardson 1 904— Fred W. Lord 1 905— Fred W. Lord 1906 — James H. Hutchins of Phillipston 424 POLITICAL 1 907 — James Oliver 1 908 — James Oliver 1909 — James Oliver 1 9 1 0 — James Oliver 191 1 — Merrick E. Hildreth of Petersham 1912 — E. Warren Tyler 1913 — E. Warren Tyler 1 9 1 4 — Fred W. Cross of Royalston thru 1916 1 9 1 7 — William G. Lord and 1918 1919 — Joseph W. Ellsworth of Barre 1 920 — Almond Smith thru 1924 1 925 — Leslie T. Haskins of Dana and 1926 1927 — Thomas J. Worrell and 1928 1929 — Clyde H. Swan of Barre thru 1932 1 933 — Charles H. Cooke thru 1945 I 946 — Warren E. Karner thru 1950 1951 — Samuel J. Boudreau thru 1954 ATHOL SELECTMEN 1762 — William Oliver, Aaron Smith, John Haven 1763 — Samuel Morton, Aaron Smith, John Haven 1764 — Aaron Smith, John Haven, Martin Morton, Samuel Morton, Silas Marble 1765 — William Oliver, Aaron Smith, Nathaniel Graves, John Haven, Abraham Nutt 1766 — Aaron Smith, William Oliver, John Haven, Abraham Nutt, Seth Twichell 1767 — William Oliver, Aaron Smith, John Haven 1768 — Nathaniel Graves, William Oliver, Aaron Smith, Jesse Kendall, Ichabod Dexter 1769 — Nathaniel Graves, John Haven, William Oliver 1770 — Aaron Smith, John Haven, Jesse Kendall 1771 — John Haven, Jesse Kendall, Nathaniel Babbitt 1772 — John Haven, James Oliver, George Kelton 1773 — Aaron Smith, John Haven, Jesse Kendall 1774 — Aaron Smith, James Stratton, Jr., James Oliver 1775 — Aaron Smith, James Stratton, Jr., Hiram Newhall 1776 — Aaron Smith, James Stratton, Hiram Newhall 1777 — George Kelton, Hiram Newhall, Abner Graves 425 HISTORY OF ATHOL 1778 — George Kelton, James Stratton, Josiah Goddard 1779 — Josiah Goddard, Abner Graves, Hiram Newhall 1780 — Josiah Goddard, Hiram Newhall, Abner Graves 1781 — Josiah Goddard, Hiram Newhall, John Foster 1782 — Josiah Goddard, Caleb Smith, Daniel Ellinwood 1783 — Daniel Ellinwood, Thomas Lord, Simon Goddard, Josiah Goddard, John Foster 1784 — George Kelton, Josiah Goddard, Abner Graves 1785 — George Kelton, Josiah Goddard, Abner Graves 1786 — Josiah Goddard, Abner Graves, Caleb Smith 1787 — Josiah Goddard, Abner Graves, Caleb Smith 1788 — Josiah Goddard, Aaron Oliver, Abner Graves 1789 — Josiah Goddard, Abner Graves, Aaron Oliver 1 790 — Josiah Goddard, Joseph Pierce, Eleazer Graves, Jr. 1791 — Josiah Goddard, Joseph Pierce, Caleb Smith 1 792 — Josiah Goddard, Thomas Stratton, Aaron Smith 1793 — Thomas Stratton, Eleazer Graves, Jr., Caleb Smith 1794— Josiah Goddard, Thomas Stratton, Eleazer Graves, Jr. 1795 — Josiah Goddard, Thomas Stratton, Eleazer Graves, Jr. 1796 — Josiah Goddard, Thomas Stratton, Eleazer Graves, Jr. 1797 — Samuel Young, Joseph Pierce, Aaron Oliver 1798 — Josiah Goddard, John Humphrey, Aaron Smith, Jr. 1799 — Josiah Goddard, John Humphrey, Aaron Smith 1 800 — Eleazer Graves, Samuel Young, Joshua Ballard 1 801 — Eleazer Graves, Joshua Ballard, William Young 1802 — Eleazer Graves, Aaron Smith, Elijah Goddard 1803 — John Humphrey, Eleazer Graves, Elijah Goddard 1 804— John Humphrey, Eleazer Graves, Samuel Young 1 805 — Eleazer Graves, Samuel Young, James Humphrey 1806 — -Eleazer Graves, William Young, James Humphrey 1 807 — Eleazer Graves, James Humphrey, James Oliver 1808 — James Oliver, Elijah Goddard, Joseph Pierce 1 809 — Eleazer Graves, Elijah Goddard, Joel Morton 1810 — Eleazer Graves, Joseph Proctor, Elijah Goddard 1 81 1 — Eleazer Graves, Elijah Goddard, James Oliver 1812 — Joshua Ballard, James Humphrey, James Oliver 1813 — James Humphrey, James Oliver, Joseph Pierce 1814 — James Humphrey, James Oliver, Joseph Pierce 1815 — James Humphrey, James Oliver, Theodore Jones 1816 — -Eleazer Graves, Joseph Pierce, Zachariah Field 1817 — Eleazer Graves, Zachariah Field, Ezra Fish 1818 — Eleazer Graves, Ezra Fish, Eliphalet Thorpe 1 81 9 — Eleazer Graves, Eliphalet Thorpe, James Oliver 1 820 — Eliphalet Thorpe, Joseph Proctor, James Oliver 1821 — Eliphalet Thorpe, Joseph Proctor, James Oliver 1 822 — Eliphalet Thorpe, James Oliver, Abner Graves, Jr. 1823 — -Eliphalet Thorpe, James Oliver, Abner Graves, Jr. 1 824 — Eliphalet Thorpe, James Oliver, Abner Graves, Jr. 1 825 — Eliphalet Thorpe, James Oliver, Abner Graves, Jr. 1826 — James Oliver, Abner Graves, Nathan Nickerson 1 827 — Nathan Nickerson, James Young, Daniel Ellinwood 1828 — James Young, James Oliver, Ebenezer Chaplin 1 829 — James Young, Samuel Sweetzer, Jr., Josiah Fay 1830 — James Young, Samuel Sweetzer, Jr., Josiah Fay 1831 — James Young, Eliphalet Thorpe, Josiah Fay 1 832 — James Young, Eliphalet Thorpe, Josiah Fay 1833 — James Young, Eliphalet Thorpe, Josiah Fay 1834 — James Young, Eliphalet Thorpe, Noah Stockwell 426 POLITICAL 1 835 — James Young, Gideon Sibley, Noah Stockwell 1836 — James Young, Gideon Sibley, Noah Stockwell 1 837 — Benjamin Estabrook, Amasa Lincoln, Nehemiah Ward 1 838 — Benjamin Estabrook, Amasa Lincoln, Nehemiah Ward 1839 — Benjamin Estabrook, Stillman Knowlton, Nehemiah Ward 1840 — Theodore Jones, Elias Bassett, Joseph Stockwell 1841 — John W. Humphreys, Elias Bassett, Alexander Gray 1 842 — John W. Humphreys, Henry Fish, Alexander Gray 1843 — John H. Partridge, Alexander Gray, John Kendall 1844 — Eliphalet Thorpe, Benjamin Estabrook, Elias Bassett 1 845 — Elias Bassett, Theodore Jones, Samuel Sweetzer 1 846 — Theodore Jones, Elias Bassett, Samuel Newhall 1847 — Samuel Newhall, Benjamin Estabrook, Nehemiah Ward 1 848 — -Calvin Kelton, Nathaniel Richardson, William D. Lee, Jr. 1849 — Calvin Kelton, Nathaniel Richardson, William D. Lee, Jr. 1 850 — Calvin Kelton, Nathaniel Richardson, Benjamin Estabrook 1851 — Benjamin Estabrook, Isaac Stevens, Josiah Haven 1 852 — Benjamin Estabrook, Isaac Stevens, Josiah Haven 1 853 — Samuel Newhall, Josiah Haven, Nathaniel Richardson 1 854 — Nathaniel Richardson, Josiah Haven, Laban Morse 1 855 — Josiah Haven, George Farr, Calvin Kelton 1 856 — Calvin Kelton, James Lamb, Abner G. Stratton 1 857 — Calvin Kelton, Abner G. Stratton, Benjamin Estabrook 1858 — Nathaniel Richardson, Calvin Kelton, John Kendall 1859 — Nathaniel Richardson, Calvin Kelton, John Kendall 1 860 — Calvin Kelton, Abner G. Stratton, Jonothan Drury 1861 — Calvin Kelton, Amos L. Cheney, John Kendall 1 862 — Amos L. Cheney, John Kendall, Addison D. Horr 1 863 — Calvin Kelton, Addison D. Horr, Amos L. Cheney 1 864 — Calvin Kelton, Josiah Haven, Gardiner Lord, Jr. 1 865 — Calvin Kelton, James W. Hunt, James M. Rice 1 866 — Calvin Kelton, James W. Hunt, James M. Rice 1 867 — Calvin Kelton, James W. Hunt, James M. Rice 1 868 — Calvin Kelton, Nathaniel Richardson, John Kendall 1 869 — Benjamin Estabrook, Nathaniel Richardson, John Kendall 1 870- — Benjamin Estabrook, Abner G. Stratton, Josiah Haven 1871 — Edwin Ellis, Abner G. Stratton, Josiah Haven 1 872 — Edwin Ellis, Abner G. Stratton, Josiah Haven 1 873 — Solon W. Lee, Abner G. Stratton, Josiah Haven 1 874 — Abner G. Stratton, Josiah Haven, Edmund J. Gage 1875 — Abner G. Stratton, Washington H. Amsden, Gilbert Southard 1876 — Washington H. Amsden, William W. Fish, Gilbert Southard 1877 — William W. Fish, Gilbert Southard, Wilson D. Smith 1878 — William W. Fish Gilbert Southard, Wilson D. Smith 1 879— William W. Fish, Gilbert Southard, Wilson D. Smith 1 880 — Gilbert Southard, George W. Woodward, Josiah Haven 1881 — Gilbert Southard, Orrin F. Hunt, Oscar T. Brooks 1882 — Gilbert Southard, Henry Gray, Josiah Haven 1883 — Gilbert Southard, C. Fred Richardson, Alpheus J. Nye 1884 — C. Fred Richardson, Wilson D. Smith, Henry Gray 1 885 — Wilson D. Smith, Henry Gray, Jonothan W. Sloan 1886 — Wilson D. Smith, Henry Gray, John M. King 1 887 — C. Fred Richardson, Ira Y. Kendall, Alpheus J. Nye 1888 — C. Fred Richardson, Ira Y. Kendall, Henry Gray 1889 — Gardiner Lord, Henry Gray, Orrin F. Hunt 1 890 — Gardiner Lord, Henry Gray, James Cotton 1891 — George W. Bishop, James Cotton, Edwin W. Ellis 1892 — C. Fred Richardson, Edwin W. Ellis, James Cotton 427 HISTORY OF ATHOL 1 893 — Wilson D. Smith, George W. Bishop, Herbert L. Hapgood 1894 — Wilson D. Smith, Herbert L. Hapgood, William H. Mellen 1895 — Wilson D. Smith, William H. Mellen, A. F. Tyler 1896 — William H. Mellen, C. F. Richardson, Herbert L. Hapgood 1897 — William H. Mellen, C. Fred Richardson, Herbert L. Hapgood 1898 — William H. Mellen, Herbert L. Hapgood, C. Fred Richardson 1899 — James L. Hunt, Calvin Haskell, Herbert L. Hapgood 1 900 — James Hunt, Calvin Haskell, James Cotton 1901 — James Cotton, Herbert L. Hapgood, Calvin Haskell 1 902 — Herbert L. Hapgood, James Cotton, Albe-t Ellsworth 1 903 — Herbert L. Hapgood, James Cotton, Herbert S. Goddard 1904- — Herbert S. Goddard, Albert Ellsworth, Albert W. Tyler 1905 — Albert W. Tyler, Albert Ellsworth, Herbert S. Goddard 1 906 — Herbert L. Hapgood, Albert W. Tyler, Albert Ellsworth 1907 — Daniel P. Kimball, William H. Mellen, Herbert L. Hapgood 1908 — Herbert L. Hapgood, Charles A. Carruth, Albert Ellsworth 1 909 — Herbert L. Hapgood, E. Warren Tyler, Winfield W. Woodward 1910 — E. Warren Tyler, Winfield W. Woodward, Oren M. Lawton 1 91 1 — Winfield W. Woodward, Oren M. Lawton, George W. Clark 1912 — Oren M. Lawton, George W. Clark, Winfield W. Woodward 1913 — Oren M. Lawton, George W. Boutell, George W. Clark 1914 — George W. Boutell, Oren M. Lawton, George W. Clark 1915 — George W. Boutell, Winfield W. Woodward, George W. Clark 1916 — Winfield W. Woodward, George W. Boutell, Albert Ellsworth 1917 — Winfield W. Woodward, George W. Boutell, Albert Ellsworth 1918 — Clarence D. Hamilton, Charles A. Carruth, Albert Ellsworth 1919 — Clarence D. Hamilton, Charles A. Carruth, Albert Ellsworth 1 920 — Clarence D. Hamilton, Charles A. Carruth, Charles H. Cooke 1921 — Clarence D. Hamilton, Charles H. Cooke, Charles A. Carruth 1922 — -Charles H. Cooke, Joseph J. Dearborn, Arthur H. Starrett 1923 — Joseph J. Dearborn, Allen H. Noyes, Jared P. McClumpha, elected May 21; Charles H. Cooke. (Mr. Dearborn died April 27 and Mr, McClumpha elected at special election.) 1 924 — Charles H. Cooke, Jared P. McClumpha, George W. Grant 1925 — Jared P. McClumpha, George W. Grant, Charles H. Cooke 1926 — George W. Grant, Charles H. Cooke, William K. Wheeler 1927 — Charles H. Cooke, William K. Wheeler, George W. Grant 1928 — Charles H. Cooke, William K. Wheeler, George W. Grant 1929 — George W. Grant, Charles H. Cooke, Ralph S. Stone 1 930 — Charles H. Cooke, Ralph S. Stone, George W. Grant 1 931 — Ralph S. Stone, George W. Grant, Charles H. Cooke 1932 — George W. Grant, Charles H. Cooke, Ralph S. Stone 1 933 — Ralph S. Stone, George W. Grant, Warren C. Karner. (Mr. Karner elected to serve unexpired term of Charles H. Cooke, whose resig¬ nation became effective Feb. 6, 1933.) 1 934 — Warren C. Karner, George W. Grant, Ralph S. Stone 1 935 — George W. Grant, Warren C. Karner, Howard W. Cooke 1936 — Warren C. Karner, Howard W. Cooke, Albert N. Ellis 1 937 — Howard W. Cooke, Albert N. Ellis, Warren C. Karner 1938 — Warren C. Karner, Albert N. Ellis, Philip S. Perley 1939 — Warren Karner, Philip S. Perley, N. Hastings Twichell 1940 — Philip S. Perley, N. Hastings Twichell, Warren C. Karner 1941 — N. Hastings Twichell, John W. Barker, Ravmond Fessenden. (John W. Barker elected for the unexoired term of Warren C. Karner, resigned.) 1 942 — John W. Barker. Ravmond Fessenden, Frank W. Fuller. (Mr. Fuller died August 12, 1942.) 428 POLITICAL 1943 — Raymond Fessenden, John W. Barker, Thomas Kendrick 1944 — Thomas Kendrick, John W. Barker, Alfred H. Brown 1945 — John W. Barker, Alfred H. Brown, Thomas Kendrick 1946 — Alfred H. Brown, Thomas Kendrick, Edwin S. Hersey 1947 — Thomas Kendrick, Edwin S. Hersey, Alfred H. Brown 1948 — Edwin S. Hersey, Alfred H. Brown, Thomas Kendrick 1949 — Alfred H. Brown, Thomas Kendrick, Edwin S. Hersey 1950 — Edwin S. Hersey, Thomas Kendrick, Alfred H. Brown 1951 — Thomas Kendrick, Alfred H. Brown, Harold L. Dower 1952 — Alfred H. Brown, Thomas Kendrick, Harold L. Dower 1953 — Thomas Kendrick, Harold L. Dower, Roy W. Trenoworth ATHOL'S TOWN CLERKS When Athol first began business at the town meeting held March 29, 1762 there is no record of the election of a clerk. John Haven, Chairman of the Selectmen, made the entry on the records. As he was elected for eleven succeeding years, it is fair to presume that he was thus elected at our first meet¬ ing. Below is a complete list of the town clerks: 1762 -1 773— John Haven 1776 - 1777 1774 - 1775— William Bigelow 1778 - 1781 — John Foster 1782 -1 787— Hiram Newhall 1788 - 1796 — Thomas Stratton 1797 - 181 7 — John Humphrey 1 8 1 8 - 1 828 — -Theodore Jones 1829 -1 832 — William H. Williams 1 833 - 1 840 — Benjamin Estabrook 1841 - 1 844 — John W. Humphrey 1 845 — Joseph E. Jones 1 846 - 1 849 — Isaac Stevens 1 850 - 1 862 — James i. Goulding 1 863 - 1 872— Thomas H. Goodspeed 1 873 — Edwin Ellis 1 874 - 1 881 — J. Sumner Parmenter 1881 - 1897 — John D. Holbrook 1897 -1 899 — C. Fred Richardson 1 899 - 1 9 1 3 — George H. Foye 1923 - 1932 — Daniel P. Kimball 1 933 2 mos.) — William K. Wheeler 1 933 - To Date — Walter E. Farnum ATHOL'S TOWN TREASURERS 1762 & 1764 — Nathan Goddard 1763 — William Oliver 1765 - 1774 — Abraham Nutt 1775 -1 778 — Hiram Newhall 1779 - 1786 — Dr. Daniel Ellinwood 1787 - 1792 — Dr. Joshua Morton 1 793 - 1 796 — James Humphrey, Jr„ 1 797 & 1 798 — Thomas Stratton 429 HISTORY OF ATHOL 1 799 - 1 802 — Joseph Pierce 1 803 - 1 905 — Joseph Crosby 1 806 - 1 820 — Joel Morton 1821 - 1 840 — Henry Lee 1 840 - 1 849 — Theodore Jones 1 850 - 1 854 — Benjamin Estabrook 1 855 & 1 856 — Merrick E. Ainsworth 1 857 & 1 858 — Charles C. Bassett 1 859 & 1 860 — Abner G. Stratton 1861 - 1864 — Sylvanus E. Twichell 1865 - 1874 — Nathaniel Richardson 1 875 - 1 878 — Thomas H. Goodspeed 1879 — Enoch T. Lewis 1 880 - 1 898 — Samuel Lee 1899 - 1903— Henrie C. Fay 1 904 - 1 91 6 — Lucien Lord 1917 - 1922 — Clarence E. Deane 1 923 - To Date — Charles W. Faulkner OFFICE OF DEPUTY SHERIFF Until the latter days of Mr. Goddard's incumbency, I befieve that every Deputy Sheriff here was active in criminal as well as civil work. They outranked our local police and constables, and were looked upon as the head of our law enforcement. GARDINER LORD 1824 - 1899 Toward the end of Chief Patrick J. Murphy's regime as Chief of Police, he gradually assumed the leadership. 430 POLITICAL This ancient office of importance has been held by the fol¬ lowing twelve men: William Bigelow Joseph Pierce James Oliver Abijah Hill John H. Partridge Gardiner Lord Albert W. Tyler Roswell L. Doane Herbert S. Goddard Thomsa P. O'Laughlin John E. Murphy Marshall M. Day — before 1784 probably — 1788 -1807 — 1807 - 1828 — 1828 -1838 — 1838 -1859 — 1859 - 1890 — 1890 - 1894 — 1894 -1903 — 1903 -1933 — 1933 -1935 — 1933 -1945 — 1 945 - To Date TRIAL JUSTICES Our local administration of all but felonies and other high crimes was by Justice of the Peace Court until 1850 when the Legislature provided for Trial Justice. The first Justice of the Peace to be appointed was Hiram Newhall, who received his commission on March 26, 1788 He was succeeded by — James Humphrey APPOINTED Feb. 23, 1795 Josiah Goddard Feb. 13, 1797 James Oliver Feb. 13, 1810 George Fitts Feb. 5, 1812 Joseph Pierce Feb. 19, 1813 Eliphalet Thorpe Feb. 24, 1823 Theodore Jones Jan. 6, 1 830 James Young Jan. 27, 1835 Lincoln B. Knowlton Sep. 13, 1835- Isaac Stevens Feb. 22, 1844 William H. Williams Aug. 27, 1844 Elias Bassett Jan. 24, 1 845 Benjamin Estabrook Feb. 9, 1852 After the change of the law which took away from the Jus- tice of the Peace the authority to act as judge, trial justices. were appointed, the appointees who are remembered being: ‘Isaac Stevens May 7, 1858 Franklin R. Haskell Dec. 4, 1 866 Thomas D. Brooks Jun. 25, 1873 fSamuel M. Osgood Jan. 4, 1876 Enoch T. Lewis Nov. 30, 1878 Edgar V. Wilson May 12, 1880 Lilley B. Caswell Jun. 1 3, 1 883 * Held office until his death Sept. 6, 1866 t Resigned Dec. 31, 1878 On July 1, 1884, by legislative decree, First District Court of Northern Worcester was created and granted the usual Dis- 431 HISTORY OF ATHOL trict Court jurisdiction over Athol, Dana, Gardner, Hubbard- ston, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, Westminster and Win- chendon, with Court Rooms at Gardner and Athol. Charles Field of Athol was named Judge of this Court with Julian P. Dunn of Gardner as Clerk. Subsequently Winchen- don was made a Judicial District of its own and Dana was sub¬ merged by Quabbin Reservoir. At first the Court Room was in the Simonds Block, 456 Main Street, but in 1894 when Station 1 of Athol Fire Department JUDGE FIELD 1815-1908 was completed, the Court became a tenant there to be re¬ moved to a vacant store in Academy of Music Block, in 1910 to the Fred W. Lord block at 494 Main Street, in 1934 to Rubin's new block at 502 Main Street which he named Court Block, and in 1941 to a portion of Academy of Music Hali, remodelled for it. Below are listed the Presiding Justices and Special Justices who have served this Court: JUSTICES Charles Field Frederick J. Dunn George R. Warfield William S. Duncan M. Alan Moore 1884 - 1908 1908 - 1916 1916-1940 1940 - 1944 1944 - 432 POLITICAL SPECIAL JUSTICES James A. Stiles Sidney P. Smith Edgar V. Wilson 1884 - 1910 1884 - 1902 1902 - 1923 1910-1916 1916-1922 1922 - 1927 1923 - 1940 1927 - 1944 1940 - 1944 1944 - George R. Warfield A. Foster Hamilton Owen A. Hoban William S. Duncan Austin E. Livingstone M. Alan Moore A. William Plotkin As the volume of business before this Court has increased the Special Justices have been called more frequently to pre¬ side at its sessions. This has been especially true since 1944, as a great portion of the Athol business has been before Judge Plotkin whose services have been most satisfactory to Athol people. Judge Field was for many years the Grand Old Man of Athol, while we greatly respected Judge Duncan as we do Judge Moore. Police Department The Police Department was slow in developing into an organ¬ ized force. From early days constables were elected by the town and those officers considered themselves the police force of the community. Considerable criminal work was done by the several deputy sheriffs who acted in perhaps the capacity of the Chief of Police. On a stormy Thanksgiving Night in 1889 burglars broke into the home of Henry R. Stowell on School and Allen Streets and carried away a very considerable amount of his life's accumulations. There was at once a great demand for more adequate police protection. The Selectmen acquiesced in this idea and forthwith employed John B. Jacques who had come to Athol recently from North Dana with the Osgood Soapstone Company. Mr. Jacques for a number of years was in effect the Chief of our Police Force, but even he was mildly subservient to the Deputy Sheriff. Soon after the appointment of Mr. Jacques as night patrol¬ man in the lower section of town, there was a demand that there be a night watchman put on at the Center and to this request the town agreed. From that day there have been reg¬ ular night patrolmen on duty, but for many years the day service was rendered by officials who answered only emergency calls. 433 HISTORY OF ATHOL In those days the election of town officers was by strip ballot, and a man who stood the best chance of becoming elected constable was the one whose name appeared on the most popular ballots distributed at the election. There were at first only three constables elected. Then some contestant felt his chances of election were not too good and he succeeded in the early hours of the town election in getting a vote passed increasing the number of constables to four. This was done with more or less regularity until even¬ tually there were nine constables elected. When the town adopted the Australian system of electing town officers in April, 1894, a prerequisite of establishing that system was to determine what town officers should be elected, the number of members of each board, and the term of office for each. Then the town reduced again the number of constables to three. That has been the number elected since, the police officers being appointed by the Selectmen. In the absence of an appointed Chief of Police, the Chairman of the Selectmen technically held that office. This procedure fol¬ lowed for many years until December 9, 1911, when Patrick J. Murphy was appointed Acting Chief of Police. Following Mr. Murphy's death on July 17, 1938, William J. Callahan was appointed to the office and he is the present incumbent. In 1916 the town placed all of its full-time police officers under Civil Service, but at that time the position of Chief was left subject to appointment and removal at the will of the Selectmen, and so it remained until a new general code of by-laws was enacted when by them the Chief was also included under the Civil Service regulations. Although enacted some time before, the by-laws were not actually in effect until approved by the Attorney General on March 1, 1951. In ad¬ dition to the present Chief, a Sergeant, ten Patrolmen and two Reserves who are on the force, there have been through the years many appointments of special police for service at theatres, dance hall, at various industries, and in isolated sec¬ tions of the community. Special tribute should be paid at this time to a group of members of the American Legion who with the local police force were depleted by enlistments and draft into the U. S. Army in World War II. Willingly they undertook the job of assisting our Chief in any emergency. They took pride in their uniform which was adopted and approved. An invaluable aid to the law enforcement officers in recent years, they stood ready for all special occasions and any sudden emergency. 434 POLITICAL Special mention is made of the honor which came to Chief -Callahan, he having served as President of the New England Police Chief's Association during 1952. Post Office Prior to 1800 the two nearest post offices to Athol were at Worcester and Greenfield. With the beginning of the nine¬ teenth century we were part of a mail coach system connecting at Leominster with mail stages for Boston. Those coaches left Leominster at six in the morning and arrived by way of West¬ minster, Templeton, and Athol at Greenfield by 7 p.m. In other words, it took thirteen hours to go a distance of about sixty-five miles, now only a little over an hour's run by automobile or train. Joseph Estabrook, our second minister, was our first Post¬ master, appointed on October 1, 1802. He held the position six months when he was succeeded by a young lawyer, Solomon Strong, who had just located here. For many years the only office was located at Uptown part of Athol. In 1849 the first post office in the lower village, known as Athol Depot, was established, the first Postmaster being Joseph W. Hammond, appointed August 4, 1849. About 1870 the ambitious Depot Village desired to have its office named Athol and the older office, Athol Center. Then followed a most acrimonious agitation of the matter. State and national officials were asked to become involved in the contest and all public matters made subservient to this all engrossing topic. Once the change was made only to be reconsidered and the old names re-established, but finally in the early months of 1875 a post office inspector, Mr. W. H. Bigelow, came here and gave extensive hearings in Starr Hall and Music Hall, both factions being represented by counsel. Mr. Bigelow decreed that the change was advisable and his findings were ratified by the Postmaster General on April 13, 1875, to take effect in June. Following are noted the dates and changes of our various post offices, together with the names and dates of appointment of our postmasters: ATHOL Established as Athol Depot on August 4, 1 849. Name changed to Athol on April 22, 1873. Name changed to Athol Depot on August 6, 1873. Name changed to Athol on June 8, 1 875. 435 HISTORY OF ATHOL POSTMASTERS Joseph W. Ha mmond — appointed August 4, 1849. The of¬ fice was in his tailor shop at about 612 Main Street. Sylvanus E. Twichell — appointed August 7, 1851. Had the office in the Pequoig House at 416 Main Street. Held office until his death, October 27, 1864. Howard B. Hunt — appointed November 1, 1864. I think Mr. Hunt moved the Post Office to his insurance office which I believe at that time was about 378 Main Street. Lucien Lord — appointed April 21, 1869. Appointed by President Grant, Lucien Lord's tenure of office (19 years) was the longest of any incumbent of this position. At his own ex¬ pense on December 6, 1880 he placed a mail box at the depot for the convenience of the people who heretofore had been obliged to go to the post office with their outgoing mail, or wait at the depot and hand it to the mailman on the train. Mr. Lord first maintained the office in an old building which stood at about 423 Main Street, and later moved back to the rear of what was later numbered Webb Place. When he built his Masonic Block in 1874 he took the office into the westerly WILLIAM W. FISH 1832 - 1907 436 POLITICAL store in that building in connection with his stationery store and newsstand which was at about 431 Main Street. Will iam W. Fish — appointed January 16, 1888. Commis¬ sioned in the latter months of President Cleveland's first term, Mr. Fish realized that President Harrison would not reappoint him and as the entire office equipment was lost in the fire of December previous, and the postmaster was required by law to furnish his full equipment at his own expense, he did not think it wise to make so large an investment considering the few months of his term remaining and he resigned February 12, 1891. This disastrous fire of December 21, 1890 destroyed both the Masonic Block and the Central Block. The post office was for a time in the front room of the “Aunt Sally Fish House" until a temporary building, now a part of the Athol Printing Company plant, could be built where Burns & Vaughn now operate. Arthur C. Longley — appointed February 14, 1891. Mr. Longley moved to the same location that Mr. Hunt had oc¬ cupied and there the office continued until the present post office building was completed. Justin W. Clayton — appointed March 1, 1895, by President Grover Cleveland. Mr. Clayton came here a few years before to work in the Goddard and Manning piano case factory and at once took an aggressive interest in Athol affairs. By April, 1895 Postmaster Clayton had placed several mail boxes in the business section and personally collected the mail from them several times a day, the first outside service except the box at the depot rendered by an Athol Post Office. Undoubtedly this action accentuated the demand for free delivery which was inaugurated on November 1, 1897. The carriers were Charles A. Perry, Josiah P. Bigelow, Irwin L. Knowlton, and Harry L. Doane, with C. Eugene Tandy and Charles S. King as sub¬ stitutes. Having failed of re-appointment by President McKinley, Mr. Clayton left town on April 3, 1899 to take up his residence in Texas. Harding R. Barber — appointed February 15, 1899. On January 28, 1899 a caucus was held in Athol to determine the choice of voters for Postmaster. Harding R. Barber had 388 votes, Festus G. Amsden 201 votes and Herbert S. Goddard had 198 votes. Seven ballots were rejected as invalid. Mr. Barber 437 HISTORY OF ATHOL held this office until his death in 1903. One incident of this tenure was the beginning of Rural Free Delivery from this of¬ fice in 1 902. Fesfus G. Amsden — appointed June 18, 1903. Before 1908 it became apparent that increasing business re¬ quired more adequate quarters than the room it had occupied some seventeen years and which was a rectangular space de¬ signed for use as a store. Congressman Gillett was interviewed and through his efforts assurance came that the U. S. Treasury Department would erect a Federal Building here. Then came the question of location which government agents stated must be a corner lot. Bids were called for and three sites offered. Mr. L. S. Starrett offered the "Richardson Corner" where the Y. M. C. A. now stands, Fred W. Lord and Lizzie Cardany Mann offered the Lord lot, 486-496 Main Street, and with it Mrs. Mann offered the property east of it upon which stood a two tenement house with land to widen Market Place just east of her holdings. Charles F. Amsden of¬ fered his home place at corner of Main and Church Streets with the Dr. Lindsey lot next west. Public sentiment, especially uptown, strongly favored either the Lord or Starrett locations, but a small and influential group urged the Amsden site as an inducement to mercantile business to expand to the west, and the government agents who came here likewise preferred the Amsden lot as it was level and had an established street making a right angle with Main Street. On January 5, 1909, a largely attended mass meeting strongly opposed the Amsden location but regardless of all kinds of pressure exerted the Amsden site was eventually chosen. Mr. Amsden removed his own residence to 28 Church Street where, elevated one full story, it now stands. The Dr. Lindsey house was removed to 147 Ridge Avenue and other buildinqs were remod°lled into the two houses standing in the rear of 18 Church Street. March 3, 1913 the new building was first occupied. Pre¬ ceding th'S by three months came the beginning of the Parcel Post service. Edward J. Hayden — appointed April 12, 1914. In less than fjf+pon months after Mr. Hayden assumed the office, Federal officials advanced the rating of the Athol office to First Class. A slight recession in business reduced this rating in 1915, but a year later it was again rated First Class. 438 POLITICAL Clarence E. Deane — appointed February 14, 1923. Steady increase of business demanded a larger clerical force and more carriers during the first few years of this incumbency. Richard P. Mullen — appointed July 1, 1936 is the present incumbent. During his term he, with thousands of others throughout the nation, was given Civil Service rating and thus removed from political interference. Mr. Mullen has served Athol most acceptably, always seeking to improve the ef¬ ficiency of the office. ATHOL CENTRE Established as Athol shortly before October 1, 1802. Name changed to Athol Centre on April 22, 1 873. Name changed to Athol on August 6, 1 873. Name changed to Athol Centre on June 17, 1875. Discontinued on January 31, 1901 and office became Station A of Athol. POSTMASTERS Joseph Estabrook — appointed October 1, 1802. Athol's second minister and our first postmaster. Solomon Strong — appointed April 1, 1803. He was the first attorney at law to locate in Athol. Born in Amherst on February 3, 1780, a graduate of the college there, he was admitted to the bar in November, 1801. Mr. Strong first considered locat¬ ing in Royalston but quickly decided that Athol had more pos¬ sibilities for a young lawyer. He lived in the house now owned by Jennie E. Lawton at 1591 Main Street and had an office directly in the rear of the house fronting on Chestnut Street, both of which he acquired of Dr. Samuel Rice. He held the office of Postmaster here until 1805 when he removed to Westminster where he spent the rest of his life. James Humphreys — appointed April 1, 1805. A native of this town, son of its first pastor, he was for years a leader here. He inherited his father's homestead at 989 Pleasant Street, and in 1788 opened the first general store in town, south of that house. He was our Representative ten years and our State Senator in 1817-1818, being the first Athol citizen to sit in that body. As the local Justice of the Peace, he sat for years in the "sessions," the County Commission of those days. His military title of General came from his long connection with the State Militia. Joseph Proctor — appointed February 11, 1809. 439 HISTORY OF ATHOL Nathaniel C. Estabrook — appointed September 13, 1822. Clough R. Miles — appointed March 24, 1824. Lincoln B. Knowlton — appointed February 25, 1835. William H. Williams — appointed August 24, 1837. Isaac Stevens — appointed July 13, 1841. I would guess that Isaac Stevens had the post office in his law office which was at about 1418 Main Street. Esq. Stevens came here from Middle- boro and practiced law here until his death in 1866. He served two years on the Board of Selectmen and was our Representa¬ tive in 1 858. William H. Williams — appointed September 5, 1842. Benjamin Estabrook — appointed December 30, 1847. Son of Rev. Joseph Estabrook, he held most of the important town offices, was Selectman for eleven years, our Representative for four years, and our State Senator in 1 843. He died in 1 872 in the house in which he was born at 2094 Main Street. Stillman Simonds — appointed August 25, 1849. Isaac Stevens — appointed June 10, 1850. John H. Will iams — appointed May 13, 1854. Samuel Lee — appointed March 27, 1858. Samuel Lee with Charles Horr were the builders of the Summit House. Later he was a merchant uptown in retail hardware business. He was postmaster until 1862, tax collector for a time, and town treasurer for nineteen years, the same length of time his father had held that office long before. Thomas H. Gocdspeed — appointed June 25, 1862. I do not know where Mr. Gocdspeed had the office when he was first appointed, but not many years after his appointment he erected a building at 1462 Main Street where the office re¬ mained at least until Mr. Raymond was appointed. Franklin H. Raymond — appointed June 23, 1885. James F. Whitcomb — appointed June 11, 1889. A native of Claremont, New Hampshire, he spent his early life in Templeton where he learned the bootmaking trade. In 1863 he entered the employ of Jones & Baker here and remained in Athol the rest of his long life. He was long Secretary of the Agricultural Society, Postmaster from 1889 to 1894 and for several years one of the Board of Assessors. He was a promi¬ nent Mason and a leader in Athol Grange. 440 POLITICAL Edwin B. Horton — appointed March 20, 1894. John H. Humphrey — appointed March 4, 1898. When John Humphrey was appointed he took the office into his father's drug store at 1485 Main Street. When this office lost its identity as an independent unit on February 1, 1902, Mr. Humphrey became its first manager under contract. SOUTH ATHOL Established on May 2, 1872. I think the Post Office here has been in the same general location all the time that it has existed. POSTMASTERS Henry H. Rice — appointed May 2, 1872. William H. Snow — appointed February 4, 1896. George C. Bolton — appointed March 23, 1904. Dennis C. Collins — appointed January 4, 1905. Clark A. Hamilton — appointed June 5, 1906. Almon E. Fletcher — appointed November 8, 1910. William W. Meuse — appointed October 19, 1911. Clark A. Hamilton — appointed January 30, 1912. Miss Mary L. Jaquith — appointed November 4, 1912. Mrs. Grace M. Woollett — appointed October 7, 1914. Miss Charlena B. Powers — appointed February 26, 1916. Miss Cassa M. Lindsey (Acting) — appointed February 8, 1940. Miss Cassa M. Lindsey (Regular) — appointed August 21, 1940. Mrs. Esther M. Black (Acting) — appointed September 22, 1949. Mrs. Esther M. Black (Regular) — appointed March 23, 1950 to date. 441 CHAPTER XXVII SPANISH WAR OUR people had a sympathetic interest in the troubles of the Cuban insurrectionists who in the latter years of the 19th century were attempting to throw off the yoke of the de¬ generate and over-tyrannical government of Spain, but little realized that these troubles could affect us directly. But on the morning of February 15, 1898 when the Boston papers came in telling of the destruction of the Battleship “Maine" in Havana Harbor, we suddenly realized that we might be called upon to do something more than sympathize with poor Cuba. We watched with much interest the diplomatic negotiations in Washington and were gradually reconciled to the thought that our country must again declare war upon an old world power. From its first organization on Thursday evening, February 26, 1885 at Orange many Athol young men had affiliated with Company E, Second Massachusetts Regiment. By April, 1898 it was so evident that war was a certainty that a great attempt was made to build Company E to its full strength and twenty- eight young men offered themselves to this Company, most of whom were accepted. Mr. William H. Mellen, a Grand Army veteran and Select¬ man of Athol, offered himself to raise a company and again enter the service of his country, but the authorities at Wash¬ ington courteously denied him this privilege as they were confining their army at that time to members of the regular army and the State Militia. Company E speedily went into camp at Framingham, pre¬ vious to which on May 1, a beautiful Sunday afternoon, a huge farewell service was held on the steps of the Orange Town Hall, at which addresses were made by several prominent men in¬ cluding George W. Horr, Esq., and Rev. E. F. Martin, both of Athol. This Company after training for a time in Framingham was shipped to Lakeland, Florida: from there to Tampa, and from there was with the first American troops that invaded Cuba. Although our men were preceded by members of the 442 SPANISH WAR regular army, yet the first civilian corps to step upon Cubarr soil were members of the 2nd Massachusetts Regiment. As war was an absolute novelty to most of the citizens of Athol it is little wonder that there was a tremendous wave of patriotism spread over not only Athol but the entire country. Funds were raised for the soldiers and every activity centered around the war activities. We scanned the papers for news and were restive because action was so long delayed. At length in early August we learned of the invasion of Cuba and the news of the casualties began to appear. We were plunged in gloom as each death was reported. In a few short weeks the tension was relieved because we knew that the war was practically over and that our men were headed for more congenial climates. While the troops were quartered at Montauk Point committees of our citizens visited them and rendered all possible aid, bringing home the invalids as fast as they could be released. Before many months the bodies of those who died in the service were brought here and buried with appropriate and largely attended services. Then came the Philippine insurrec¬ tion and invasion. A few of our men entered the service for that but we were spared any casualties in those campaigns. It was many months before our returned soldiers were re¬ stored to anything approaching normal health but they were tenderly watched over and there was general rejoicing at seeing them home. I give below a list of all who served from this town in the service with a short excerpt of their military activities. Barry, William — Born Athol, Oct. 1, 1866. Reported April 17, 1898; assigned to Plattsburg, N. Y. Pvt., 21st Rgt., U. S. Inf. Discharged Aug. 15, 1899. Died Jan. 15, 1929. Barton, Elwyn W. — Born Rouses Point, N. Y., April 20, 1875. Athol resident beginning 1892. Enlisted May 3, 1898; service in Cuba. Corp., Co. E, 2nd Rgt., U. S. Inf. Discharged Nov. 3, 1898 at Springfield, Mass. Bemis, Joseph T. — Born Westmoreland, N. H. Reported May 3, 1898; age at enlistment 25. Pvt., Co. E, 2nd Mass. Vol. Inf.; Corp. at dis¬ charge. Service with 5th Army Corps or Army of Invasion at Santiago. Discharged Nov. 3, 1898 at Springfield, Mass. Betterley, Clyde R. — Born Newport, Vt., Feb. 17, 1878. Enlisted Oct. 2, 1898, residence Athol. Corp., 43rd Rgt. of Orange. Discharged July 5, 1901 at Presidio, San Francisco, Calif. Betters, Fred J. — Born Belmont, N. Y., April 7, 1867. Enlisted May 3, 1898; service in Cuba. Battles: El Caney, July 1; night attack San Juan Hill, July 2; siege and surrender of Santiago, July 16, 1898. Pvt. Dis¬ charged Nov. 3, 1898 at Springfield, Mass. Burdick, Herbert F. — Born Sterling, Conn., Dec. 25, 1876. Enlisted May 3, 1898; service in Cuba. Battles: El Caney, July 1; San Juan, July 2; 443 HISTORY OF ATHOL siege and surrender of Santiago, July 16, 1898. Pvt., Co. E, 2nd Mass. Inf. Discharged Nov. 3, 1898 at Springfield, Mass. Cheney, Sylvester Osgood — Born Athol, Jan. 9, 1880. Enlisted May 3, 1898; service in Cuba. Battles of El Caney, July 1; San Juan Hill, July 2; siege and surrender of Santiago, July 16, 1898. Pvt., Co. E, 2nd Rgt. Mass. U. S. Vol. Inf. Discharged Nov. 19, 1898 at Springfield, Mass. Died Nov. 23, 1 946. *Coburn, Ernest L. — Born Winchendon, Mass. Enlisted May 3, 1898 at 20 years of age. Battles of El Caney, July 1; night attack at San Juan, July 2; wounded at siege of Santiago. Co. E, 2nd Rgt. Mass. Inf., U. S. Vol. Discharged Nov. 8, 1898. Enlisted in U. S. Marine Corps for 5 years on Dec. 20, 1899. Died of variola, Feb. 23, 1902, at U. S. Naval Hospital, Chelsea, Mass. Cooke, Oliver D. — Born Wendell, Mass., Jan. 22, 1868. Enlisted May 3, 1898; service in Cuba. Battles: El Caney, July 1; San Juan, July 2 and 3; siege of Santiago, July 10 to 14. Pvt. Discharged Nov. 3, 1898 at Springfield, Mass. Died Feb. 13, 1937. Crossman, Leon H. — Born Athol, Dec. 10, 1876. Enlisted May 6, 1898, residence Fitchburg, Mass. Sailed July 8, 1898 from Charlestown, S. C.; arrived Guanico, Puerto Rico, July 25, 1898. Arrived Boston, Oct. 27, 1898. Pvt., Co. B, 6th Mass. U. S. Vol. Discharged Jan. 21, 1899 at Fitchburg, Mass. Died October 5, 1951. Davis, George L. — Born Peterborough, N. H. Enlisted May 3, 1898; service in Cuba. Battles: El Caney, July 1; night attack of San Juan Hill, July 2; siege and surrender of Santiago, July 16, 1898. Pvt., Co. E, 2nd Mass. U. S. Vol., May 10, 1898. Discharged Nov. 3, 1898 at Spring- field, Mass. Died Oct. 1, 1942. *Davis, Hugh Goddard — Born Royalston, Mass., Aug. 10, 1878. Graduate Athol High School, Class of 1896. Enlisted Co. E, April 29, 1898 and died of embolism in a hospital near Santiago, Aug. 1 1, 1898. Dennis, Harry E. — Born Athol, Dec. 2, 1879. Enlisted May 3, 1898; ser¬ vice in Cuba. Battles: El Caney, July 1; night attack of San Juan Hill, July 2; siege and surrender of Santiago, July 16. Pvt., Co. E, 2nd Mass. Inf., U. S. Vol. Dincharged Nov. 3, 1898 at Springfield, Mass. Doane, Harry L. — Born Athol, June 23, 1871. Joined Co. E, 2nd Mass. Vol. Militia, Sept. 6, 1896. Ordered out May 3, 1898. Corp. Promoted to Serg., May 10, 1898. Served in Cuba in battles of El Caney and siege of Santiago. Served as Major in France in World War I, retired as Lieut. Col. Died Sept. 17, 1950. Frye, William A. — Born Athol, June 1, 1869. Enlisted April 19, 1898. Assigned to Batt. B, 2nd U. S. Art. Discharged May 1, 1899. Haskins, Ernest W. — Born Athol, July 23, 1872. Enlisted May 3, 1898; service in Cuba. Battles of El Caney, July 1; night attack of San Juan Hill, July 2; siege and surrender of Santiago, July 16, 1898. Pvt., assigned to Co. E, 2nd Rgt. Mass. Inf. Discharged Nov. 3, 1898 at Springfield, Mass. Hastings, Fredric A. — Born Athol, May 23, 1871. Enlisted May 3, 1898; service in Cuba. Battles of El Caney, July 1; siege and surrender of Santiago, July 16. Two wounds received in action, one severe in ab- 444 SPANISH WAR domen and hip. Arrived Camp Wycoff, Montauk Point, L. I., Aug. 20, 1898. Pvt., Co. E, 2nd Rgt. Mass. Inf. Discharged Nov. 3, 1898 at Springfield, Mass. Died May 1 5, 1 944. COL. HARRY L. DOANE 1871 - 1950 Veteran of Spanish War, Mexican Border Patrol and World War I Active in local work during World War II Hutchins, Harry O. — Born Lewiston, Maine; first came to Athol in 1896. Enlisted in U. S. Navy, June 9, 1898. Assigned to U. S. S. Huntress to do coast patrol work. 2nd Cl Quartermaster. Discharged from Navy, Aug. 31, 1898. July 17, 1899 enlisted at Worcester in U. S. Army, Co. H, 26th Inf. Service in Philippine Islands. Engagements all on the Island of Panay, P. I.: San Blaz, Nov. 20, 1899; Agsarab, April 17, 1899; Calinog, Sept. 13, 1900; Cabatanss, Dec. 15, 1900; Massin, June 9 and 10, 1900; Tinayoga, April 29, 1900. Discharged May 13, 1901 at Presidio, San Francisco, Cal. King, Charles I. — Born Shawn, Mass., Oct. 18, 1870. Enlisted July 23, 1898. Assigned to 7th U. S. Rgt. of Inf. Pvt. Discharged Feb. 16, 1899 at Ft. Sheridan, III. *Knight, Harland K. — Born Phillip. ton, Mass., Jan., 1877. Came to Athol when very young; attended the public grammar school. When war broke out was employed at C. M. Lee Shoe Shops. A member of Co. E for over two years and was considered one of its best shots, having represented it at State tournaments on several occasions. Soon after reaching Cuba he was taken ill with malarial fever from which he never fully recovered. Died Sept. 21, 1898. Littlcwood, Albert — Born Worcester, Mass. Reported May 3, 1898 at 22 years of age. Battles: El Caney, July 1; San Juan Hill, July 2; siege of 445 HISTORY OF ATHOL Santiago, July 10, 14. Sick in hospital on "Mobile" Aug. 13 - Aug. 20;' and at Montauk, Aug. 20-26, 1 898. Co. E, 2nd Rgt. Mass. Discharged- Nov. 3, 1898 Lucier, George H. — Born Buffalo, N. Y., Feb. 23, 1876. Enlisted Aug. 27, 1898. Assigned Batt. E, 2nd U. S. V. Heavy Artillery. Service ini Havana, Cuba. Discharged May 12, 1899. Luey, Lester L. — Born Athol, A^ug. 17,. 1881. Enlisted May 3, 1898. Ser¬ vice in Cuba. Battles of El Caney, July 1; night attack San Juan Hill, July 2; siege and surrender of Santiago, July 16, 1898. Pvt. Dis¬ charged Nov. 3, 1898 at Orange, Mass. McRae, Thomas H. — Born Athol. Enlisted Feb. 21, 1893 in Co. E, 2nd Rgt. of Mass. Inf. Discharged Jan. 20, 1894. Re-enlisted in same Co., May 3, 1898. Battles: El Caney, July 1; night attack of San Juan Hill, July 2; siege and surrender of Santiago, July 16, 1898. Dis¬ charged Nov. 3, 1898 at Springfield, Mass. Died May 13, 1916. Morse, Chester E. — Born Athol, Oct. 25, 1881. Enlisted Aug. 7, 1 899- Assigned to Co. H, 26th Rgt., U. S. Vol. Service on Panay Island, P. I. Battles: Expedition under Gen. Hughes, Nov. 9 to 30, 1 899; San Blaz, Nov. 20, 1899; Agsarab, April 17, 1900; Calinog, Sept. 13, 1900. Pvt. Discharged March 9, 1901. Died July 6, 1945. Morse, Halbert V. — Born Whitingham, Vt., Feb. 14, 1873. Enlisted May 3, 1898. Assigned to Co. E, 2nd Rgt. Mass. Inf. Service in Cuba. Battles: El Caney, July 1. Pvt. Discharged Nov. 3, 1898 at Spring- field, Mass. *Pike, William L. — Born Worcester, July 8, 1874. When about four years old his parents moved to Athol and William completed his education in the Athol Grammar School, after which he was employed in different shops in town. When war was declared he enlisted in Co. E at Orange, Died Aug. 7, 1898 at Santiago of malarial fever. Plunkett, Thomas — Born Athol, Nov. 25, 1871. Enlisted March 19, 1901, Assigned to 11th Inf., Mar. 25, 1901. Service Philippine Islands. Bat¬ tles: Villa, Real Samar, P. I., Dec. 25, 1901; Morocco; Mountain Samar, Dec. 31, 1901. Transferred in 1908 to 5th Inf.; to 30th Inf., Oct. 20, 1914. Discharged San Francisco, Cal., Mar. 14, 1904; Mar. 20, 1907; Mar. 22, 1910. Enlisted again Mar. 31, 1912. Corp., June 15, 1901, Discharged Feb. 1, 1915. Rainey, Frank H. — Born Bedford, N. H., Oct. 17, 1872. Enlisted May 3, 1898. Assigned to Co. E, 2nd Rgt. Mass., U. S. Vol. Service in Cuba. Battles: El Caney, July 1; San Juan Hill, July 2; siege and surrender of Springfield, Mass. For many years leader of Athol's Brass Band. Died Nov. 10, 1952. *Rivett, William H. — Born Hinsdale, N. H., Dec. 25, 1874. At outbreak of war enlisted and went with Co. E (of which he had been a member for nearly a year) to Framingham and through the campaign in Cuba. Re¬ turned home from Camp Wykoff with others of his company a little in advance of the regiment, suffering from typhoid fever. Died Aug. 31, 1898. Robbins, Oren Lewis — Born Orange, Mass., Feb. 16, 1879. Enlisted May 3, 1898. Assigned to Co. E, 2nd Rgt. Mass. Inf. Service in Cuba. Battles: El Caney, July 1; night attack San Juan Hill, July 2; siege and 446 SPANISH WAR surrender of Santiago, July 16, 1898. Pvt. Discharged Nov. 3, 1898 at Springfield, Mass. *Seveny, Paul — Born Manchester, N. H. Mustered in Dec. 6, 1898; age 23 years 1 1 months. 12th U. S. Inf. Band. Pvt., Corp. Died at sea on the transport “Thomas" of chronic dysentary, Dec. 4, 1901. Smith, James D. — Born Chester, Mass., March 23, 1 877. Service in Cuba. Battles: El Caney, July 1; night attack San Juan Hill, July 2; siege and surrender of Santiago, July 16, 1898. Pvt. Discharged Nov. 3, 1898 at Springfield, Mass. Smith, William L. — Born Athol, June 22, 1874. Enlisted May 3, 1898. Assigned to Co. E, 2nd Rgt. Mass. Inf. Service Cuba. Battles: El Caney, July 1; night attack San Juan Hill, July 2; siege and surrender of Santiago, July 16, 1898. Pvt. Discharged Nov. 3, 1898 at Spring- field, Mass. Died Sept. 21, 1909. Sweezey, Adolphus — Born New Brunswick, Aug. 9, 1876. Came to Athol first in May, 1884 and lived here about 20 years. Enlisted in May, 1898. Battles: El Caney, night attack of San Juan Hill, and siege and surrender of Santiago. Corp., Co. E, 2nd Mass. Rgt. Discharged Nov., 1898. Died Oct. 6, 1948. Thomas, Everett L. — Born Rymford, Maine, July 23, 1877. Enlisted Aug. 8, 1899. Assigned to Co. H, U. S. V., 26th Rgt., Aug. 20, 1899 as Artificer. Service in Panay Islands, P. I. Battles: San Blaz, Nov. 20, 1899; Agsarab, April 17, 1900; Cabatuau, June 9, 1900; under Gen. Hughes, Nov. 9-30, 1899. Transferred — detailed with Capt. Butts' mounted scouts one year before discharge. Discharged May 13, 1901 at San Francisco. Died April 13, 1928. Thompson, Henry L. — on list of Spanish War soldiers who gave their resi¬ dence Athol at time of enlistment. Young, Leon E. C. — Born Athol, April 6, 1878. Reported June 16, 1898. Assigned to Co. B, 6th Inf. Service in Puerto Rico. Discharged Jan. 21, 1899. Wheeler, Frank E. — Born Dummerston, Vt., Nov. 30, 1875. Came to Athol in 1 897. Enlisted May 3, 1 898 Co. E, 2nd Mass. Inft. Service in Cuba. Battles: El Caney, San Juan Hill, siege and surrender of Santiago. Pvt. Discharged Nov. 3, 1 898 at Springfield. Whitcomb, Byron J. — Born Readsboro, Vt. March 1 0, 1 869. Enlisted May 3, 1 890. Co. E, 2nd Mass. Inft. Service in Cuba, battles of El Caney, July 1. Night attack San Juan Hill July 2; siege and surrender of Santiago July 16. Pvt. Discharged Nov. 3, 1898. Died Jan. 14, 1944. * Died in the Service 447 CHAPTER XXVIII WORLD WAR I ]DUT four weeks after the Austrian Crown Prince, Archduke ^ Francis Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, were shot at Sarajevo by a native of Serbia, World War I began. This oc¬ curred in July, 1914 when Athol was floundering in a major economic depression, which continued until well into 1915 when European contracts for war purposes began to come to our factories. Public sentiment was in no sense united in support of either the Allies or the Central Powers, and in the election of 1916 the vote for the Democratic Presidential Electors showed that more than a few normally Republican voters had endorsed Woodrow Wilson for re-election evidently because of the slogan, "He kept us out of war." The sinking of the Lusitania seemed to crystalize our sym¬ pathies with the Allies and pro-German utterances were no longer popular. In June, 1916 our Co. E, 2nd Massachusetts Infantry National Guard, was called to Framingham barracks and on June 21 left there for the Mexican Border but through the long summer that they were away we still devoutly hoped that this was as near to actual war as we would ever get. Our hopes were not realized. Athol was the first town in Massachusetts to have a Public Safety Committee appointed at Gov. McCall's request with a strong auxiliary unit of women. While a meeting of this committee was in session at the Poquaig Club on March 25, 1 91 7 a call came to one of the con¬ ferees, Capt. H. L. Doane, to mobilize his Co. E at once. The militia call was promptly sounded on the fire alarm and the members of this company from that hour were soldiers in a world war. When the first group of our young men reported to Devens in November, 1917 1 went there representing our Public Safety Committee and found Athol youths wading around in the snow. After securing approval by my committee associates I bought in Boston one hundred or more pairs of overshoes. We took these to Devens and distributed them. Then my mother, who was eighty-three years old, took the control, the laying out, and planning time for seventy knitters. These good women knitted 448 WORLD WAR I comfort kits, sweaters and stockings, for every Athol boy who was drafted. The Public Safety Committee functioned largely through its Executive Committee who were W. W. Woodward, Arthur F. Tyler, William G. Lord, Frank P. Hall, and William M. Welch with Mr. John F. Hayden as secretary. In many towns the Red Cross or some other organization eventually took over the war work, but Athol's Public Safety Committee was its dominating force until the war was over and the soldiers discharged. It was the clearing house for all of our activities except the Se¬ lective Service. When the Selective Service Board was constituted George F. Lord became its first clerk. Then when the chairman of the district located in Winchendon resigned, Mr. Lord was ap¬ pointed in his place and carried through to the end. While there were reflections on some boards and bitterness in some communities, he carried it so impartially and effectively that there never was a whisper and hardly a complaint. Conscientiously, if not willingly, we observed gas-less Sun¬ days and heat-less Mondays. We planted and tended our war gardens and submitted to a rigid rationing of our sugar. In fact, we were the first town to have sugar coupons. Although a manufacturing town, Athol had in the year 1918, 1,700 adults' war gardens, 125 municipal gardens, 425 children's gardens and a Municipal Canning Station all doing their part to increase and conserve the food supply. The year 1917 was an equally good record. Since the beginning of the war until November 11, 1918 when the Armistice was signed. Athol sent over six hundred and fifty of her men to the service and had eighty more ready when hostilities ceased. Twenty-four of them gave up their lives for our Country and the Cause. Long before daylight on November 11, 1 9 1 8 we knew of the peace terms that had been agreed upon in the railroad car in France and forthwith awoke the town. With no planning or preparation we celebrated our first Armistice Day. November 1 1, and were settled back into normal life when other munici¬ palities were celebrating on the 12th. Athol was the first town in Massachusetts to erect a public "Honor Roll" for the men in the service. While our Memorial Building commemorates the services of all our soldiers since Colonial days yet it is particularly a World War I Memorial as it was planned and completed in the years succeeding that war. 449 HISTORY OF ATHOL It stands today as a constant reminder of the war period of 1917-1918, "erected by a grateful town in honor of those who went from Athol in service of their country." One of the great afflictions of the war period came with the autumn frosts of 1918 when the Spanish influenza raged here. It is well written in every detail in the Town Report for the year ending December 31, 1918, pages 150-159. All public places were closed, even congregating in the streets was forbidden, and stores dispensing soda and ice cream were notified that all sales must stop. This ban was lifted at midnight November 2, 1918. In the meantime, there were about 2,000 influenza cases in Athol, approximately 1,000 at a time, the largest num¬ ber of new cases for one day being 148. While this epidemic was under town control, with the Chamber of Commerce as a clearing house of information on the conditions of cases, the total number of deaths recorded were 48. The total cost of the epidemic as per bills received was $5,094.52. Our company of State Guards, organized in the early sum¬ mer of 1917 with Frank P. Hall as Captain, rendered its most effective service from September 1 0 to October 10, 1919 when it rallied to the call of Gov. Coolidge to police a portion of Boston until the Police Strike was broken. Since our town already has a fine record of World War I published by the American Legion, the above is but a short resume of this first world conflict and its effect on Athol. Fol¬ lowing are the names of those men and women of Athol who served: Adams, Louis Adamson, Henry W. Agnelli, Joseph Aldrich, Byron J. Allen, Perlie F. Allen, Ralph F. Allison, Robert Ames, Edwin C. Anderson, Clarence Anderson, Herbert R. Apostalapoulos, Paul Armaitis, Albinos Armienti, Lorenzo D. Armienti, (Armon) Tony Armstrong, Elmo D. Artioli, Arthur U. Ash, William E. Aubrey, Edward T. Ausgztulis, Wladas Avery, Webb R. Avery, William F. Bacigalupo, John Bacon, Charles L. Baggiolini, Joseph Baily, Harold S. Baker, Frank A. Balciunas, Anthony Balcom, Carroll S. Balcom, John H. Baldwin, Glenn L. Ball, Gerald L. Ball, Wilfred L. Barnes, Frank L. Barney, Albert W. Bassow, George W. Bedard, Albert J. Begin, Walter C. Begor, Clarence C. Benson, Harold P. Bernard, Rodolphe Berry, Louis R. Bianchi, Gerolamo 450 WORLD WAR I Billings, Peter S. Blackman, Nelson A. Blanchard, Adolph J. Blanchard, Alphonse J. Blanchard, Arnold K. Blanchard, Howard K. Blanchette, William Boccagni, Messani Bogush, Stanley Bond, Thomas A. Bonie, Henry J. Bonisolli, Fortunato Bonisolli, Frederick Bove, Albert Bowe, James J. Boyce, Ernest C. * Boyce, Roy L. Boyd, Fred J. Boyd, Henry W. Brackett, Clarence H., Jr. Brackett, Harry H. Bragg, Victor R. Brehio, Charles J. Brighenti, Benjamin Brisbane, Philip Britt, Fred M. Britton, John J. Brock, Roland H. Brooks, Roy F. Brown, Bert C. Brown, Walker C. Buchanan, Chester Buckley, Earle E. Bulman, Fred P. Burdick, George H. Burgess, Henry J. Burke, Edward J. Burkhardt, John E. Burns, Clarence E. Burrage, George C. Butler, John H. (or Henry J.) Butler, John R. *Butler, William A. Byam, Dana Cadrett, Ernest L. Callahan, William J. Cameron, Charles A. Candaras, Minas Carlson, Vener Carney, Barthelomew J. Carrulo, Thomas Casavant, Clifford D. Caswell, Earl E. Centebar, Napoleon Chapin, Earl W. Chapin, Stanley F. Chapman, Ernest N. Chapman, George H. Chapman, Irving F. Chapman, William J. Chezch, Anthony Chaisson, Elie Chaisson, Henry J. Clarke, Harry E. Cleveland, Dwight G. Cleveland, Walter E. Cobb, John H. Codding, Leo N. Collins, Horton J. Compton, William R. Connell, John F. Connors, Louis Cook, Alvin B. Cook, Charles V. Cooke, Howard W. Coolidge, David G. Copeta, Pietro Corse, Myron E. Coutu, Alexander Coutu, Philodolphe, Jr. Craven, John F. Culbert, Frank R. Cummings, Sam N. ‘Cutting, Frank Dauphinias, Joseph H. Davidelis, Frank Davidson, Clarence W. Davidson, Harold J. Daszkowski, Michael L. Davis, James B. DeGowin, Earle J. Degrace, Joseph A. Delory, Frank J. Demuth, Rudolph A. Dennison, Harold W. DePaoli, Annibale DePratti, John DeRoche, Richard L. Desrosier, Wilfred H. Dexter, Roy H. Deyo, Edgar Deyo, Edmund F. Dickinson, Arthur Dixon, Thomas Doane, Harry L. Dodge, George M. Dower, Harold B. Doyle, Eugene J. Drudi, Gino Drury, George A. Drury, Ralph W. Dube, Isidore Dube, Nelson O. Dunklee, Fred H. 451 HISTORY OF ATHOL Dupont, Arthur L. Dushion, Jesse I. Du to, George Duvall, Edmund T. Dyer, Walter E. Eckerman, George Eckerman, Leonard Eddy, Ashton O. Edmondson, George Ellinwood, Waldo S. Ellis, Karl D. Emanuelli, Charles Emanuelli, Guiseppe Engstrom, Harry W. Enos, Busby B. Evashousky, Vincent R. Ezrow, Joseph H. Fallon, Edward H. Farnum, Albert C. Farnum, Walter E. Farr, Leo W. Farrar, Harold O. Faulkner, Stewart F. Faulkner, William G. Fay, Russell J. Fields, Robert Ferronti, Steve Findlay, D. Bruce Fisette, Arthur E. Fisette, Henry J. Fisher, Earle W. Fisher, William E. Fitzgerald, Joseph E. Fitzgerald, Maurice F. Flagg, Ellery P. Flannigan, John P. Flavin, Leo P. Flavin, William L. Fletcher, Benjamin F. Fogerty, Edmund J. Foglia, John Fortune, Clinton F. Foster, Harry E. Foster, Herman L. Foster, James A. Foye, Arthur S. Foye, Owen H. Francis, Donald S. Francis, Earl S. Fraser, Frank E. Frates, Louis J. Fredette, Alfred E. Freeman, Louis W. Freeman, Wilfred J. French, Edward S. Frost, George Frost, Ralph L. Fuller, Edwin M. Fuller, Irwin L. Fuller, Norman G. Gabardi, John Gadraity, Frank Gagne, Dizere Gallagher, John E. Gallant, Raymond A. Garbarino, Frank W. Garbarino, Joseph E. Garside, John I. Gary, Charles L. Gates, Freeborn F. Gaynor, Carlton S. Gibbs, Harold L. Gibbs, Verne R. Gilbert, Joseph Girard, Louis A. Girardi, John B. Girardi, Victor J. Glasheen, Robert W. Glassett, Paul E. Gleason, Benjamin W. Goddard, Errol W. Goddard, Ralph J. Goddard, Roy A. Goguen, Fred A. Golisky, Tony Goodell, Lawrence F. Gormley, Lawrence G. Gourlay, Clifford F. Graham, Chester Granickas, Albinax Grant, George W. Grant, Harvey H. Gravelin, John F. Graves, Albert W. Graves, Carl L. Graves, Harry H. Graves, Marvin A. Gray, Arthur W. Grechien, William Green, Joseph W. Griffin, Earle W. Grimes, Carl E. Gudynos, Matansas Guilmette, Dona J. Gunn, Carlon W. Gutkopf, George Hallquist, Leonard G. Hamilton, Harold L. Hamlet, Norman A. Hankard, Michael J. Hannigan, James H. 452 WORLD WAR I Hapgood, Frederick H. Harper, Robert A. Harris, Henry E. Hayden, Arthur L. Hayden, Harold F. Hebert, Adolphus J. *Helman, Hiram Henderson, Ralph A. Henrich, George Heppler, Carl F. Heppler, John W. Herbeck, Edward R. Herbert, Theodore P. Hewey, Willard L. Hickley, Charles Higgins, H. Howard Hill, John G. Hill, Louett E. Hill, Raymond E. Hinchcliffe, Paul E. Hindes, Howard W. *Hinds, Harry G. Hinman, Clyde S. Hobbs, Fred A. Holdridge, Carl M. Holdridge, Elmer F. Holland, Carl J. Hook, Gustoff A. Horrigan, W. Ray Howard, Lewis C. Howard, Michael F. Hubley, Earl B. Hunter, Clifford E. Huntoon, Aubrey Huntoon, Harland W. Huntoon, Reuben F. Hutt, Edward W. Iram, Roy C. Jackson, Leon F. *Jackson, Roland C. Jackson, Willard A. Jardine, Howard L. Jirkovsky, Charles W. *Jirkovsky, William A. Johnson, Harold K. Johnson, Gustaf R. Johnstone, Alexander P. Joki, Matti Jones, Charles W. Jones, William E. Kamosky, Frank J. Kamosky, Joseph Kelly, Arthur L. Kelley, John T. ‘Kemplin, Arthur D. Kemplin, Fred G. ‘Kendall, Charlie E. Kew, Albert T. Killay, John J. Killay, Peter T. Killay, William H. Kimball, Roger G. King, George E. King, Robert Kingsbury, Walter C. Klein, Frederick L. Kapanon, Michael Kucinski, Anthony Labarre, Joseph A. Labounte, Louis L. Lacoste, Romeo Lacoste, Rosario Ladeau, Edward M. Lafountain, Alfred E. Lambert, Alphonse N. Landry, Charles Landry, Theophile Lange, Henry J. Lange, Thomas T. LaPan, George Larrabee, Chester E. Larrabee, Edward R. Larry, Linwood S. Lashua, Howard A. Lawless, Florie M. Lawless, Robert S. Lawsure, John B. Lawton, Kirke B. Lawton, Robert H. Leblanc, Edward Ledoux, Ernest M. Ledoux, John A. Ledoux, Wilfred H. Lee, Winfred M. Legar, Alfred J. Legar, Alphonse J. Lemay, Oren O. Leonard, William B. Lepan, George Levinsky, Adam Lewis, John F. Lincoln, Clarence L. Lincoln, Rex C. Lindsey, Harold O. Lindsey, Robert B. Littlewood, Albert Lizzott, Fred A. Locke, Burton H. Lopuzzo, Carlo Lord, G. Frank Lord, George F. Lord, Harold S. 453 HISTORY OF ATHOL Lyman, Stanley B. Nelson, George F. Nelson, Iver T. MacDonald, Allan E. MacDonald, Gordon P. MacDonald, James H. MacDonald, John A. MacDonald, Levi A. MacDonald, Roy W. Makutawicus, Antenas Mallet, Joseph E. Maloney, Roy L. Manewich, Anthony P. Maninkas, Edward Maranville, Charles H. Marchland, Jean L. Maroni, Angelo F. Martin, August A. Martin, Lester W. Matlitz, Antony Maurotolassides, John D. McAllister, John N. McDonald, Henry F. McHarg, Earl L. McIntosh, Adelbert W. McIntosh, Albert G. McIntosh, Ray N. Mclver, Roy W. McKay, Francis A. McKinnon, Clark G. McLean, William J. Merriam, Dana S. Metz, Homer G. Meuse, Harry C. Miller, Adam Mitchell, Harry J. Montagna, Silvestro Montplaisir, Edward A. Montville, Felix E. Montville, Louis *Moore, John R. Morris, Adam Morse, John F. Morse, Phillip B. Moulton, Charles L. Moushure, Augustine G. Mullen, Charles G. Mullen, Edward Mullen, John Mullett, Arthur L. Mullett, Robert E. Munsell, Elisha A. Munsell, Raymond H. Munsell, Roscoe P. Murinkas, Edward Murphy, Harry Nemo, William E. Nesbit, John A. Nevers, Kenneth W. Newell, Ernest A. Newton, Charles R. Nickerson, Carlos W. Nims, Pliny F. Noel, Arthur W. Noonan, Clifford E. Norcross, Herbert L. Norcross, William F. Noyes, Lyndon H. O'Brien, William John Ocikas, Joseph O'Connell, Henry L. O'Laughlin, William H. O'Leary, James C. O'Leary, John F. Oliari, Celeste Oliveira, Edward J. Olson, Anton L. Olson, John A. Orintas, Jonas Orton, Kenneth V. Orton, Lyman R. Ortonsky, Bolestaw Paquin, Napoleon, Jr. Parker, Bartholomew T. Parker, Camille Parker, William Parron, David W. Patenaude, George H. Pelletier, Phillip A. Perley, Norman H. Peterson, Albert W. Peterson, Ernest V. Peterson, Herbert W. Peterson, Roy D. * Phillips, Edward H. Pierce, Albert C. Pietrowsky, Wladyslaw (Walter) Plunkett, John W. Pope, James W. Pope, Stanton C. Prario, Fred E. Pratt, Everett Pratt, Othello F. Pratt, Rollo G. Preble, Chester D. Preece, Edmund F. Prentiss, Alton A. Nash, 0. Daniel, Jr. Neary, William J. Prevost, Bennie *Prevost, Harold F. Proskus, William 454 WORLD WAR I Prouty, Clarence E. Qualters, Charles H. Qualters, Daniel F. Qualters, George F. Qualters, Timothy Quimby, Fred W. Quinn, George W. Rathburn, Orson H. Raymond, Francis P. Raymond, Lawrence J. Renwick, Louden Richard, Russell F. A. Richards, Amos M. Richardson, Bernard F. *Rivers, Joseph M. Rivers, William M. Robichaud, Albert J. Robichaud, Napoleon P. Robinson, Hial O. Robinson, Leo V. Rodviuskas, Constantine Rogers, Joseph W. Rogers, Robert C. Rolland, William E. Rooney, James T. Roth, Robert L. Roy, Harry Rudis, Joseph Russell, Frederick H. F. St. Amant, John E. St. Cyr, Harry J. *St. Germaine, Ralph J. St. John, Bertram P. Salkeld, Winfred B. Samans, Stanley Sampson, William F. Sampson, William W. Savoy, Joseph Sawyer, George A. Schmidt, Edward L. Schmidt, Martin G. Schmidt, Reinhard L. Schumann, Hans K. ‘Schumann, Max E. Scott, Clarence M. H. Scully, Thomas E. Shattuck, Hugh S. Sheldon, Nathan W. Shepard, Roland A. Sherwood, Herbert A. Sienkiewcz, Jacob B. Sienkiewcz, Joseph Simmington, Amil Simmington, William Simonds, Dell P. Sinkewicz, Anthony Sinkowski, John Sirois, Wilfred J. Skinner, Bertie L. Slavis, Antonis Smith, Arlington A. Smith, Jason E. Soucie, Louis M. Spencer, Arthur R. Stanton, William H. Stark, Robert J. Starrett, Arthur H. Steiger, Frank T. Stiles, Joseph H. Stimson, Berl D. Stone, Arthur R. Stone, Jesse W. Stone, Lester B. Stowell, John M. Stowell, Justin W. Stowell, Woodbury S. Sturckinsky, Charles D. Sullivan, Thomas J. Swan, John M. Taylor, James A., Jr. Terrio, Joseph L. Thatcher, Wayne H. Thayer, Joseph H. Theroux, Wilfred R. Thibodeau, Edward N. Thibodeau, Joseph T. Thibault, August J. Thompson, William H. Thorburn, Burton E. Thorburn, Harry H. Thorpe, Amos E. Titus, Alfred E. Tolman, Louie H. Totman, Harry E. Towne, Oscar A. Thiblehorn, Charles Trombley, Eli J. Trombley, Maurice J. Tunnicliffe, Homer W. Turner, John L. Turner, Raimund E. Tuttle, Herbert F. Twichell, Arthur G. Twichell, N. Hastings Tyler, Arthur F., Jr. Tyler, Wallace E. Valazza, Reno Valette, Frank R. Valley, Charles E. Vedder, Frank G. Venette, Joseph 455 HISTORY OF ATHOL Viens, Alphie L. Vincent, Peter J. Wade, Francis A. Wainutis, Joseph Waite, Everett H. Walker, Alfred P. (Fred) Walker, Carl V. Ward, Ralph S. Ware, Clinton E. Wariek, John Wauchope, Andrew Webber, George S. Webster, Rodney E. Wessell, Fred Wesson, Fred A. Wetherby, Judson P. Wetherby, Lewis A. Whalen, Edward B. White, Calvin D. White, Frank White, Murray H. Whitney, Clayton A. Whitney, Fred E. Whitten, Lionel F. Whittredge, Elmer P. Wickham, Harry G. Wickham, Virgil O. Wilder, Robert M . Wilkinson, Horace A. *Williams, Frank E. Winn, Arthur B. Winn, Lester T. Woessure, Julius Wolper, Samuel G. Wood, Clarence L. Wood, Fred T. Wood, Richard R. Wood, Thomas J. Wood, William F. Woollet, George Woraika, John Worrell, Guy C. Worton, James Wright, Walter M. Yarks, John Yates, Leslie Young, Goon Young, John F. Young, Lester H. Yuzik, Dimitry Zack, Samuel I. Zack, Jake Zarsky, Alexander Army Nurses: Adams, Christine M. Twichell, Olive R. Under Foreiqn Flaqs: Boucher, Joseph Dick, George Forest, Wilfred D. Greene, Walter Holmes, Hugh J. * Ireland, Roy Jackson, Percy Jardine, Mervin E. O'Daniels, Frank E. *Starrett, Frank E., Jr. *Tait, Clarence M. Tait, William G. Wilcox, Charles G. Wilcox, Samuel D. Died in the service of his country. 456 CHAPTER XXIX WORLD WAR II SUNDAY, December 7, 1941 when the "neutral" Japanese surprise attacked our largest naval base is no less dim in our minds today after the passage of twelve years than is the slogan "Remember Pearl Habor" which kept us as a nation at war for four long years for the right to preserve our American way of life. Since Hitler's rape of Poland on September 1, 1939 there had been a feeling of apprehension lest America be drawn into the conflict. Slowly indeed did the idea become prevalent that we had another globe-circling conflict on our hands. Even on July 2, 1940 when Athol's Civilian Defense Committee was organized in Judge C. Edward Rowe's office, the expressed thought was only of national defense and not aggression. Even after the Selective Service Law was passed and as required by law 1416 men of Athol had registered for military service on October 15, 1940, the talk about town related more to build¬ ing a defense army than any thought of American troops being sent abroad. The sudden outbreak of war in the Pacific galvanized our town, every town in these United States, into instant action. With the nation at war with Japan and momentarily expecting declared hostilities with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, the townspeople set to work that very Sunday under N. Hastings Twichell's chairmanship to guard Athol's vital defense indus¬ tries, her water supply, and the civilian population. Four days later the Selectmen proclaimed the rules and regulations for anticipated blackouts of the community in enemy air raids. With heavy hearts, the men of Athol, of America, their hope of the nation's neutrality no longer preserved, responded quickly. With speed and efficiency Gov. Leverett Saltonstall of Massachusetts announced the appointment on October 14, 1940 of the Draft Board for our district, designed as No. 6. Quarters for the Board were arranged in the basement of the Athol Memorial Building and a corps of assistants quickly or¬ ganized under the chairmanship of George W. Grant and Clarence E. Deane as Clerk. Assisting this Board, the Regis¬ tration Advisory Board worked under the head of Attorney A. William Plotkin. 457 HISTORY OF ATHOL Besides monthly calls by the Draft Board, there were also constant enlistments in all branches of the Services — the Army, the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. Without fanfare or publicity contingents of Athol men left twice a month for their pre-induction centers, those who passed their physical examinations and were accepted returning home for a few days' furlough to wind up business affairs. In the tragic cycle that war creates, Massachusetts draft boards, which labored to select the best young men physically for military service, were by August, 1943 receiving them back from the battlefields on medical discharge at the rate of two or three hundred a month. From our area alone approximately forty service men had been discharged for medical disability thus far. Here at home civilian defense air raid tests, training of the State and Home Guards, sales of war bonds, Red Cross meet¬ ings, salvage drives, and numerous other activities went for¬ ward with spontaneity. To the Athol Committee on Public Safety — which functioned tirelessly to safeguard our civilian population, all of the town departments and organizations, the Red Cross, the U.S.O., and the war workers, we are indeed grateful. We participated in air raid drills; we turned in scrap — alum¬ inum, paper and rags, tin, old paint brushes, rubber, fats and grease, phonograph records, even keys and silk stockings; we cooperated with the rationing programs in the restricted use of gasoline, tires, sugar, fuel oil, and other basic necessities. There were coal strikes and price control, rent control and end¬ less other controls which made the task of our Athol War Rationing Board a difficult one, for in the face of severe criticism they were required to carry out government orders. Through Athol's civilian services and organizations, her men, women, and children contributed through a duty well done, their part in helping to win the war to the end that their honored dead "shall not have died in vain." One of the amazing things which occurred in World War II was the swift and efficient manner in which industries, large and small, started to turn out war goods, even though in many cases the new articles were nothing like the peace-time items. American industry met many problems: the wage freeze, strikes, "hold-the-line" order on civilian production, and to¬ ward the end of the war, the prospect of compulsory manpower controls, which incidentally never materialized. 458 WORLD WAR II The industries of Athol, and particularly the workers who made them, served our country to the utmost in its time of greatest production need. Athol's home front strength may also be measured by the character and efficiency of her other military organizations, such as the National and State Guards, the Pequoag Guards, her American Legion, and the Civil Aeronautics Authority which was established at the Orange Airport. Who at home will forget the changes in Athol during the war? It was no longer the tranquil town with its peaceful hum of industry. The town's most perceptible change was at night time, especially Thursday and Saturday nights when among the hundreds of shoppers in the stores along the streets the male youth of Athol, of every village and town in the United States, was missing. Although there was a general rejoicing when in June, 1945, Germany surrendered, yet we still had Japan to deal with. Thus the only notice taken appeared to be a grim determination to redouble our efforts that peace might speedily come. Realizing that when Japan was humbled there would be an outburst of long suppressed feelings, our officials made tentative plans for an orderly public demonstration. As the preliminary arrangements for the signing of the armistice abroad the Missouri came in August when most of our churches were closed, we had not our full quota of clergymen to call upon, but Rev. Truman L. Hayes of the old First Church and Rabbi Solomon J. Segal of the Jewish Synagogue were in town and stood ready to serve. When in the evening hours of August 14 a pre-arranged signal on the fire alarm announced that an armistice had been signed, a large group of our citizens assembled in front of the Y.M.C.A., and with Richard P. Mullen, Commander of E. H. Phillips Post A. L., as Marshal, and led by Athol Military Band, they marched to Fish Park where similar services were held on November 11, 1918. Lacking even a ladder to make the ascent to the highly elevated band stand, and for a time entirely without lights, the participants in the exericses eventually assembled on the stand where Commander Mullen introduced Rev. Mr. Hayes who gave the invocation and then presented Major Charles H. Qualters, Alfred H. Brown of the Board of Selectmen, Col. Harry L. Doane, Alexander P. Johnstone and William G. Lord, this author, who spoke feelingly of having addressed a similar 459 HISTORY OF ATHOL group on that spot nearly twenty-seven years before, and of our disappointment that the armistice then celebrated had not brought as expected a permanent world peace. Rabbi Segal closed the exercises with a benediction. Although hostilities ceased on that August day there was still a stupendous world problem to be solved and many men needed to solve it — thus our draft board continued for many months to induct new men into the service. Our War Historical Committee first decided to add no names to the honor roll after the signing of the armistice, but as our state legislature decreed that anyone inducted before January 1, 1946 should be rated as a veteran of this war, we changed our decision to conform to the legislative act and thus those inducted after August 14 and before January 1, 1946 are included in the list appended hereto. This author labored for eight years to gather data and com¬ pile the complete story of Athol's participation in that World War II and, financed by a town appropriation for publication, that volume was issued as of January 1, 1952. We are not attempting to repeat here that already published story but we do give below our complete list of Athol men and women who served in that conflict. Abare, Kenneth L. Amedio, Carlo A. Abare, Robert Ames, Leon F. Ackley, Fred L. Anderson, Arvid H. Adams, Alfred E. Anderson, Chester L. Adams, Carlton B. Anderson, John B. Adams, Clifford Peter, Jr. Anderson, Richard E. Adams, Col I is J. Anoris, Frank V. Adams, Robert F. Arcand, Girard F. Adams, Theodore J., Jr. Ares, Adelard A. Aiken, Howard E. Armienti, Albina Ainsworth, Donald L. Armienti, Anthony G. Aldrich, Albert L. Armienti, John F. Aldrich, Barbara Armienti, Joseph R. Alexakis, James N. Alexakis, John E. Armstrong, John S. Ashmore, Harold J. Alexakis, John P. Allen, Ernest A. Atkinson, John R. Allen, Horace J. Babshere, James E., Jr. Allen, Richard W. Allen, Robert J. Bachelder, Clarence W. Bachelder, Gordon C. Alley, Lionel D. Bacon, Grace E. Alner, Austin A. Bacon, Robert P. Alner, Ernest J. Bagdonas, Augustine F. Ambrose, Adolph A. Bagdonas, Joseph J. Ambrose, Frank E. Bagdonas, Leon J. Ambrose, Stanley F. Ambrozy, Chester C. Bagdonas, Stanley A. Bailey, Leslie M. 460 WORLD WAR II Baker, Harry R. Baker, Henry A. Baldwin, Earle H. Ball, Jackson W. Ball, Robert L. Ball, Walter, Jr. Baltren, Ladzie A. Barigelli, Harold Bari lone, Joseph Bariloni, Dominic J. Barnes, Charles L. Barniole, Paul F. Barrett, Roger E. Barrett, Wallace W. Barta, Edward J. Bartlett, Harold J. Barton, Raymond Barton, Roger D. Barus, Richard F. Bassett, Cortland A. Bassett, Harry E., Jr. Bassett, James M., Jr. Bassette, Richard E. Bassow, Carlton F., M.D. Batchelor, Franklin S. Bates, Clifford A. Battaini, Lester J. Baublis, John D. Baublis, Joseph A. Bauwens, Gaston E., Jr. Bauwens, Roger J. Baxter, Edward C. Beaudette, Dominique J. P. Beaudry, Donald J. Bednarczyk, Anthony A. Beers, Harold B. Begor, Frank O., Jr. Begor, Richard J. Begor, Stanley C. Bell, Raymond H. Bemis, Chester R. Bemis, Douglas J. Bemis, Robert E. Bennett, Alfred A. Benson, Gordon V. Benson, Kenneth E. Benson, Malcolm E. Benvenuti, Ernest D. Bessette, Ernest G. Bettey, Romeo Bevis, Arnold J. Bevis, Edward J. Bevis, John E. Bevis, Merley F. Bevis, William E. Beyette, Robert D. Bidwell, Dewey W. Bingham, Bradford C. Bingham, Laura Bisbee, James W. Bishop, Ernest H. Bishop, Harley H. Blackmer, Forrest H. Blake, Charles N. Blake, Frank R. Blake, Howard R. Blake, John C. Blake, Joseph G. Blakely, Harold V. Blakely, Richard D. Blanchard, Alban J. Blanchard, Francis J. Blanchard, Fred H. Blanchard, George J. Blanchard, Gerald J. Blanchard, Glenn K. Blanchard, Howard H. Blanchard, Armand Blanchard, Joseph J. Blanchard, Joseph L. Blanchard, Lawrence M. Blanchard, Leo J. Blanchard, Norman J. Blanchard, Robert B. Blanchard, Theophile J. Blankenship, Orie W. Blaser, Arnold E., Jr. Blaser, George S. Blaser, George W. H. Blaser, William A. Babilin, Ernest J. Boccardy, Bruce N. Boccardy, Joseph A. T. Bombard, Roy A. Bond, Maurice A. Borelli, Frank Borisolli, Louis B, Bosco, Andy J. Bosco, Joseph M. Bosworth, Cecil R. Boudreau, Alfred J. Boudreau, Arthur J. Boudreau, Arthur J. Boudreau, Donat J. Boudreau, Edmund J. Boudreau, Lionel J. Boudreau, Peter J. Boudreau, Raymond L. Bouras, Arthur C. Bousquit, Donald Boutot, Reginald A. Bowers, Jason M. Bowlen, John F. Brackett, Reginald E. Brackett, Robert L. Brand, Sigmund 461 HISTORY OF ATHOL Brasdis, Stanley A. Brazauskas, Albert J. Brazauskas, Anthony S., Jr. Briggs, Gordon D. Briggs, Melvin H. Briggs, Raymond M. Brighenti, Albert J. Brighenti, Reno A. Britt, Lester D. Britt, Robert E. Britton, Daniel R. Britton, Harriet C. Brook, Roger S. Brouillet, Eugene E. Brouillet, Henry J. Brouillet, Paul A. Brouillet, Paul L. Brouillet, Raymond V. Brown, Dewey J. Brown, John V. Brown, Russell E. Brunelle, Earl L. Brunelle, Raymond E. Bruno, Edmund L. Bruno, Francis E., Dr. Bryant, Verne K. Buchanan, William, Jr. Bukowski, Zigmont S. Burba, John V. Burba, Joseph V. Burbulis, Joseph F. Bureau, Edward J. Burgess, Richard O. Burke, James A. Burnham, Howard Burnham, Kenneth R. Burnham, Robert F. Burnham, Roland G. Bushee, Perley L. Buskey, Richard M. Butcher, William R. Butler, Leo R. Butler, William R. Buzzell, Roy E. Buzzell, Wallace E. Cadwell, Malcolm F. Caldwell, Edgar F. Caldwell, Franklin H. Caldwell, William A. Call, Percy A. Callahan, Chester Callahan, Robert W. C. Calvi, Donald G. Calvi, Joseph W. Calvi, Joseph W. Camann, Herbert A. •Camann, Milton H. Cameron, David F. Cameron, Owen J. Cameron, Paul V. Cameron, William A. Campbell, Donald L. Caples, Gordon B. Caples, Lawrence O. Carey, James M. Carey, Lawrence C. Carey, Robert M. Carey, Stanley W., Jr. Carl, Fred Carlson, Robert L. Caron, Joseph A. Carr, Francis E. Carrabba, Joseph A. Casavant, Robert A. Casella, Joseph, Jr. Casella, Marc A. Casella, Mark A. Casey, Harold A. Castine, Frank L., Jr. Castine, Fred W. Castine, Raymond J. Cetto, Edward F. Cetto, Robert E. P. Chace, Robert B. Chaisson, Camille J. Chaisson, Edgar F. Chaisson, Edward J. Chaisson, George J. Chaisson, Joseph G. Chaisson, Joseph R. Chaisson, Leo J. Chaisson, Leonard J. Chaisson, Raymond J. Chaisson, Valmond J. Chamberlain, Robert I. Chandler, Richard H. Chapin, Milton W. Chaplin, Robert P. Chase, Albert W. Chastney, Benedict J. Chastney, Frank A. Chatfield, Daniel H., Jr. Cheetham, Donald B., Jr. Cheetham, Naomi Chiasson, Claude J. Chiasson, Ernest P. Chaisson, Fabian J. Chiasson, Gerard L. Chiasson, Joseph A. Chiasson, Joseph T. Chiasson, Leonard G. Chiasson, Ralph P. Chiasson, Robert H. Chibas, Leo D. Chittick, Benjamin C. 462 WORLD WAR II Choquette, Lloyd E. Chubbuck, Wallace A. Clapp, Forrest L. Clark, Charles R.( Jr. Clark, Walter H. Clark, Wilbur L. Clement, Bronie J. Clement, Frank J. Clement, Stanley J. Clifford, Robert D. Clifford, Walter L. Cloutman, Rodney F. Codding, Alvin L. Codding, Ray H. Cody, Lawrence H. Coflesky, John J. Colby, Francis J. Cole, Alvin B. Cole, Roland V. Cole, Roy W. Collette, Myron Collins, Clarence E. Collins, Merton F. Colo, Angelo V., Jr. Colo, Mario A. Colton, William R., Jr. Comstock, Charles S. Comstock, Roy E., Jr. Connors, Edward J., Jr. Connors, Robert F. Cook, Calvin W. Cook, Harry L. Cook, John A. Cook, Leonard D. Cookman, Donald Cookman, Earl R., Jr. Coolidge, Charles F. Coolidge, Victor J. Corey, Bernard W. Corey, Lute W. Corey, Robert B. Corkum, George W. Cormier, Jean A. Corriveau, Leo P. Cosgrove, James B. Cotton, Raymond H. Cowen, Dorothea J. Cowick, Philip A., Jr. Craig, William A. Cramer, Marvin Cromp, Earl Cromp, Frederick A., Jr. Cross, Edward L. Cucchi, Edmund J. Cuddy, Paul Q. Cullen, Arlington C., Jr. Culley, Wilfred L. Cummings, Norman S. Currie, John M. Currier, Arnold R. Cutter, Donald A. Cutter, Ralph F. Cyganiewicz, Leon A. Dalton, Marshall W. Dame, Elmer O. Dame, Frederick R. Daniels, Lawrence M. Dargelis, Vito A. Darling, Robert E. Davis, Burton H. Davis, Earl H., Jr. Day, Marshall M., Jr. Deane, Ralph L. DeFazio, Enrico DeFazio, Ernest L. DeGara, Lyle N. DeGrace, Napoleon J. Deleo, Rizerio J. Deleo, Stanley J. DeLisle, Robert N. Delmolino, Richard A. Demarzio, Thomas Deminie, Kenneth L. Desrosier, Norman W. Deyo, George D. Deyo, Herbert G. Deyo, Herbert W. Deyo, James F. Deyo, Robert W. Dike, David Dike, Donald, Jr. Dipacki, Donato P„ Doherty, John E. Doiron, Ernest J. Doiron, Reane E. Dombroski, Joseph J. Dombrowo, Joseph C. Donnelly, Edward T. Doolan, Richard F. Dooley, Ralph H. Doveno, Alvin M. Dowal, John V. Dower, Harold L. Dower, Marion L. Dower, Philip J. Dower, Robert A. Downorowicz, Leonard J. Drew, Arnold A., Jr. Drury, Albert R. Drury, Harold B., Jr. Dubay, Francis H. Dubie, Raymond Dubois, Albert J. Dudis, John A. Dudis, Roger G. 463 HISTORY OF ATHOL Dugan, Bertram E., Jr. Dugas, Armand J. Duguay, Leonard F. Duguay, Lester Duguay, Norman J. Duguay, Virgil J. Duguay, Wilbert Duguay, Wilfred J. Duguay, William J. Duley, Henry G. Dumas, Florido Dunbar, Arthur R. Duncan, William S., Jr. Dunshee, Marlin R. Dunton, Richard W. Dunton, Ronald W. Duplessie, Gordon L. Dupont, Harold Dupont, Leander Duto, Henry R. Duval, Wilfred, Jr. Dyer, Arnold E. Earley, John W. Earley, Martin J. Eaton, Dorothy E. Eaton, John D. Ecklund, John Eddy, Harry G. Ellinwood, Joseph H. Ellinwood, Warner G. Ellis, Raymond G. Ellis, Robert E. Emery, John A. Emery, Robert E. Emmett, Alfred L. Emmett, James W. Emmett, William A. Engel, David G. English, Arthur Erali, Dominic F. A. Engel, Donald G. Erali, Marcellino V. Estes, Robert E. Evans, Benjamin L. Evashousky, Anthony J. Evashousky, Charles J. Evashousky, Paul V. Fadden, Stanley R. Fahey, Donald R. Farnello, Francis Fanelli, John F. Farquhar, Alvin L. Farrar, David A. Farrar, Marion S. Fauteux, Charles H. Fay, Dorothy A. Fernet, Robert E. Finn, Joseph A. Finn, Michael G. Finn, Richard S. Fisette, Robert L. Fisher, Robert R. Fitch, Clinton W., Jr. Fitzgerald, Thomas G. Fitzgerald, William B. Fitzgibbon, David J. Flood, John Floran, Henry J. Flourent, Joseph A. Fogg, Guy R. Forand, Robert M. Force, Virginia E. Ford, Rodney A. Forget, Leo R. Forrest, Harold E. Foster, Harry L. Foster, Harry W. Fournier, Donald F. Fowler, Leonard W. Foye, William O. Fredette, Ernest F. Fredette, James L. Freeman, Richard L. Fregeau, Cleo H. Freitag, Lloyd V. French, Chester W. French, Roland W. Frenette, Joseph L. Fuller, Arnold L. Gabrs, Stanley M. P. Gagliardi, Dominick Gagliardi, Joseph G. Gagliardi, Saverio M. Gagnon, Armand Gagnon, Joseph D. Gale, Lawrence C. Gale, Richard E. Gale, William G. Gallagher, Edward F. Gallagher, Robert J. Gallant, Harold J. Gallant, Raymond J. Gallien, Arthur J. Gallien, Edward J. Gallien, Francis G. Gallien, Joseph E. Gallien, Wilfred Garbose, Samuel Garbose, William Gardner, Ernest E. Gardner, Ruth Grover Gasson, Frances M. Gates, Herbert H. 464 WORLD WAR II Gauthier, Herman A. Gauthier, Louis J. Graves, Royce A. Gravlin, Frank A. Gauthier, Maurice Gray, Arthur W., Jr. Gauvin, Charles L. Gray, Robert L. Gauvin, Howard P. Greene, Henry W. Gauvin, Joseph L. Greene, John P. Gawronsky, Joseph A. Greene, Meredith W. Geddis, Leonard J. Greene, Richard S. Gendron, Leo J. Griffith, Harrison W., Jr. Gendron, Ralph J. Gerard, Harris K. Grigalunas, Louis S., Jr. Grimes, Howard W. Gerhard, Richard D. Grimes, Lloyd R. Gervin, Peter A. Grits, Edward P. Gibson, Earle F. Grits, Paul R. Gibson, Leon E. Grogan, John E. Gilbert, Leon R. Gross, Virgil T. Gildutis, Edward B. Grover, George E., Jr. Gildutis, Jean Guerrin, Wilfred L. Gilgut, John P. Guerrin, William A. Gionet, Dolor J. Guetti, Charles F. Gionet, James W., Jr. Guetti, Henry Gionet, Joseph E. Guignard, Tilmon J. Gionet, Joseph H. Guilmette, Joseph A. Girard, Douglas E. Guilmette, Leon A. Girardi, Howard J. Guilmette, Roger D. Girouard, Alphonse H. Guimond, Gilman P. Glaser, Samuel 1. Gunn, Richard B. Glasheen, Francis Gutkopf, George E. Goddard, Alvin R. C. Goddard, Howard M. Haaker, Walter C. Godin, Valmont J. Godish, Frank A., Jr. Hachey, Henry J. Hachey, Joseph E. Godlesky, Frank V. Hachey, Leon E. Godlesky, Joseph F. Hachey, William C. Golden, Thomas A. Hackre, Harold Goldsher, Maxwell D. Hager, Donald W. Hains, Harold F. Halkola, Edwin E. Gooley, Robert J. Gordon, James H. Gormley, Earl F. Hall, Kenneth A. Goselin, Francis L. Hallquist, Charles L. Gotantas, John G. Hallquist, Frances W. Gould, Chester N. Hamel, Alfred J. Gould, Morris Hames, Richard L. Goulding, Richard A. Hamilton, John F. Goulet, Alfred J. Hamilton, Walter P. Goulette, Francis J. Hammond, Wesley A. Goulette, Leonard J. Handy, Franklin A. Graham, David C. Hanran, Charles 0. Graham, James W., Jr. Harper, Charles F. Granger, Morris A. Harris, Rena (Mrs. Walter M.) Granger, Paul E. Haselton, Richard S. Grant, George W., Jr. Haskell, Norman L. Grant, John H. Haskell, William H. Grant, William J. Haskins, Elmer M. Gravel, Francis G. Hastings, Alton B. Gravel, Frederick J., Jr. Hastings, Clifton W. Graves, Eugene F. Hart, Donald E. Graves, Raymond L. Hart, Philip J. 465 HISTORY OF ATHOL Harty, Thomas A. Hatch, Anton C. Hatch, Arthur S. Haughton, Robert F., Jr. Hause, Bernard J. Hause, Franklin L. Hause, Robert J. Hausmann, Frederick M. Hausmann, Herman W. Hawkins, Curtis D., Jr. Hawley, Richard D. Hayden, Carlton F. Hayden, Howard M. Hayden, James B. Hazeldine, Francis G. Hazeldine, Robert E. Heckman, Elsie Strong Henchman, Joseph F. Henchman, Robert L. Henry, George R. Henry, Kenneth Herbeck, Stanley F. Hickey, John A. Hickey, Walter W. Higgins, Donald H. Hills, Ellsworth Hinckley, Ralph D. Hinckley, Walter H. Hodge, James E. Hodgkins, Eugene T. Hoehn, Gordon C. Hoke, Norman E. Holden, Raymond A. Holland, Leon F. Hood, Lester G. Horne, William H. Horrigan, William T. Hosley, Ernest E. Hough, Raymond W. Howe, Arthur C. Huard, Albert E. Hughes, Joseph P. Hughes, Morris Hughes, Robert C. Hull, Arthur G. Hume, Robert B. Hume, William S. Hunt, Frank B. Hunter, Merle W. Hunter, Raymond R. Hunton, John H., Jr. Huntoon, Leon A. Huntoon, Robert E. Hutchinson, Eugene F. Jackson, George R. Jacques, Joseph E. Jamison, Emily Ellinwood Jardine, Arterrsas A. Jegelewicz, James M. Jerris, Paul P. Jirkovsky, Charles W., Jr. Johnson, George S., Jr. Johnson, John D. Johnson, Simon E. J. Johnson, Wallace L. Johnston, Charles Johnston, Richard S. Johnstone, Archibald J. Johnstone, Herman K. Johnstone, Norman D. Joly, Arthur E. Joly, Charles Joly, Francis Jones, Charles L. Jonilionis, Alphonse A. Jonilionis, John P. Josephson, Paul H. Judycki, Anthony W. Kabisaitis, Alphonse Kachinsky, Jacob D. Kaplan, David A. Karoblis, Victor B. Katz, Morris E. Dr. Keith, Lamont T. Kelly, Bernard P. Kennedy, Russell F. Kenney, Ernest L. Kenney, George H., Jr. Kerylow, Russell J. Kessler, Woodrow Kettunen, Carlo O. Keyes, Russell G. Killay, Aldric U. Killay, James H. Killay, William H., Jr. Kimball, Gilbert E. Kimball, Harold E. Kimball, Richard E. Kimball, Victor F. Kimball, Wallace R. King, Charles E. King, Donald E. King, John C. King, Roger F. King, William R. Kirkpatrick, Andrew D. Kohler, Norman R. Knappe, Adam S. Knappe, Frank J. Knappe, John Kolick, Anthony J. Korten, William H. Krunklevich, Edward M. Krustapentus, John E. 466 WORLD WAR II Krustapentus, Peter P. Kubelinas, Anthony G. Kucinskas, Alfred J. Kucinskas, Damas J. Kulisanski, William M. Kumin, Norman L. Kumin, Sidney Kurby, Ethan A. Kvedar, Anthony J. Kvedar, John P. Kvedar, Joseph A. Labor, Roger A. Labrie, Joseph E. Labrie, Joseph H. Labrie, Joseph Paul Labrie, Romeo J. LaChance, Joseph M. LaCoste, Franklin J. LaFarr, Joseph B. LaFay, Charles H. LaFord, Edward S. LaFountain, Victor B. Lagimoniere, Wilfred Lahti, Arthur Lake, George W. Lake, Herbert Lamothe, Arthur T. Landry, Joseph A. Landry, Joseph U. Lange, Henry J., Jr. Lanteigne, J. Freeman Lanteigne, J. Raymond Lapen, Walter Lapenas, August J. Lapenas, Frank A. Lapenas, Philip C. Lapinskas, Adolph J. Lapinskas, Michaelina U. Lapinskas, Ralph P. Lapinsky, Albert Lapinsky, Joseph Lapinsky, Joseph Lapinsky, Stanley Larocque, Jean P. Larry, Edward S. Lawrence, Vernon L. Lawton, Kirke B. Leblond, Joseph P. LeBreton, Edward J. LeBreton, Norman J. Leduc, Harold H. LeDuc, Leo B. Lee, Frederick A. Lefebvre, Leo C. Lefsyk, Edward J. Lefsyk, Walter C. L'Heureux, Luc J. L'Heureux, Noel L. L'Heureux, Thomas A. Leighton, Frank E., Jr. Leloff, Robert E. LeMote, Norman N. Leonard, Frederick, Jr. Leonesio, Reno Lessard, Raymond E. Leusier, Joseph E. LeVanway, Walter J. Lewis, Lloyd A. Leyton, Clarence D. Lillie, Guy R. Lillie, Robert E. Lincoln, Dorothy E. Lincoln, Lyndon H. Lincoln, Maynard T. Lincoln, Robert D. Lindsey, Arthur L., Jr. Linehan, Robert T. Lipsitz, Isadore E. Litchfield, Charles H. Litchfield, Frederick B. Litchfield, Robert U. Litchfield, Victory W. Long, Harold Lorusso, Bliss Losius, Veto L. Lougee, Howard M. Loverro, Domenico N. Loverro, Frank L. Loverro, Philip J. Lozier, Hercules Luce, Herbert J. Lukas, John A. Lukaszevicz, Joseph Luman, Abraham A. Lupien, Louis C. Lyman, Howard B. Lyman, Walter A. Mabey, Charles N. Mabey, William F. MacAllister, Alan R. MacDonald, Chester A. MacDonald, David C. MacDonald, Earle R. MacDonald, Herman E. MacDonald, John A. MacDonald, John R. MacDonald, Louis P. MacDonald, Marguerite R. MacDonald, Roy W. MacDonald, Walter D. MacDonald, William T. Maciacius, Leon A. Macintosh, Aubrey F. Macintosh, Rawford E. 467 HISTORY OF ATHOL MacKay, Norman W. MacKenzie, Walter F. MacKnight, Paul L. Maga, Henry M. Maga, Louis E. Mahar, William E. Mallet, Albert Mallet, Altenor H. Mallet, Edgar J. Mallet, Howard S. Mallet, Joseph A. A. Mallet, Joseph E. Mallet, Leo E. Mallet, Leodoer Mallet, Levin J. Mallett, Albert H. Mallett, Edmund F. Mallett, Ernest L. Mallette, Eugene L. Manchester, Kenneth P. Manchester, Russell C. Mann, Arthur S. Manning, William F. Marble, Richard A. Marble, Robert A. Marchegiani, Raymond G. Maroni, Henry A. Maroni, Joseph F. Maroni, William P. Marsico, Jack, Jr. Martin, Raymond S. Martin, Russell J. Martin, William R. Maselli, Vito M. Masiello, John P. Matthews, Donald R. May, William P. Mazialnik, Ladzy J. Mazialnik, Leon Mazialnik, Veto A. McCann, Thomas M., Jr. McCarthy, John F. McCullough, Donald H. McDonald, Douglass A. McDonald, John B. McGrath, Edward F. McGuirk, Clarence R. McGuirk, Louis P. McGuirk, Patrick W. McGuirk, Vernon P. McGuirk, Zeno J. McLean, Walter E. McMillan Charles B. Meehan, Arthur L. Meehan, Bert L. Meehan, Francis W. Meehan, James W. Melaika, Frank A. Meredith, Louis A. Merriam, Vernon M. Meserve, Lenville M. Metevia, Paul K. Meuse, Robert W. Michael, Angela M. Mildonian, Harry A. Mildren, Frederick B., Jr. Mildren, John J. Miller, Conway A. Miller, John C. Mitchell, Donald E. Mitchell, Vincent B. Moffitt, Robert J. Monaghan, James E. Moody, Donald I. Morandi, Aldo B. Morandi, Edward V. Morris, Edward A. Morrow, Albert F. Morse, Bayard L., Jr. Morse, Carleton D. Morse, Paul E. Morse, Richard C. Moschini, Americo J. Mosco, Robert J. Moshure, Fred J. Moskovitz, Charles H. Mullen, Frank N. Mullen, Muriel R. Mullen, Phillip H. Mundell, James W. Murphy, Joseph M. Musante, Andrew Musante, Charles C. Musante, Peter A. Musnicki, Victor Nadeau, Clifton F. Nadeau, Eugene E. Nadeau, Leon H. Nault, Leo J. Nault, Norman J. A. Neipris, Joseph Nelson, John S. Nelson, Percy M. Nestor, Frank A. Neuvonan, Tauno W. Newbury, Robert M. Newell, Robert H. Newton, Allen O. Newton, Chandler N. Newton, Robert P. Nickerson, Calvin S. Noel, Joseph W. R. Noel, Louis W. Noel, Paul E. Norton, James E. 468 WORLD WAR II Oakes, Douglas W. O'Brien, Bartlett F. O'Brien, Thomas J. O'Brien, William J., Jr. O'Laughlin, James M., Jr. Oliver, Howard W. Oliver, John Oliver, Robert E. O'Neill, Richard F. Ordway, Spencer C. Ori, Joseph F. Ori, Mario U. Ouellette, Rene D. Ouellette, Robert L. Page, Lome W. Paige, Clark Paliulis, Stanley J. Palulis, Albert Paquet, Jesse F. Parker, Eugene R. Parker, Harold E. Parker, Henry M., Jr. Parker, Merle E. Patenaude, Arthur L. Pease, Richard A. Penski, Sigmond J. Perdikas, Theodore S. Perley, Mervin L. Perrault, S. Raymond Peterson, Ernest C. Peterson, George I. Peterson, Gilbert M. Peterson, Robert A. Petrousky, Joseph A. Petrowsky, Charles A. Pianka, John Pichette, Emile E. Pickett, Francis P. Piepol, Vincent J. Pierszalowski, Raymond V. Piette, Robert J. Pinet, Joseph P. Pinigas, Anthony P. Piragis, Adolphus S. Piragis, Albin P. Plante, James L. Plotkin, Charles H. Plotkin, Charles S. Plotkin, Jacob Plotkin, Melvin Plotkin, Norman S. Plotkin, Robert Plourde, Reginald D. Pluff, Addison E. Plympton, Elmer H. Pond, Howard W. Porcari, Joseph R. Porcari, Michael R. Porter, Walter J. Poshkus, Anthony S. Posovsky, Lester C. Posovsky, Milton Poulin, Richard E. Poulin, William V. Powers, John F. Powers, Raymond S. Pralinsky, Anthony M. Pratt, Edward L. Pratt, George R. Pratt, Louis C. Pratt, Rexford N. Pratt, Robert C. Preble, Gertrude C. (Mrs. John P. Gilgut) Prim, Lucius S. Proctor, Franklin H. Proctor, Harold W. Prusik, Steven Quader, Alphonse F. Quader, Anthony J. Qualters, Daniel F. Qualters, Edward J. Qualters, Francis G. Qualters, Richard L. Qualters, William D. Quinn, Justin P. Quinn, Robert F. Quinn, Thomas W. Rabideau, Clarence A. Rabideau, Harold E. Rackliffe, Perley O., Jr. Ralys, Anthony J. Ramsdell, Ernest F., Jr. Rathburn, David W. Read, Rodney H. Redding, Daniel J. Reed, Joseph Regis, Clovis A. Regis, John D. Rembiszewski, Joseph P. Renzi, Salvatore S. Rexroad, Lacy Rexroad, Milton A. Reynolds, Wallace A. Ricard, Ernest I. Ricard, Francis E. Ricard, Norman C. Rice, Norman E. Rice, Olin H. Richards, Dewey B. Richards, Donald F. Richards, Frederick C. Richards, George W. 469 HISTORY OF ATHOL Richards, Kenneth B. Richardson, Charles E. Rimsa, Benedict P. Rimsa, Frank J., Jr. Rindone, Domenic Ringus, Joseph, Jr. Rist, Frederick G., Jr. Rist, John Roach, Charlie A. Roach, Forrest G. Roberge, Peter F. X. Robichaud, Albert J. Robichaud, Alfred J. Robichaud, Edmund L. Robichaud, Elvin R. Robichaud, Francis W. Robichaud, Joseph G. Robichaud, Joseph J. Robichaud, Leo J. Robichaud, Leroy J. Robichaud, Mallet J. Robichaud, Paul J. Robichaud, Peter J. Robichaud, Raymond A. Robichaud, Walter Robinson, Lewis W. Robisauckas, Alfred J. Robisauckas, Anthony F. Roche, Paul E. Rochon, Gregoire G. Rogers, Herbert M. Rogers, Robert C. Rolland, James P. Romanowicz, Zigmond Roth, Bernhard A. Roth, Douglas G. Roth, Howard G. Rouleau, Alpha J. Rousell, O'Neal T. Rousseau, Leon J. Roussell, Edmund J. Roussell, Peter M. Roussel, Roland J. Roussel, Romeo R. Rowe, David W. Rowe, George S. Rowe, Lloyd M. Rowe, Robert S. Rowe, William J. Roy, Peter L. Royal, Kenneth A. Rumrill, Edward L. Rushford, Donald M. Russell, Ernest W. Russell. George L. Russell, James C. Rustausky, Benedict P. Rustausky, Paul B. Ryder, Francis P. Ryder, Joseph A. Rymorsky, Boleslaw Safford, Arthur W. Salkauskas, Albino M. Salkauskas, Alphonse J. Salkauskas, Edward A. Salkauskas, John A. Salkauskas, Joseph Salkauskas, Peter P. Sansing, Jesse J. Sault, William E. Saunders, Francis W. Saunders, William E. Savage, Linwood J. Savoy, Clifford J. Savoy, Emerson Savoy, Paul F. Savoy, Peter E. Savoy, Thomas A. Sawyer, George H. Sawin, Clifford L., Jr. Sawin, Fred O. Scott, David G. Scott, Robert P. Sedgwick, Merrill L. Serapinas, Frank R. Severance, Alvin W. Severance, Donald F. Sexton, Raymond T. Shanbaum, Max Shanbaum, Samuel Shanley, William L. Shaw, Francis Shaw, Howard A. Shaw, Thomas H. Shea, Donald J. Shepardson, John U. Shevenell, John W. Shevenell, Louis H., Jr. Shilko, Joseph J. Sibley, Hampton L. Siddons, Arthur W. Simkins, Warren Simonds, Raymond L. Simpson, Mervyn B. Sinclair, Howard C. Sinclair, James B. Sinclair, John D. Sinclair, Robert A. Sisson, James R. Sisson, Roy M. Smallwood, John T. Smith, Alvin J., Jr. Smith, Raymond R. Smith, Stanley A. Smith, Thomas H. 470 WORLD WAR II Smith, William W. Snow, Bernard A. Snow, Donald W. Snow, Norman F. Snyder, Edward C. Solomon, Joseph R. Souza, Alfred W. Spaulding, Lloyd F. Spaulding, Roger A. Spaulding, Seth B. Spendlove, Bernard Spooner, Howard R. Spooner, William A., Jr. Springer, John L., Jr. Springer, Priscilla Stangvilla, John W. Staraitis, Joseph, Jr. Starrett, Douglas R. Starrett, Raymond F. Stasunas, Veto J. Stephens, Lewis C. Stevens, Merton E. Stevens, Oscar F. Stevens, Paul O. Stewart, James G., Jr. Stewart, Louis W. Stewart, William J. Stimpson, Ruth L. Stockwell, Edgar R. Stockwell, Herbert A. Stoddard, Carl E. Stoddard, Robert K. Stone, Albert L. Stone, Anthony J. Stone, Charles R. Stone, Clifford J. Stone, Col I is L. Stone, Howard L. Stone, John P. Stone, Stanley J. Stone, Wyman R. Strapakas, Stanley S. Stratton, Horace I. Stratton, Robert E. Strazdas, Ernest A. Strong, All ie B. Sullivan, Charles T. Sullivan, James B. Suomala, George H. Superchi, Oliver M. Sutton, Franklin L. Sweeny, Randall D. Taft, John M. Tait, Eric T. Tait, Lloyd B. Talcott, Duane L. Tamason, Anthony S. Tamasunas, John J. Tandy, Norman E. Tangley, Ralph C. Tappin, Richard E. Tatro, Blanch M. Tatro, George R. Taylor, Edward H. Taylor, Peter P. Teel, Weston P. Temple, Harry F. Terroy, William W., Jr. Thayer, Alan B. Thibodeau, Gerald J. Thibodeau, Phillip J. Thomas, David A. Thomasian, Peter J. Thompson, Clifton H. Thompson, Harland S. Thompson, Kenneth Thompson, Lyman K. Thompson, Merle J. Thomson, Allison S. Thomson, Harold W. Thorburn, Burton I. Thorp, David P. Todd, Edward H. Tolman, Roger H. Tourigny, Joseph M. Towne, Oscar A., Jr. Towne, Robert W. Trenoweth, Roy W. Trevors, Harry E. Trinque, Bernard H. Trombly, Henry T. Truehart, Edmund J. Truehart, Harold J. Truehart, Robert W. Tunnicliffe, William W. Turner, George R. Turner, Walter J. Twichell, Nathaniel H. Tyler, Anne A. Tyler, Edward L., Jr. Tyler, Robert M. Upshaw, David L. Valentine, Carl W. Valentine, Richard Valley, Annette L. Valley, Carlton, N. Valley, Evelyn Gilbert Vareika, Donald C. Varoli, George J. Varoli, Reno S. Vaughn, George H. Venett, Lyle F. Venett, Norman H. Venette, Clarence E. Venette, Edward T. 471 HISTORY OF ATHOL Venette, Jean M. Vincent, John A. Vincent, Stanley J. Vining, Charles W. Visockis, Francis C. Vitello, Cory Vittum, Albert W. Vorce, Harry E. Voter, Virgil Waid, Lee W. Waid, Lloyd G. Waite, Robert E. Walker, Francis G. Walker, Virgil S. Walls, Percy P. Wallwork, Deane E. Ware, Walter C. Warren, Addison M. Warren, Homer L. Washburn, Allyn D. Waterman, Richard B., Jr. Watkevich, Frank P. Watkevich, John C. Watkevich, Stanley C. Watts, Oscar F. Wayzmuzis, Eugenia H. Wesockes, George A. Wesockes, John J. Wessell, Albert L. Whall, Richard E. Wheeler, John W., Jr. Whelpley, Howard O. White, Edward P. White, Elmer O. White, Ernest A. White, Fayette O., Jr. White, Gilbert W. White, Robert E. White, Robert J. Whitehouse, Walter R. Whitney, Paul W. Whitney, Wayne W. Whittemore, David L. Wilber, Albert H. Wilcox, Calvin B. Wilkey, Clarence F. Williams, Albert Williams, Gordon E. Williams, John R. Williams, Pauline C. Williams, Ralston E. Williams, Simon M. Wilson, Howard M. Woessner, Douglas G. Wood, John L. Woodbury, Morton C. Wright, Anton A. Wright, Charles H. Wright, Earle L. Wyman, Charles J. Young, Charles F. Young, Edmund J. Young, Edward A., Jr. Young, Jack W. Young, James S. Young, Kenneth J. Young, Robert S. Younger, Raymond A. Yuksta, Stanley V. Yuoconis, Vincent J. Zack, Abraham J. Zack, Howard S. Zack, Morris Zamitis, Joseph Zapustas, John A. Zapustas, Stanley J. Zapustas, Wladislaw J. Ziguloski, Joseph E. Zuidema, Albert S. Zuidema, Andrew This writer was in the large assembly in front of Orange Town Hall on May 1 , 1 898, gathered to say adieu to his school¬ mates and others called into the war with Spain, and in August had stood on the Athol depot platform as the train from Spring- field brought back many of those men, sickly and but little more than walking skeletons. Again less than twenty years later he had participated in many farewells as our men went forth to save the world for democracy and on November 18, 1918, on Athol Lower Com¬ mon, had confidently predicted that his generation had won the war to end all wars. 472 WORLD WAR II Again in 1940 he had seen a general preparation for defense only to develop after Pearl Harbor into World War II, and again on August 14, 1945, he had publicly proclaimed his hope (but without his former assurance) that wars were at an end. It was therefore with much apprehension that he read in June 1950 of the invasion of South Korea and the despatch of our soldiers to rescue that oppressed land. As this book is being prepared for the printer, that "polic¬ ing" of Korea has dragged its uncertain way for two and a half years — the President who first ordered the despatch of our troops to that far-away land is to soon retire from office and his successor, an apostle of a different political philosophy, has flown to Korea to study the problem first hand but no sure signs of a peace in the near future are discerned. Our Selective Service Board has been recalled to active ser- ice and again our young men are being shipped to a foreign land. No further attempt will be made to dwell on the details of this latest (and again we hope the last) war, for such it is; how¬ ever, we are being furnished with the names of the Athol sons who have so far entered the service of their country and we append it below, sincerely hoping that future events will not materially increase this list. Adams, Clifford G. Baldwin, Robert F. Adams, David C. Ball, Jackson W. Adams, George C. Barillo, William F. Adams, John Q. Barrett, Earl E. Adams, Richard F. Barrus, Joseph G., Jr. Barton, Raymond M. Adams, Robert D. Adams, Robert F. Barton, Roger D. Adams, Robert N. Battaini, Raymond M., Jr. Adams, Theodore J., Jr. Baxter, Charles E. Allen, William C. Beaman, Charles E. Amidon, Ernest E. Beane, Charles A. Anderson, Ronald D. Bennett, Louis D. Anderson, Walter R. Bennett, George N. Andrilliunas, Francis Bergeron, Edward N. Archibald, Lawrence T. Bisbee, Robert W. Armitage, Charles R. Bishop, Ernest H. Blake, John C. Bachelder, Donald F. Blamy, Robert G. Bacigalupo, Arthur F. Blanchard, Joseph L. Bacon, Arthur H. Blanchard, Raymond J. Bacon, Leon A. Blanchard, Roger E. Bacon, Norman A. Bonisolli, Louis B. Bailey, Kenneth Boudreau, Ernest Baker, Robert L. Boudreau, Joseph P. L. 473 HISTORY OF ATHOL Boudreau, Samuel J., Jr. Boutelle, Richard J. Boutelle, Robert M. Bouzquet, Donald G. Boyd, Floyd H. Brackett, Donald H. Brouillet, Norma A. Brown, Russell E. Buchanan, William R., Jr. Buffum, Herbert E. Bunevich, Peter C. Burgess, Norman L. Burgess, Philip N. Burke, Robert A. Burnham, Roy W Callahan, Robert W. Calvi, Carl M. Calvi, Paul J. Cameron, David F. Cameron, Owen J. Canuel, Ernest L. Casella, Joseph Cetto, James D. Chaisson, Camile H. Chaisson, George J. Chaisson, Francis E. Chaisson, Maurice J. Chandler, Nicholas M. Chatfield, Daniel H. Chiasson, Gerald J. Chiasson, Willard J. Christenson, Earl R. Cloutman, Rodney F. Codding, Alvin L. Codding, Ray H Cole, Sylvia E. Colo, Herman T. Compton, Frederick E., Jr. Connors, Patrick J. Cook, Carroll N. Cooke, Roy F., Jr. Cordingly, Ralph P. Cote, Ronny C. Cormier, Robert H. Cummings, John N. Cummings, Joseph W. Currier, Norman L. Dame, Frederick R. Dane, Earl R. Davis, Howard A. Dawson, Roy R. DeFazio, Ernest L. DeGrace, Gerald J. Demarzio, Thomas DePratti, Dominick R., Jr. Desman's, Norman G. Desrosier, Francis L. Dike, Douglas Dodge, Phyllis Doiron, Everett J. Doiron, Gerald J. Dombroski, Charles E. Dombroski, Joseph J. Donelan, James F. Drown, Duane A. Drukenbrod, Herbert F. DuBois, Richard J. Dufault, Claude E. Dugan, James J. Duguay, Albert J. Duguay, Edmond J. Duguay, Edward Duguay, Francis J. Duguay, Joseph P. Duguay, Norman A. Dunshee, Donald R. Dunton, Ronald W. Duplessie, Howard A. Duplessie, Richard L. Duteau, Joyce Duteau, Robert C. Dyer, Robert J. Eaton, Elbridge Perley, Jr. Ecklund, John Elwell, Arthur G. Emmett, Donald H. Eno, David M. Euvrard, Albert F. Euvrard, Emile E. Euvrard, Evaline Euvrard, Richard F. Evans, Herbert W. Evans, Walter G., Jr. Ewell, Donald R. Fahey, Donald R. Fanelli, Leo J. ■Farnum, Donald F. Farnum, Gregory Fegeau, Richard L. Ferman, Alvin A. Ferrari, Raymond J. Fish, Roland J. Fisher, George E. Flagg, William A. Fletcher, James E. Floran, Eunice Flourent, Joseph A. ■Fountain, Donald L. Fountain, Richard J. Fountain, Robert C. Freeman, Rodney B. 474 WORLD WAR II Gallagher, Edward F. Gallagher, Richard J. Gallant, Joseph H. Gallien, Armand L. Gasson, Frances M. Gates, David R. Gates, Paul R. Geikie, Frank, Jr. Gelinas, Richard N. Gelinas, Robert A. Gerry, Daniel L. Gervin, Peter A. Gillis, William E. Gilmore, Alan J. Gilmore, Richard F. Gionet, Yvon J. Girard, Philip M. Godin, Girard J. Godish, Leon M. Goewey, John L. Goewey, Robert E. Graham, Pearl D. Grant, William J., Jr. Grigaliunas, Daniel J. Grits, Bernard G. Grover, George E., Jr. Gunn, Richard K. Gunter, David A. Hachey, Neil A. Hackre, Harold Hager, Rodney J. Hall, Richard R. Hamlett, Frederick S. Harris, Arthur J. Hastings, Donald E. Hathaway, Duane D. Hause, Ronald E. Hayward, Gordon A. Henrich, Neil J. Hickey, Leonard E. Higgins, Charles W. Higgins, Dana F., Jr. Hill, Marguerite F. Holloway, Robert R., Jr. Holman, Carl P. Hood, James S. Hounsell, Roy E. Howard, Roy E. Howe, Charles E. Hunter, John S. Huntoon, Leon A. Jamison, Forrest B., Jr. Jenna, William W. Jewett, Frederick C. Jonaitis, Anthony J., Jr. Kakitis, John H. Kakitis, Leon H. Kalinen, Edward V. Karluk, Bernard J. Kasputis, Anna M. Kasputis, Nellie Kendall, Roger B. Kennedy, Richard M. Kessler, Richard D. Kessler, Woodrow M. Killay, John C. Killay, William H., Jr. Kimball, Curtis M. King, Leonard E. Kloss, Terry P. Kolapakka, John A. Koroblis, Edmund F. Koroblis, Richard D. Labrie, Joseph A. Lachance, Ernest L. LaFlame, Henry J. LaFlamme, Charles G. LaFlamme, Wilfred E. Lajoie, Albert W. Landon, Harvey D. Landry, Alban Landry, Jean L. Landry, Joan Landry, Joseph A. Landry, Nora Lanteigne, Joseph F. Lanteigne, Ned Laperle, Joseph R. Lawsky, John R. Lawton, Elwyn T. Lawton, Kirke B. Lawton, Richard O. LeBlanc, Ferdinand A. LeBlanc, Norman R. Le Due, Joseph E. Lee, Ernest J. Lee, James M. Lee, Richard E. Leete, Earl O. Legrand, Lester E. LeMote, Norman N. Leonard, Robert F. Lewis, Harry R. Lilley, Walter G. Lillie, Guy R. Logan, Vernon G. MacAllister, Alan R. MacDonald, Chester A. MacDonald, Vernon B. MacKnight, Edwin A. MacKnight, William P. 475 HISTORY OF ATHOL MacLean, Edwin W. Maher, Thomas F. Mallet, Ernest L. Mallet, Howard S. Mallet, Joseph A. Mallet, Josepn D. Mallet, Roger W. Manewich, Leo A., Jr. Mangan, Thomas B. March, Allen C. Marcoux, Emma A. Margadonna, Robert E. Marion, Arthur J . Marion, Henry C. Mariotti, Harvey L. Maroni, Theodore A. Marquis, Edward H. Marquis, Leo A. Marquis, Raymond J. Martin, James B. Masiello, Anna Mason, Earl P., Jr. May, Eugene C. May, John N. Mayo, Brian H. McCarthy, Albert L. McCluskey, Robert P. McGuirk, Alvin L. McGuirk, Charles F. McIntosh, William J. McKenzie, James E. McPherson, Gardner E. Meehan, James W. Meehan, Kenneth J. Merrian, Wesley L. Mickunas, Algis Michunas, Juozas Miller, Ellen Miller, Thomas E. Minty, Clifton C. Minty, David W. Minty, Robert R. Monaghan, James E. Morandi, Edward V. Morandi, Richard A. Morris, James S. Morrow, Charles H. Moschini, Americo Mundell, Donald E. Musante, Joseph M. Myers, Harold E. Myers, Kenneth W. Nelson, Charles A. Nelson, Frank H., Jr. Nelson, Louis A., Jr. Neward, Anthony F. Noel, Joseph W. R. Noel, William F. Oberg, Owen H. Obue, Ernest J. Ori, Mario V. Osborne, Arthur C. Osborne, Donald L. Osborne, Eugene R. Ovitt, Earl R. Paquet, Arthur A. Paquet, Richard C. Parker, Dane W. Parker, Edmund C. Paro, Linwood A. Parsons, Richard A. Paulin, Ernest J. Paulin, Fernand Peppard, Wayne E. Perdikas, Theodore S. Peters, James H. Picard, Martin J. Pietrowsky, Joseph A. Pike, Carole A. Pisciuneri, Joseph E. Plotkin, Sherman P. Pluff, Addison Ellsworth Poppe, Roy D. Porter, Walter J., Jr. Posk, Francis J. Posk, Robert S. Poulin, Richard E. Poulin, William Pratt, Rexford N. Prindle, Robert E. Puscus, Frank C. Quinlan, Thomas C. Quintin, Bernard L. Quintin, Lawrence R. Rathburn, Henry C. Record, Roger P. Reed, Melvin S. Reilly, William E. Renwick, John M. Renwick, William N. Ricard, Ernest I. Rice, Charles P. Richards, Kenneth G. Richards, Raymond E. Rimsa, Peter J. Roach, Albert P. Roberts, Stanley W. Robertson, Alexander M. Robichaud, Edward F. Robichaud, Ernest J. Robichaud, Frank A. 476 WORLD WAR II Robichaud, Gerald J. Robichaud, Lawrence A. Robichaud, Richard R. Robinson, Edward C. Robinson, John Robinson, William E., Jr. Rouleau, Robert G. Rou.elle, Richard Ryder, Robert R. Salahna, Stanley T. Savage, Arthur F., Jr. Savage, Kent B. Savoy, Alfred J. Savoy, David R. Schnurr, Jay Whitford Searles, Raymond C. Sessions, Gordon E. Shanley, William L. Shaw, Edward O. Sibley, Robert L. Sibley, Lynwood D. Sinclair, William A. Skevington, Clive H. Smith, Ernest Henry Smith, John R. Soucie, Donald R. Soucie, James H. Soucie, Leon E. Spooner, Roger A. Springer, Gordon H. St. Hilaire, Arthur J. Stangvilla, Joseph L. Stembokas, Julius A. Stephens, Lewis C. Stinson, John D. Stinson, Richard J. Stone, Paul J. Stone, Richard H. Stowell, David W. Stowell, Douglas M. Stowell, Roger L. Stratton, Earl R. Strong, Donald E. Sweeney, Edward H. Sweeney, Timothy L. Sweet, Walter J. Tait, Barbara Tait, James MacKinnon Taroli, Arthur P. Tedford, Henry H. Tedford, Jay E., Jr. Theroux, Edward R. Therrien, Leonard R. Thomasian, Peter J. Thompson, Kenneth R. Thomson, Elden M. Thomson, Gordon A. Tolman, Arthur H. Tonjes, John Tracey, Robert S. Truehart, Donald P. Tuttle, William E. Twichell, Nathaniel H. Tyler, Anne Valley, Charles E. L. Valley, Leonard C. Vareika, Donald C. Vatkevich, Joseph D. Vaughn, Irving L. Vysocky, Sylva E. Walker, Virgil Walsh, James W. Wheeler, George P. White, Harry C. Whitney, Leon E., Jr. Wickham, Peter T., Jr. Wilcox, Herbert G. Wilkey, Kenneth H. Williams, Edward F. Willy, Clyde E. Wilson, Warren C. Winters, Atwood C., Jr. Woessner, Robert J. Wood, David R. Wood, Wendel! B. Worth, Walter J. Wright, Richard E. Young, Walter R. Ziguloski, Joseph E. 477 CHAPTER XXX BURYING GROUNDS THE Pequoig pioneers, realizing that mortality is the com¬ mon lot of all peoples, early made provisions for a resting place for their dead. In the vote of the Proprietors passed September 2, 1741 decreeing the distribution of an additional fifty acres of land to each Proprietor's right, the surveyor Abner Lee certified that to the right of Jonothan Marble's lot No. 30, then owned by Samuel Kendall, was added an additional eight acres "ye eight acres to Lyee in common for a Buring Place and Meeting house place, if ye proprietors shall think proper to put them too." This eight acres adjoined Mill Brook and extended across Hapgood Road in the general locality where the Hapgood School now stands. Evidently the Proprietors thought proper to utilize this land as indicated in their vote for near their first meeting house they set aside a portion for a burying place. We have no definite idea of the number of burials made there but we have in a pamphlet reporting the proceedings incident to the re¬ dedication of this cemetery on July 4, 1859 all available infor¬ mation concerning it. Among those interred here are listed Robert Oliver, William Oliver, five children of Capt. Ephraim Stockwell (who lived on a farm west of Prospect Hill within the present limits of Phillipston), Joseph Twichell, David Twichell, and several members of the Morton, Graves, and Nutt families. The last interment is said to have been the remains of Samuel Fair¬ banks who died on June 3, 1777. We have no very clear idea of the route of the first highway through our town but all available information indicates that it led from East Pequoig Hill (Pleasant Street) westerly near this old church site and thence on down the hill, across the river at the fording place just below the mouth of Tully River and thence up the hill to West Pequoig Hill, now largely within the limits of Orange. From the first the easterly settlement was more quickly and thoroughly developed, yet apparently the pioneer location of 478 BURYING GROUNDS the church and churchyard was established some little distance west of the thriving easterly "village" as a concession to the dwellers to the west. After the loss of the first building the predominant East Hill made no more concessions but took the second Sanctuary unto itself, leaving the first location to re¬ turn somewhat to its former condition as a part of the primeval wilderness. Even the cemetery was allowed to revert to private ownership and the cattle in the pasture to roam at will over the bones of the pioneers. Finally the ploughshare did further violence to its sanctity. In his address at the Centennial of the first Church in 1850, Rev. Mr. Clarke, its pastor, alluded to this discreditable situation. At length in 1858 definite action was taken to restore this ancient burial place as far as possible. A deed of a plot including all then discernible graves was obtained from the then reputed owners, Mr. Ethan Lord and Mr. Amos Leander Cheney, who stipulated that the land must be kept fenced and that a suitable monument be erected there. Our townsman, J. Smith Drury, carved the monument stand¬ ing there out of Athol Granite, providing a suitable receptacle for several historical documents. On July 4, 1859 under the leadership of Col. Thomas Townsend our townspeople marched to the old cemetery where after appropriate remarks by Col. Townsend, a reading of the votes of the town by Farwell F. Fay, a short speech by Esq. Charles Field and an address by Rev. John F. Norton, several documents comprising over three hundred pages of printed matter were placed in the prepared cavity in the stone by Mr. Moses Chase, aged 88, the oldest person present. The monument was then raised onto its pedestal by means of a rope pulled by the school children of Athol. After short remarks by a half dozen citizens and three High School students the benediction was pronounced by Rev. Alpheus Harding of New Salem, the people returned to the residential areas of the town, and the graves of the pioneers were left in solitude. Mt. Pleasant Cemetery With only a fording place for a crossing of our Millers River necessity required another burial place accessible to those re¬ siding west of it. Mt. Pleasant Cemetery was quickly provided. Like the more easterly yard, we know not when it was first used as a burial place, but as the grave of Ezekiel Wallingford is definitely marked there it must have been in use at the time of his untimely death at the hands of the murderous savages on August 17, 1746. 479 HISTORY OF ATHOL One of the pioneer settlers of 1735, Mr. Samuel Morton, chose for his abode the location known to this generation as the "Sawyer Farm" on South Main Street, his cabin being lo¬ cated at approximately 487 in that street. Tradition says that the land was donated to the community by Mr. Morton and as intimated above probably was in use before 1741, but twenty years or more elapsed before the land was officially set apart for public use. Presumably the chaotic conditions of all our early records coupled with the absence of a local surveyor caused this delay, but eventually in July, 1762 Esq. Charles Baker of Templeton who lived on what we know as the "Miner Place" in the southwesterly part of Phillipston, determined the metes and bounds and furnished the following description which is recorded in the Proprietors' Book, Vol. 2, page 93. "Athol, July, 1762. This Plot contains two acres and is laid out for a burying place on the North side of the River and Lyeth by the way Side that goeth from Samuel Mortons to Tully Bridge and is Bounded as follows beginning at a Cherry tree the South east corner thence Running North 16 rods then west 20 rods to a stake then South 1 6 rods to a Stake then East to the corner first Mentioned and it bounds every way of undivided Land. Surveyed by Charles Baker." The statement of the surveyor that the tract was taken out of a larger area of undivided land and therefore did not adjoin Mr. Morton's holdings seems to refute the story of his largess. This yard, known to past generations as Lower Village Ceme¬ tery, was the only available cemetery in the westerly part of the town until the opening of Silver Lake Cemetery. There were buried Ephraim and Aaron Smith and several generations of their descendants, Samuel Morton and his son Dr. Joshua Morton, Capt. Thomas Lord and his wife Leonard (Smith), Aaron Oliver and likewise many of his family, Perley Sibley and at least four of his sons, Esq. Eliphalet Thorpe and some of the sons, and Jonothan Kelton and a number of his descend¬ ants. Here Moses Hill, the pioneer on the Townsend Road, buried two of his children who died of the dysentery epidemic of August, 1 777. From the beginnings of the "Factory Village" around 1810 until Silver Lake Cemetery was opened in 1877, this was the only easily available spot for burials in the westerly part of 480 BURYING GROUNDS the town. Although not extensively used in these latter days, yet there are perhaps a half dozen interments a year there. The oldest grave stone in the yard marks the grave of Ebenezer Goddard who departed this life November 29, 1752 in his 49th year. Eventually a receiving tomb was built near the center of the plot but it fell into disuse long ago and was finally removed. in the southeast corner of the yard the Fish family early in the nineteenth century built a large tomb which for some years was the only one available in the villages for winter use and by some arrangement was used by the town. In this old tomb were interred the bodies of members of the Fish family as they died. Eventually in 1870 the late Sally Fish caused the granite tomb adjoining the old tomb to be erected and removed thither all bodies of her family from the old tomb. After the Bullard Tomb in Silver Lake Cemetery was completed in 1884, the old vault was closed and subsequently filled and the lot so graded as to remove all traces of it. After the opening of Silver Lake Cemetery a not incon¬ siderable number of families removed the bodies of their dead to the new yard but the old cemetery continues to be used by many families residing in the so-called Lower Village and terri¬ tory west of it. The Chestnut- Hill Cemetery The first settler in the entire northeasterly part of our town was Capt. John Haven of Framingham who took up his abode on the farm known to a recent generation as the Daniel Bullard Place. Late in life he said that when he established his home on Chestnut Hill there was known to him no white settlement between his home and the Canadian line. We have not the exact date of his arrival but the record on our town books of the birth of his daughter, Grace, on December 26, 1747 is an indication that he was domiciled here before that time. How¬ ever, as he became Town Clerk upon the organization of the town in 1762, he may well have recorded a birth in his family which occurred while he resided in Framingham. That there was quite some settlement in that area previous to 1762 is evidenced by the fact that the first highway laid out by the new town was our Royalston Road and the second, our Gulf Road. i 3lf A very reliable tradition is that very early burials from this area were in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, but at length, August 10, 481 HiSTORY OF ATHOL 1 77 8, Capt. Jonothan Kendall at the insistence of ten residents on the hill yielded a portion of his broad acres for a burial place. Subsequent burials not only from Chestnut Hill but all of East Hill, some of the Dyer Road, and many from the Fryville area were made there. In his conveyance of the plot, Capt. Kendall reserved the right to graze his sheep there. In 1844 his grandson, John Kendall, gave the town a deed of the whole tract previously used and the addition of a third of an acre on the west side of the yard. There have been few burials here during the last twenty years, but the cemetery is well cared for and its appearance does credit to the town. Old Pleasant Street Cemetery I search in vain for the exact date when this burial place was first used, but I do find in the town records that at the annual meeting of the town in 1767, the warrant includes this article: "to come into some measures to Provide another Bury¬ ing place for the Town and to act thereon as the town shall think proper." This article was "passed over" but on May 19 of the same year, £5.4.0 of the money "Granted for the Repairs of High¬ ways" was set aside to be worked out on the Burying Places under the direction of Ichabod Dexter and Robert Marble, Surveyors of Highways. As Mr. Dexter lived on Moore Hill Road in the westerly part of the town and Robert Marble on Pleasant Street, it would seem that the then two existing ceme¬ teries were in effect allotted one each for special attention. As the oldest inscribed grave stone in this Pleasant Street Cemetery is at the grave of Calvin Humphrey who died in 1773, it is probable that this God's Acre was consecrated later than May, 1767 and earlier than November, 1773. For three score years after this yard came into use, it was the principal cemetery of the town. Here was buried in 1811 Capt. John Oliver whose body lay in his house on Lyons Hill nine days after his death because of the "deep snow" that made travelling impossible. Here in adjoining tombs were interred the first and second pastors of the Church of Christ in Athol, the remains of the latter having subsequently been removed to Highland Cemetery. The third tomb there was that of the Joel Morton family. The Highland Cemetery For fully seventy years after it was opened a few years prior 482 BURYING GROUNDS to the Revolution, the Old Pleasant Street yard sometimes called the First Church Burying Yard proved to be adequate for the most populous section of the town, but eventually available space became scarce and there was a demand for a new grave yard. After a period of investigation it was generally agreed that a tract “south of Mill Brook" belonging to Samuel Sweetzer was the most available and thereupon arrangements were speedily made and on February 12, 1843 the older or westerly section of this yard was deeded to the town. The town acquired in 1889 the present easterly portion of this tract of Sarah P. Brown and in the succeeding years the present small lake was excavated there and the whole tract laid out and beautified. The late Dr. James Oliver took an active interest in this latter proceeding and much of the beauty and symmetry there is due to his sagacity. By vote of the town in 1886 the northeast corner of the Sweetzer purchase was set apart as a park and a soldiers' Burial Lot. Around the monument on this lot for two generations the Grand Army Post gathered on Memorial Day to pay tribute to their dead. 1916 Jerome Jones of Boston donated five hundred dol¬ lars and Mr. and Mrs. Wilson H. Lee of Orange, Connecticut one hundred dollars towards the ornamental pillars at the entrance and for some other changes at this cemetery. Roman Catholic Cemeteries Until the coming of the railroad here in 1847 Athol was almost exclusively Protestant, but the workmen on the railroad enterprise were largely Irish emigrants, adherents to the ancient Roman Church. They were first housed on the flat south of the right of way of the railroad and west of Bearsden Road, but that settlement quickly vanished after the road was in operation. When work was begun in the Factory Village several of these laborers built humble homes on the “Patch" which is now lower South Street, and there they lived throughout their lives. These emigrants, soon followed by others o* their race and faith, felt warranted in establishing a church of their own. They were ministered to by the priest of the Otter River Church. Negotiations were entered into and the abandoned Baptist Church situated at No. 1782 Main Street was purchased. But these people needed not only a church building where their 483 HISTORY OF ATHOL faith was exclusively taught, they needed as well a consecrated ground where they might lay their dead. Evidently they chose the tract adjoining Vine Street, then owned by Benjamin C. Skinner. Whether they solicited public aid in buying this land or a fair minded populace decided that equity demanded that they be helped, I do not know but for one reason or the other the project came to the official at¬ tention of the voters in 1867, and thereupon the town approp¬ riated "two hundred fifty dollars to provide a Catholic Burying Ground if it can be done legally." As no record appears of this expenditure I would guess that the decision was that legally the public money could not be so expended. Clearly acting within its legal rights, the town in 1869 did provide for the building of a road to that yard. In later years, now known as Calvary Cemetery, this yard is made use of occasionally for burials. As our Catholic population has increased, the need for more adequate burial lots has become apparent and the church management has provided for the need. The church bought on January 26, 1909 an area in the westerly part of the town adjoining Brookside Road, Gage Road, and the Boston & Maine Railroad, developing it along modern ideas of cemetery landscaping and opening it for use in 1911. Here, not only Athol but Orange and other adjoining towns bring their Roman Catholic dead. Comparatively recently a receiving tomb has been erected along the southerly boundary of the tract. This yard is of¬ ficially known as Gethsemane Roman Catholic Cemetery. The Stratton Cemetery From early days the predominating family name in the southeasterly part of Athol was Stratton. Thus the cemetery opened early in the last century off Adams Road bore that family name. It evidently remained in private ownership until at length in an article for the November town meeting of 1860, the town was asked to buy this cemetery land of one Hiram Haskell and also to purchase the tomb belonging to the estate of Ebenezer Stratton and the heirs of Jonothan Stratton. At that meeting the matter was referred to the Selectmen to get a price for the land and for the tomb, but I find no further recorded action on this matter. The cemetery has for many years been listed as one of the 484 BURYING GROUNDS public grave yards of the town. I would presume that some adjustment was made in that busy period incident to the out¬ break of our War Between the States. Unknown to the general public, there have been a very few burials here in recent years. With about eighty marked graves, there are perhaps twenty more burials that are unidentified. The first death recorded on these grave stones is that of Mary Elizabeth, daughter of William and Mary Meecham, who died March 22, 1 840. The Fay Cemetery For more than a century succeeding the incorporation of our town a considerable percentage of the residents in the southerly part of the town bore the name of Fay. Early burials by this family were in the Old Pleasant Street Cemetery, but evidently around 1830 some arrangement was made with Mr. Joseph Fay for a small tract of land for a cemetery. In 1844 it would appear that Mr. James Sullivan Fay, then the owner of the Josiah Fay farm at the four corners south of this ceme¬ tery, offered this yard to the town. Our Selectmen were authorized to take a deed of it and provision was made for fencing it. Thirty graves and a receiving tomb are discernible there, but no burials have been made for several years. So far as information from the graves informs us, the first burial there was the body of Mr. Josiah Fay who died March 16, 1834. Both he and his wife are still interred there. Yet when some thirty years ago his niece and adopted daughter, Abbie Mason Morgan, erected a memorial to these two, she acquired a lot in Silver Lake Cemetery and there the memorial stands. The Pleasant Street Cemetery I find a few references in the town records of proposals to establish a cemetery in the Doe Valley area but cannot learn that anything was actually accomplished until 1870 when a tract of several acres was acquired of D. Austin Ellinwood and named The Pleasant Street Cemetery. The tract was forthwith fenced and made available for burials and has been frequently used since its acquisition. The Silver Lake Cemetery In the season of prosperity following the Civil War the need 485 HISTORY OF ATHOL of more burial ground for Athol became apparent. After con¬ sidering many locations the town came to mutual agreement that the tract of wood land west of Pinedale Road belonging largely to Mersylvia Twichell, with some five acres held by Asa Hill, was the most desirable spot. Evidently Memorial Day was not generally observed in 1870 for at one o'clock in the afternoon of May 30 of that year, a town meeting was held and a committee of six appointed to negotiate for this land. The membership of this committee was Charles Field, Esq., Washington H. Amsden, John C. Hill, Lyman W. Hapgood, Lewis Thorpe, Enoch T. Lewis, and Lewis J. Whitney. At the 1870 November election $2550 was appropriated and the Selectmen were authorized to take the deed for the town. A committee of six was chosen on April 3, 1871 to take full charge of developing the tract. So chosen were Thomas H. Goodspeed, Walter Thorpe, George T. Johnson, Lyman W. Hapgood, Nathaniel Y. Lord, and Charles L. Lord. By 1873 the committee had selected a landscape artist, Mr. Amasa Farrier, and in due time engaged Baldwin & Caswell as Civil engineers. On March 6, 1876 the committee asked the town to make provision for a fence along the roadside and on motion of John C. Hill, $1500 was appropriated and the committee in¬ structed to build a good picket fence, well painted, with stone posts and a suitable gate. The wooden material for this fence was prepared at the James Monroe Cheney mill where the Union Twist Drill factory now stands and the workman doing most of the work was Mr. Charles H. Tyler, later a successful grocery merchant here. The labor of grading and landscaping was done under the supervision of Mr. Edmund J. Gage who was sexton in charge of the yard until his death. The first body to be interred there was that of Mr. Elias Walker who died on May 5, 1875. At the dedicatory exercises allusion was made to another burial before the ground was completely prepared. Dedicatory exercises were planned for May 10, 1877, but very inclement weather prevented any out-door exercises that day. The following day a considerable gathering of citizens assembled in the new cemetery where a well planned program was carried out as follows: INVOCATION — Rev. A. F. Herrick . Methodist SCRIPTURE READING — Rev. H. A. Blake . . . Congregationalist HYMN — Athol Chorus led by W. S. Wiggins 486 BURYING GROUNDS ADDRESS — Charles Field, Esq. POEM — Rev. E. M. Bartlett . Baptist PRAYER — Rev. L. Fay . Baptist BENEDICTION — Rev. E. P. Gibbs ...... Unitarian I well remember this occasion and the most pleasing im¬ pression made upon all present. In preparation of this page I have re-read the address of Esq. Field and have been as thrilled again as I was on that long ago day. In his remarks Mr. Field paid a fine tribute to two of the Committee who had died since the project was begun, Lyman W. Hapgood and Nathaniel Y. Lord. After the dedication there was an auction sale of lots to any purchaser who would pay a premium for a special choice. At this sale lots were bought by T. H. Goodspeed, I. Y. Kendall, O. Kendall and son, Lucien Lord, J. S. Parmenter, F. C. Par- menter, Ethan Lord, L. K. Sprague, and the family of David Smith, the last named having already contracted for the monu¬ ment on their lot. In 1909 the Cemetery Commissioners decreed that several acres of pine timber on the southerly side of this tract should be disposed of but an aroused citizenry decreed otherwise and that area was set off from the control of the Cemetery Depart¬ ment into the town's park system, it having previously acquired all the land bordering on Silver Lake not included in the cem¬ etery purchase. When the town bought this land in 1870 it might well have put a sign on the road to Pinedale just north of the cemetery gate, "Ne Plus Ultra." Save for the Joel Young buildings there was nothing beyond until Fryville was reached. Gradually homes were built along that roadside until by the beginning of the second decade of this twentieth century, no stretch of the imagination was required to see the whole area north of the cemetery utilized for home sites. Then a far seeing citizenry reached out and took in 1921 by eminent domain a two story dwelling house and some twenty-two acres of land immediately north of the cemetery. The house was sold at auction and soon removed, surveys were made, and the whole area plotted. Ex¬ cept for the terrace northwest of the high land of the yard, no burial use has been made of it as yet. In 1943 Mrs. Nellie H. Byron died and by her will she pro¬ vided a substantial sum for a memorial fountain in the cem¬ etery. Opinion was divided as to the advisability of accepting this but her wishes were complied with and in due time $10,687.22 was paid over to the town treasurer from her es- 487 HISTORY OF ATHOL tate. A substantial portion of this was expended in building the elaborate fountain west of the main entrance while the re¬ mainder is held in trust to provide for its maintenance. Throughout the eighty years since this cemetery was opened for general use the town has been most fortunate in the men chosen to care for the grounds. These men have been Edmund J. Gage, his son Monroe F. Gage, Henry W. Ashford, Minor D. Brown, and Ernest E. Litchfield. The last named received many compliments on Memorial Day, 1949 for the excellent appear¬ ance of the entire area. The tomb in this cemetery was a gift by Mr. Daniel Bullard with the full approval of his wife, Polly (Bragg) Bullard. This couple resided on their little farm on Chestnut Hill where the pioneer Capt. John Haven first settled. To this couple were born two children, Mary Ann and Franklin Daniel, neither of whom ever married. Mary Ann resided with her parents until her death, but Franklin Daniel went afar in search of I know not what. He spent some years in Colorado and other parts of the then wild west. Eventually he returned to the old home¬ stead, broken in health, and soon died. Before his death he talked with his father telling him that he would make no will, thus leaving his entire estate under the law to his sire, but as the family exchecquer was not in need of any replenishment by him he desired that his father take his little estate and with it make some suitable gift to this his native town, "where it will do the most good." The senior Mr. Bullard sought the advice of Charles Field, Esq. in all affairs incident to the closing of his son's estate, and was advised by Mr. Field that a modern receiving tomb in the then new cemetery would be a most useful and acceptable gift to the town. Thus it was soon arranged that the tomb was built, paid for by Mr. Daniel Bullard, and inscribed — "Erected by Daniel and Polly Bullard in memory of Frank D. Bullard 1884" Once or twice at the end of long and severe winters the vault has been taxed to capacity as it is the only available re¬ ceiving tomb under the town's control. As modern machinery makes digging in frozen ground a procedure no longer to be dreaded, there are more and more winter burials. In a general way the foregoing lists all the burial places in town. Long ago the little cemetery in South Royalston was acquired by citizens of that area then in Athol, but a legisla¬ tive act of 1803 took this area from it and annexed it to Royal¬ ston. 488 BURYING GROUNDS On the portion of Thrower Road running westerly towards White Pond Road is a small tract with some stone posts about it that was apparently once a burial place, but inquiry many years ago of Mr. Adoniram J. Fay, who was born a short half mile northwest of this place, brought to me the information that all bodies once interred there have been long since re¬ moved. By the roadside less than a quarter of a mile east of the above named spot are two small graves which I was once told were the burial place of two Cummings' children but I have no more data. On the old Sprague farm at the corner of New Sherborn and Riceville Roads long ago lived a numerous fam¬ ily of that name. When one of the aged men of this family died around 1840 he was buried on that farm. When the fam¬ ily had all left town, they considered selling the old farm but first wanted to remove their dead. Mr. Henry Gray was at that burial and thought he could identify the spot but failed to do so. Because of this sentiment the family for two generations at least held title to the old farm but a later generation failed to agree among themselves and lacking much sentiment in the matter allowed the farm to be sold at tax sale. On that tax deed the present owners rely for a title. On an isolated knoll on the farm of the Welfare Home are lonely unmarked graves of two who died in the almshouse dur¬ ing a small pox epidemic of 1870. In a fenced enclosure just off South Athol Road and not far from Flat Rock Road was buried William T. Oliver, who died in the small pox epidemic of 1902. Undoubtedly through the years other isolated burials have been made but their identity is now unknown. Management of Cemeteries Soon after Silver Lake Cemetery was opened the town adopted a code of by-laws covering the management of all its cemeteries. Statute law seemed to decree three commission¬ ers, each elected for the term of three years. Athol did not adopt that statute but rather provided for five commissioners, each elected for the term of five years. Under that system the town is still operating. We will not attempt to enumerate the many faithful men who have served on this commission. True it is that they have functioned in a general way efficiently and have records that are of much value to all. 489 HISTORY OF ATHOL An appropriation of $300 was made in 1895 to make plans of all the outlying cemeteries with the names of the burials so far as known. The bulk of that work was assigned to the author of these pages, who made complete plans of Chestnut Hill, Old Pleasant Street, Doe Valley, Stratton, and Fay Cemeteries. Exhaustive researches as to the identity of unmarked graves were made, and plans of each yard with a separate list of the graves so far as known were filed with the commission. Though the plans are still in existence they are all but useless for the lists of names are lost as is the notebook from which they were made. Trust Funds The Legislature of 1870 passed an enabling act whereby municipalities may accept Trust Funds to be invested and the income applied to the care of such burial lots as may be des¬ ignated in the act of donation. No one seems to have availed himself of this privilege in Athol for some thirteen years after the enactment of this statute. In 1884 amending legislation was enacted which may have brought public attention to the provisions of the law. On October 10, 1884 relatives of the Sylvanus and Mersylvia Twichell family tendered to the town a deposit of one hundred dollars, the income of which is to be perpetually applied to the care of the burial lot of that couple in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. At the next annual town meeting the town accepted the pro¬ visions of the statute. From this beginning various funds have been deposited with our treasurer until at the last accounting on January 1, 1953, these trust funds aggregated $136,376. Decreasing interest rates on investments have materially reduced the annual in¬ come from these funds yet they seem to be annually applied to the care designated and thus contribute to the beauty of our burial grounds. Customs of Burials The father of this author, Gardiner Lord, Jr., has repeated¬ ly told of his experiences regarding funerals in his youth. In the attics of several homes in town were stored laying out boards about the size and shape of the bottom of an old fash¬ ioned coffin. When there was a death in the family, a boy was sent to borrow this board and kind neighbors did the lay¬ ing out. Then measurements were taken and the same boy or another was sent to Alden Spooner's Cabinet Shop at No. 490 BURYING GROUNDS 1665 Main Street to have a coffin made. Mr. Spooner pre¬ pared the lumber of necessary dimensions, bent the sides to conform to the usual coffin shape, built the coffin, stained it with linseed oil and lamp black, and in a few hours loaded it onto the wagon or sled by which the boy had come and sent him on his way. His charge of three dollars for a coffin was all the funeral expense as usually kind neighbors dug the grave without charge. If the official sexton was employed, another two dollars were added to the bill. In those days no outside boxes or cases were used. Evidently in the later years of the eighteenth century some abuses crept into the procedure for on May 8, 1797 the town appointed a committee to "regulate funeral processions." In the earlier days of the town a home made bier was the means of conveyance at funerals, except for long trips when a private wagon was used. But at length more formality was demanded and the town provided seventy-five dollars to buy a hearse and build a house for the same. This vehicle has been described to me as having the form of an ordinary express wagon with a blacked canvas cover just high enough to admit of the coffin beneath it. Later the same year it was decreed that the hearse house be built on the cemetery south of the meeting house. This house was "also to contain a stock of ammunition." In 1821 it was voted to provide a seat on the hearse for the sexton "also to paint said hearse." Nearly a half century later public sentiment demanded a more ornate vehicle for its dead. In 1867 the proposition was made to buy two hearses but the town decreed only one at an expense of "not over five hundred dollars," and in 1869 run¬ ners were provided for this vehicle. In 1848, after the opening of Highland Cemetery, it was voted "if Calvin Kelton will move the Hearse house to the new burying ground, the town will release to him all right in the land where it now stands." My information is that this was done and the hearse was for twenty years housed in a building just inside the entrance to Highland Cemetery, but at length the growing Lower Village demanded some consideration in this regard and arrangements were made to place the building on a small part of the present High School lot adjoining Main Street. There the new hearse was installed and there it was stored for thirty-five years. As this was the only vehicle in town devoted exclusively to trans- 491 HISTORY OF ATHOL porting the dead/ the town officials made the rule that should there be a conflict of dates upon which the vehicle was desired, the use for the older deceased person should have priority. Occasionally the hearse at Royalston was borrowed but rarely was there demand which made it necessary to borrow from neighboring towns. Changing customs were eventually felt here and in mid¬ summer of 1889 Mr. Willard Hager, the undertaker at the Center, purchased a new vehicle for use at funerals under his direction. One reason for this move was that the old hearse was too low under the driver's seat to admit of the modern casket. The town did not speedily dispose of its old vehicle but allowed it to remain in its house, available for any required use. In the local celebrations following the democratic victory in 1892 and the second election of Grover Cleveland, some over zealous celebrators took the old vehicle from its house and placed in it an improvised coffin which they labelled William McKinley, the author of a very controversial tariff law that was a campaign issue. Justin W. Clayton, one of these celebrators then employed at the piano case factory, was appointed our Postmaster by Cleveland, and upon the election of Maj. McKinley to the Presidency naturally much desired a re-appointment. Antag¬ onistic partisans saw to it that Mr. McKinley was informed of the ride in effigy which he had taken in our 1892 celebration. Thereupon he emphatically stated that Justin W. Clayton could not be Athol's Postmaster after his then current term expired. In 1903 as the vehicle had not been used for some years, the town gave the Selectmen permission to dispose of it and it was quickly sold. While the running parts became the mobile part of an express wagon, the body of the hearse was demol¬ ished. Following this sale the hearse house was quickly razed and the land allowed to revert to the High School lot. 492 CHAPTER XXXI PUBLIC SERVICES Athol Gas Light Company HpALLOW candles and the sperm oil lamp were the only means of artificial interior lighting for a century after Athol was first settled. Occasionally for large or more brilliant lights the pitch pine knot was resorted to. The Civil War period saw the innovation of the coal oil lamp, but it was not until 1874 that any attempt was made to furnish a general supply for public use. In that year, Solon L. Wiley of Greenfield, with a natural interest in promotions, came on to the scene. Interesting a few local people in his enterprise he organized Athol Gas Light Company, with Adin H. Smith as President and himself as Secretary and Treasurer. A tract of land was acquired south of the lower end of South Street and a circular gas house erected. Gas mains were laid in the principal streets of the town and on November 12, 1874 gas was turned into them for the first time, supplying several public buildings and a few private residences with gas for lighting. As the years went on the use of illuminating gas became in¬ creasingly popular. Mains were extended into other streets and most public buildings and many residences were lighted with gas. At length electric lighting was becoming a possibil¬ ity and the gas company quickly began to consider this devel¬ opment. There was talk pro and con. Augustus Coolidge, a forceful character here, said, “You install this as a permanent thing and you will soon have your streets as light as day.“ Adin H. Smith, President of the Gas Company, felt that every¬ thing should be done to encourage the company for “In a very few years you will have a light on Swan's Hill that will give light to the whole village as bright as the sun." In the end a dynamo was set up in the C. M. Lee plant and several arc lights installed on a few of the main streets in town. Thus after a period of fourteen years since the beginning of gas light here, electric current was turned on for Athol's first electric street light on August 27, 1888. Two years later, at the time of the “Water Suit" settlement, Mr. Willey sold his interests in his Gas Company to outside in- 493 HISTORY OF ATHOL vestors, who installed Fred R. Davis here as a local manager. About this time the company name was changed to Athol Gas & Electric Company. There was disagreement then as to whether the town should turn to outside interests to furnish this utility or whether a municipal enterprise should be entered into. A committee consisting of Thomas H. Goodspeed, C. Fred Richardson, and Leroy C. Parmenter was appointed on October 31, 1890 to investigate the matter thoroughly. It was the opinion of this committee that the town be served by private interests and no municipal lighting plant was further seriously considered. W. D. Lucy, George D. Bates, W. D. Smith, and Hollis M. Slate on January 1, 1899 purchased the Athol Gas & Electric Company. This they continued to operate under the same general policy for ten years adding to its facilities so that power was furnished to the new electric railway which they also owned. On February 20, 1909 Wallace J. Webber acquired con¬ trolling interest in the Company. Mr. Webber installed his son, Paul Webber, as General Manager here and continued in control for some time. Previous to this there had been prac¬ tically no use made of electricity for interior lighting. The electric railway taxed the facilities of the plant to such an ex¬ tent that when a loaded car pulled up School Street Hill the lights were dimmed so as to be of little value, suddenly flar¬ ing up when the car stopped a moment. After Wr. Webber purchased the plant this condition was very speedily eliminated. One of his activities was to purchase the water power at Wendell Depot and install his hydroelectric plant there which went into operation in June, 1910. This plant, completed at a reported cost of $200,000, continued to furnish power for the local needs until both the plant and the dam were swept away in the flood of 1938 since which time it has not been restored. Preceding 1910 the street lights were operated on the so- called moon schedule. That is, they were only on when the moon did not give a reasonable amount of light over the town. But on December 3, 1909 Athol Post Office was visited by a group of gangsters and its contents stolen. To accomplish this the mobsters kidnapped the night street watchman — Frank W. Bannon, took him to the lockup, opened it with the police¬ man's key, and leaving him securely locked in the jail went resolutely on their way cleaning out the post office. Having had enough of dark streets, we promptly arranged for all night service. On December 4, 1909 the street lights were for the 494 PUBLIC SERVICES first time run on full night schedule which has continued ever since. In the period succeeding 1910 high tension lines were quiet¬ ly installed bringing power in from Gardner to augment the local power and to prevent the fluctuation mentioned above. The final achievement of the company was in June, 1931 when a connection was made east of Royalston town with the hydro¬ electric power line which brings power from South Vernon, Vermont, into southern New England with transformers and distributors located at Chestnut Hill Avenue near Main Street. With this supply the town has been assured of adequate elec¬ tricity for all its needs. The ownership of this local company passed to C. D. Parker and Company, investment bankers, and from them in mid¬ year 1930 the ownership was sold to the New England Power Company. Succeeding Paul Webber as Superintendent of the Company, A. Abbott Laughton came here and was for some years the local representative. Subsequent to a period of considerable agi¬ tation as to the reduction of rates Mr. Laughton was removed by the Company to another location, and Mr. Edmond F. Leach installed as his successor in 1940. Mr. Leach continues to represent the company here in a most satisfactory manner. On February 9. 1951, a merger was effected whereby the electric department of this company became a branch of Worcester County Electric Company and the gas department again incorporated into a separate unit named Athol Gas Com¬ pany. Except for these organization details no change is ap¬ parent in the conducting of these utilities. Rumors persist that plans are laid for the introduction of natural gas here and to that end in 1950 before Main Street was resurfaced joints of the old mains were recalked. The development of the gas company has not been marked. Electricity gradually curtailed its use for illumination, but in later years as a fuel it has been much more generally used. Water Supply In most sections of our town there was opportunity to go back into the hills to secure for individual homes a gravity supply of spring water. But in the entire Lower Village area around Main Street no such supply was readily available. The ground wells in this area were contaminated by human occu- 495 HISTORY OF ATHOL pancy of the land and some method had to be found to supply the village with water. We have but little data as to the early water supply but we do find references to the Mt. Hope Water Company which on May 1, 1867 installed a watering trough at the junction of Main and Exchange Streets. This company secured some spring or well rights on the so-called Partridge Lot west of Mt. Pleasant Cemetery and laid its pipes through Mt. Pleasant Street and Main Street, extending as far east as Exchange Street and southerly on that street to the Swan Market, which was for years at No. 91 Exchange Street. Eventually the name of this company was changed or merged into the Mt. Pleasant Water Company, and the ownership was divided into twenty-five shares. For years, even after the installation of the town water sys¬ tem, these rights were at a premium along the lower section of Main' Street. Eventually the system proved inadequate for the increased needs of shareholders. The quality of the water Supplied by the town's system was improved and the owners gradually lost their great enthusiasm for this private system. The pipes were becoming obsolete and the owners did not feel it advisable to rebuild the system. The result was that the service was abandoned in 1929. To John M. Swan the Par¬ tridge Lot was sold at auction, and the former owners relied entirely upon the municipal supply for their water service. In 1876, two years after he promoted the organization of the Athol Gas Light Company, Mr. Solon L. Wiley had formed the Athol Water Company and entered into contract with our town. On June thirteenth a water system here was assured, the source of supply being the so-called Phillipston Reservoir east of Athol Almshouse. Four months later water was turned into the mains for the first time, thus inaugurating our munici¬ pal water system on October 25, 1876. This event was cele¬ brated in November. The hydrants uptown were tested but their performance was somewhat of a disappointment as they did not throw water to any great height. In the afternoon those downtown were tested and proved satisfactory as they threw water higher than the steamers could. Orange Band furnished music throughout the day. The plant was accepted by the town on July 7, 1877. The next day the Pleasant Street Reservoir — a small distributing reservoir — burst, seriously damaging the roadway of that street, but by very hasty action of some individuals the planks 496 PUBLIC SERVICES were torn off the bridge over Mill Brook and the current flowed into the brook without doing harm to Main Street. In 1882-83 Mr. Wiley secured a large quantity of sheet iron pipe facetiously called by our townspeople "stove pipe," and laid a main from Athol Fairgrounds southerly in Petersham Road practically to the town line, contemplating the building of an impounding dam in Cut Throat Brook just over the line into Petersham. But the dam was never built nor was the pipe laid to its intended destination before the entire project was abandoned. Much of the pipe was taken up and the remainder was left in the ground. In late autumn of 1951, Massachusetts Department of Pub¬ lic Works awarded a contract to rebuild Petersham Road from Main Street to a short distance north of Briggs Road. Water mains connected with Athol's Water System had previously been laid over the northerly portion of this road to approxi¬ mately Lyons Hill Road and early in 1952 this main was ex¬ tended almost to Briggs Road. Mr. Wiley's next venture was to erect a pumping station at Silver Lake near the present northerly end of Fish Street and lay a main across unoccupied land to about 3 1 0 Crescent Street so that water pumped from the lake could be used to supply demands on the line, and any surplus forced into Summer Street Reservoir. After operation of this for some two years the scheme was abandoned and the power house removed. Mr. Wiley did not pay too much attention to improvement of the service here nor to purification of the water. The water pipes were small and inadequate. This caused the public much dissatisfaction. Mr. Wiley had made a contract with the town to furnish water for fire protection in a considerable number of hydrants. Finally in 1885 the town refused to pay the annual revenue due Mr. Wiley, claiming that he had broken his contract by failure to supply water either in quantity or quality adequate to the needs of the town. Then followed lengthy litigation known as the "Water Suit." The town was much divided, Mr. Wiley having strong cham¬ pions while others were equally insistent that there should be no more further deals with Wiley. As a part of this upheaval the town sought the right to take water from Queen Lake in Phillipston and to install a separate or competing system, but the legislature failed to grant the necessary authority. In 1886 seeing that both the quantity and quality of water were inadequate for the needs of the people, Mr. Wiley went 497 HISTORY OF ATHOL looking for another source of supply. He made the statement that when the Almighty planned the layout of Athol he placed Queen Lake up there as its natural water supply, but perhaps in defiance of the Almighty the Legislature refused to grant the town authority to take water from that Lake and Wiley never attempted it. Eventually a settlement was effected in 1890 by which Mr. Wiley was paid all that he claimed was his due. During the progress of his suit against the town, Wiley in 1886 began the development of the so-called Buckman Brook supply. In 1887 he bought a considerable area of the Charles O. Newton farm and built a small dam on the Buckman Brook at the westerly part of that farm, laying his water pipes through rugged country a distance of some four miles to Summer Street Reservoir. In a little more than a year after the final settlement of the suit, Mr. Wiley sold his entire holdings in the Athol Water Company to George W. West and some others, all residents of Portland, Maine. Mr. West speedily installed his brother, Warren G. West, as General Superintendent of the plant. Soon after buying the property they built a much more elaborate dam at Buckman Brook impounding a sizable pond of water which is today the principal source of supply to the town. The statute under which the Athol Water Company operated provided that the town might at any time seize this utility. There was no apparent public thought that this should be acquired by the town until suddenly in October, 1 904 just after the new Buckman Brook Reservoir had been completed, a town meeting was called and a vote taken to seize all the property and assets of Athol Water Company. Although this vote technically passed the title of the entire plant to the Town, yet the entire management and control of the plant remained with the old company until the final settle¬ ment was effected. At a meeting on January 28, 1905 the town appointed the following committee of eight citizens to adjust the matter of compensation for this taking: H. S. God¬ dard, A. Ellsworth, A. W. Tyler, T. H. Goodspeed, F. A. Ball, F. W. Lord, W. H. Brock, and E. L. Worrick. The West interests attempted to negotiate but were blocked in any attempt to get a bona fide offer from the Athol com¬ mittee. The result was that the courts were asked to appoint a special commission to determine the price which the town should pay for the works. This writer was at the time in the 498 PUBLIC SERVICES employ of the Athol Water Company. Believing it was folly for the town to enter into lengthy litigation in this matter, he sought and obtained from the former owners authority to effect a settlement at a price of $275,000 with a further stipulation that should he be offered $260,000 or more he was to delay negotiations until he could advise with the owners. Attempts were speedily made to deal with the town's com¬ mittee. The best offer that could be obtained from the com¬ mittee was an intimation of $200,000 which this writer was unable to get confirmed. Eventually these negotiations had to be abandoned and the litigation dragged on for many months. At last the report of the commission decreed a price somewhat above $310,000. In addition interest dating back to the date of the taking was allocated. The town's expenses of the liti¬ gation were added to its cost and a water bond issue floated for $370,000, fully $100,000 in excess for what it could have been bought had the committee listened. After the settlement of this suit, our Water Department was put in operation by Chapter 251, Acts of 1905, and on March 5, 1906 the town elected Winfield H. Brock, Herbert L. Hap- good, and Arthur F. Tyler as Water Commissioners. The Commission proceeded speedily to look for further water supply. They built a small dam on Thousand Acre Mead¬ ow Brook, sometimes called Newton Brook in Phillipston, from which they laid a main to tie in to the Buckman Brook main laid by Mr. Wiley years before. As this last named reservoir was a higher elevation than the Buckman Reservoir it had the effect of supplying what water was taken through the pipes to Summer Street, and the balance went to raise the level of the water in the Newton Reservoir. The town further acquired considerable acreage in Thousand Acre Meadow, including some buildings which were demolished, with an idea that a reservoir of something over two hundred acres in extent would be built there. But in later years this plan has apparently been abandoned. Subsequently the town acquired rights where a former dam was erected some little distance down stream from the original Phillipston Reservoir, and the latest proposition has been to erect a dam which would impound there more water to be car¬ ried around the hills into the Buckman Brook's line. At a point at the northerly end of Bearsden Road the line was laid for a distance in that road, but at an elevation slightly higher than the intake at Buckman Brook Dam. Theoretically 499 HISTORY OF ATHOL this was not a serious defect in the construction, for the water flowing down from the high point towards Athol would create a vacuum which would draw the water up over the elevation.. But in practice an air pocket developed there, and it was a source of constant trouble. The first major operation under¬ taken by the Athol Water Commissioners after they came in control of the plant was to blast the ledge for the entire road¬ way to suficient depth so that the high point was eliminated. The Athol plant was not the only interest owned by George West and his associates. In 1 898 it was felt that Mr. Warren G. West could be of more service to the Company in a plant owned by them at Leadville, Colorado, and he was transferred there. Lyman P. Hapgood, fresh from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was appointed superintendent in his place. Mr. Hapgood continued in the position of Superintendent until a final adjustment with the town and the commission desired to retain his services longer, but he preferred not to sever his connection with the West interests, and therefore on June 1, 1906 he resigned and removed to Springfield, Missouri where the Company had a water plant. He was later transferred from there to another plant in Jamestown, New York, where he died on November 14, 1923. Within two years the father, Herbert L., was to succeed to his son's position. In the meantime the town commissioners speedily employed Mr. Henry A. Symonds as Superintendent on June 28, 1906. He resigned on August 15, 1907. J. E. Parker of Wrentham became Superintendent on Feb¬ ruary 1, 1908 and resigned after one year. He was succeeded by Herbert L. Hapgood, a member of the Water Commis¬ sioners, who continued in this position until struck by an auto¬ mobile while crossing upper Main Street and instantly killed on October 18, 1921. An early attempt by Mr. Wiley to purify his water supply was to install mechanical filters at the former Oak's Peg Mill at about 345 Templeton Road. These filters operated satis¬ factorily for some years but under the administration of Mr. Herbert L. Hapgood they were abandoned and a new slow sand filtration plant was built at the Summer Street Reservoir. In 1935 before the bond issue was fully taken up, which was floated to pay for this plant, the town took advantage of government aid and constructed a filtration plant at the so- called Summer Street Reservoir. The long Buckman Brook pipe line in Bearsden installed by Mr. Wiley eventually proved inadequate for the supply required' 500 PUBLIC SERVICES of it. The town at various times had increased the size of the pipe at some places, and had paralleled the old line with a second one in other places, but during World War I they felt compelled to make further improvement. They were sold the idea of installing wooden pipes made of cedar which were said to be practically indestructible. For a time these pipes came regularly by freight. The old inadequate pipes were taken out and new larger wooden ones installed. Suddenly the U. S. Government seized a large supply of piping consigned to Athol for use at Camp Devens. The Athol Water Department had relied on getting these pipes and the result was a great water famine for a time. Pumps were installed in Lake Ellis and the Four Minute Men were called to make special speeches at all public gatherings directing that all water used for domestic purposes must be boiled. After Camp Devens had her neces¬ sary supply of pipe then Athol began to receive hers and the stringency was only of few weeks' duration. Since 1940 under Mr. Glasheen's management the old wooden pipe has been gradually replaced until now the line is wholly cast iron pipe. Mr. Frank P. Hall, long Chief of Athol Fire Department, had been for several years a member of the Water Commission, and on Mr. Herbert L. Hapgood's death was promoted to the position of Superintendent. He continued in that position until he was retired under the Town Retirement System on August 17, 1943. Mr. Hall did not long live to enjoy his leisure for he died a little over a month later on September 28, 1943. His office manager and general assistant, Robert W. Glasheen, was appointed in Mr. Hall's place and in this position Mr. Glasheen is giving most efficient service. In 1924 the Department began the general installation of water meters, which when practically all services were metered cut the consumption of water in half. There are installed at the present time some 2740 services, all but less than 2% being metered. The present supply is deemed by many to be not wholly adequate for all emergencies, but Mr. Glasheen has installed pumps at Lake Ellis which have been used on a few occasions and can be put into operation speedily in any emergency. When there were frequent allocations of Government money for all kinds of local municipal enterprises, Superintendent Hall urged the town to undertake a very material enlargement of its water system, but the town thought otherwise and is still relying on a system that is fast becoming inadequate and which must in the near future be materially expanded. Extensive 501 HISTORY OF ATHOL explorations were made in 1950-51 for a new source of supply, both by surface water, artesian wells and sand packed wells, but the town refused to make any appropriations for an ex¬ tension. Quabbin Reservoir One great upheaval in our section of Massachusetts although not touching our borders at any point has effected material changes in our economy. Under the head of Transportation we have told of the Springfield, Athol and Northeastern Railroad, and of the rather large amount expended by the town to assure the coming of the railroad here. Another factor, not emphasized, was the steady improve¬ ment of the north and south highway leading from the Spring- field area into our town. This was known as the Petersham Pike. After it fell into disuse the Worcester County Commis¬ sioners in 1852-3-4 laid a new highway from Athol some six miles south to the New Salem line where Franklin County Commissioners continued it for another perhaps four miles. Then it came into Petersham and Dana where Worcester County again continued it to Greenwich in Hampshire County. This made a level and usable road to the south. Eventually this route, designated as Route 21, was improved and hard¬ surfaced by the Massachusetts Highway Commission. Thus for a period Athol had a very acceptable highway as well as a railway from Springfield to the center of our town. Then came the decree of the Massachusetts State Board of Health that the time had arrived when some further provision should be made for a water supply for the metropolitan area. When the Wachusett Reservoir was projected in the early 90's far-seeing engineers predicted that at a later date the valley of the Swift River would be required for the metropolitan sup¬ ply. But very little attention was paid to this surmise and few of our citizens knew of any such prediction. Engineers were sent here and surveys made of our entire area. One of the surveys was of the basin of Athol Lower Village, with a prospect for a dam at approximately 1 100 South Main Street extending easterly to a point east of South Athol Road. This would over¬ flow the entire business section of Athol and a considerable portion of Royalston and of Orange. Fortunately the plan was abandoned and a final decision made to establish a huge dam at West Ware which would flow waters well back toward Athol's southern boundary, entirely wiping out the towns of Enfield, Prescott, and Greenwich, and taking so much of Dana that its entire condemnation was 502 PUBLIC SERVICES eventually effected. There were also taken portions of Ware, Pelham, Shutesbury, and New Salem on the west of the Swift River and of Petersham and Hardwick on the east of it. The early estimates of the engineers indicated that the runoff of the Swift River and all its branches would never be equal to maintaining a full reservoir. Therefore it was proposed that a diversion dam be built on the Millers a short way east of Chestnut Hill Avenue, and a tunnel bored through the hills thus adding flood waters of the Millers to those of the Swift. Athol strongly opposed this and succeeded in having the Mil¬ lers River entirely taken out of the project but otherwise we were not successful in materially changing the plans for the huge project and eventually the entire area was condemned. Cemeteries, churches, and all buildings were removed and the whole section is now a vast lake. Predictions of early engineers have proved erroneous as a full reservoir is apparent at most all times. It is estimated that at least ten per cent of the business coming to Athol's stores, banks, and so forth came out of that area. This is for¬ ever lost to us as is our railroad connection to the south, but as a substitute the Commonwealth did build a new Route 202 which gives us a highway to the south much improved over old Route 21 . Sewers Soon after 1 880 there was a demand from some sections of Athol for the installation of public sewers. Committees were appointed to investigate the matter but no decision was reached. The condition around the Pequoig House by 1890 became intolerable. The Bank Block erected in 1890-91 much needed a sewer system and the Webb Block erected after the fire of December 21, 1890 likewise was calling for this service. To appease this most urgent demand the town voted in 1891 to construct a sewer in Main Street from just east of Island Street to Millers River. No actual approval could be obtained from the State Board of Health for the use of Millers River as a sewer outlet, but neither was there any very great danger of this practice being then prohibited. This main sewer was flushed by waters from Lord's Pond canal and was the real beginning of an extensive sewer system. In 1894 the town asked for and was given a special legis¬ lative act authorizing the construction of a general sewer system throughout the populous sections south of Millers River. Without much delay sanitary engineers were engaged and the contract was let on August 6, 1894 to the contracting 503 HISTORY OF ATHOL firm of Genaro, Long & Little of Leominster. Through 1894 and '95 these sewers were laid in the principal streets of the town. Included in this installation was a system serving sec¬ tions of Mount Pleasant Street and South Main Street. The outlet was moved from directly under the Main Street Bridge down stream nearly a quarter of a mile to where three systems entered, the South Main Street and Mt. Pleasant Street line and the area serving Hapgood Road and South Street. To the north side of the river the system was extended by another contract with the same firm in 1 902. After proceeding some time, Contractors Long and Little, Mr. Genaro being no longer with the firm, asserted that there had been a grave error in the prospectus inducing contractors to bid on the project in that there was much additional excavation over what was represented in the contract. They refused to go ahead with the work. Acting on the advice of counsel, the town took the matter over and with day labor finished the entire project. Then followed considerable litigation but in the end it was decreed that the contractors had a just grievance and they were paid a larger sum accordingly. The methods pursued made this quite an expensive project but it was thoroughly and substantially done. Since these three major periods of installation there have been several minor extensions as new construction or remodel¬ ling of more ancient structures created the demand, and in 1922 there was constructed what in reality was an independent unit caring for the South Park and South Athol Road area, emptying into the river west of the railroad bridge where long ago the Greenfield Branch Turnpike crossed the river. There was considerable discussion as to the method which should be used to finance this sewer project, and it was finally determined that the charge should be on the basis of annual rentals, the base unit being $5.00 per tenement, with larger sums for hotels and business blocks, and so forth. This annual charge has fluctuated with the years, never being more than $5.00 and having been for some years now at $2.50 a year per tenement, with the same general percentage of excess charges for larger users. With the insistance of the State Board of Health that rivers in other sections of the Commonwealth be freed of sewer dis¬ posal, it is evident that before many years a purifying or sew¬ age disposal plant must be erected which will undoubtedly en¬ tail pumping and considerable expense not only for installa¬ tion but for operation. 504 PUBLIC SERVICES The sewer projects, except a few very small extensions, have been financed by bonds issued under a special statute, the sewer rentals being adequate to take care of the maintenance expenses and the interest on the bonds together with amortiz¬ ation payments. During the financial year 1948 the last sewer bond was paid and none have since been issued. Welfare Department We, like every other town, have had the poor always with us. In the early years Athol followed the custom of the times and put the paupers on “sale," but to the lowest not the high¬ est bidder, that is, the poor person was allotted to him who would agree to furnish support for a year at the lowest figure. In the last years of this procedure it was exceedingly dif¬ ficult to find a “bidder" for Old Violet as she was called — Violet Turner — an aged negress who was once the slave of Rev. James Humphrey. Partially to solve this negro problem and partly because a more enlightened public opinion frowned on the auction procedure, negotiations were entered into to secure a Poor Farm for the town. Our Welfare Home was acquired on April 23, 1829 of the heirs of Adonijah Ball, Jr., who had been killed the year before on his farm by the fall of a rock under which he was working. The main farm house, probably dating back into the eigh¬ teenth century, augmented by a few out-buildings, served both Warden and inmate for almost sixty years. In those years not only the indigent but many insane were inmates at the farm, one small building long since demolished being known as "the crazy house." In 1878 pressure for accommodations forced expansion and a two-story annex was erected, Walter J. Browning being the contractor. In this new section one room was lined with oak and iron banded. In that room were confined particularly dif¬ ficult cases as well as other insubordinate inmates for short pe¬ riods. In this annex was installed a wood-burning hot air fur¬ nace which was removed in 1908 and a steam boiler substi¬ tuted. Kerosene lamps were the only means of lighting until 1921 when pressure of public sentiment forced the extension of electric service to the buildings. For years the wells supplying the institution proved at times 505 HISTORY OF ATHOL inadequate and when in 1876 the water main from Phillipston Reservoir to Pleasant Street was laid across the farm back of the buildings a service pipe was laid into the 1878 annex, but because of elevation it could supply water only into the base¬ ment and as the supply of water was entirely unfiltered that supply was not desirable. In the rear of the buildings a hydrant with facility for at¬ taching a “pumper hose" in recent years has provided in¬ creased fire protection. In 1889 a spring some 4000 feet south of the buildings and thirty feet elevation above it was tapped and a pipe laid to the buildings. By two renewals of piping that supply was ample and satisfactory as long as the town operated the institution. In 1909 the abandoned Poor Farm School House was turned over to the Overseers of the Poor, was removed to a location north of the barns and it did duty as a carriage house and shop. In 1951 the Welfare Department determined that operation of the Welfare Home, as a changed public sentiment had named it, was no longer economical and the buildings were closed. At the annual meeting of 1952 the town authorized the sale of all or part of the property and on Saturday, June 14, 1952, at public auction the entire equipment and the northerly portion of the land with all the buildings was sold. The remainder of the land was transferred to the control of Athol Water Department. The some seven acres east of the highway was sold separately and is already sub-divided into building lots and two houses in process of erection there. 506 CHAPTER XXXII FIRE DEPARTMENT EITHER written notes nor local tradition make reference -L ^ to any organiged fire fighting force nor fire extinguish¬ ing apparatus previous to 1817. At the annual meeting that year a committee was appointed to consider the erection of a powder house., and under another article the question of a fire engine for the Factory Village was referred to the same com¬ mittee. That committee consisted of James Oliver, James Humphrey, and George Oliver, none of whom were residents of the Factory Village, although Esq. George Oliver did live on West Hill at 670 Brooks Road. At the adjourned meeting this committee reported emphatically in favor of acquiring a powder house and were authorized to provide the same. They reported that a fire engine at the village would be of some value to all the citizens but as only a comparatively few would profit greatly by it they recommended that the town pay one-third of the estimated cost of $175. for the engine, provided citizens to be directly benefitted by it subscribe the other two-thirds. Evidently the two-thirds of $175. were promptly subscribed for shortly after this vote we find a group of men asserting that they had been duly "appointed by the gentlemen Selectmen to man and exercise said engine." The signatures to this asser¬ tion are Eliphalet Thorpe, Adin Holbrook, Ezra Fish, Perley Sibley, Stephen Harwood, William Newhall, David Young, Jr., David Harwood, Reuben Fairbanks, Amos Blodgett, John H. Morse, Thomas Barry, Gideon Sibley, Moses Fish and Ira Thorpe. This list includes the prominent men of the village and in fact most all the able bodied men in that hamlet. Spurred into action by the Factory Village the center of the town lost little time in likewise making provision for a fire en¬ gine and operating company. On May 17, 1817 a subscription paper was started to provide funds for this engine "to be sta¬ tioned & kept near Athol Meeting House." There were thirty subscribers to this fund, the highest amount being subscribed by Prescott Jones ($15.) and the smallest by four citizens ($1. each). In all, $162. is listed as subscribed. 507 HISTORY OF ATHOL On November 18, 1817 the first meeting of this group was held at which time Prescott Jones, Joseph Proctor, Esq., and Theodore Jones were appointed a committe to confer with the Selectmen "& carry into effect the intentions of the subscrib¬ ers, viz to purchase a good effective Engine." On November 25, 1817 this committee reported that acting under appoint¬ ment by the town and by the subscribers Theodore Jones and Zachariah Field had contracted with Esq. George Fitts to build the engine. Subscribers to the engine fund met on May 16, 1818 and secured the names of seventeen men who consented to be ap¬ pointed Engine Men, to be attached to Engine No. 2. These original "Engine Men" were: Ebenezer Sheldon, Charles Crosby, Josiah M. Jones, Alden Spooner, William Hoar, Peter Wilder, Loring Hascall, Theodore Jones, Paul Morse, George Fitts, James Brown, David Orcut, Joel Kendall, Jr., William Fowler, William Morse, and Nathaniel Wilder. Evidently the fame of this engine built by Esq. Fitts had spread beyond our borders for on Saturday, May 30, it was "voted to adjourn said meeting to such day as should acom- modate Esq. Fitts on account of a Committee Expected from Templeton to view the engine." Presumably June 13 was ac¬ ceptable to Esq. Fitts for on that date the subscribers "met according to appointment of Esq. Fitts." At this June 13 meeting the fund raised by subscription was increased to a total of $224. which with $112 "received of the Selectmen Men" made a total of$336. of which $300. was paid Mr. Fitts and $36. paid to Morton & Shelden "for 12 Buckets." July 6, 1818 the No. 2 fire company met for organization at which time a code of by-laws was adopted. Two years later the two companies sought municipal aid in providing an engine house and the town voted $25. to erect an engine house for Engine Co. No. 2 and a like amount to erect a house for the No. 1 Company. The No. 1 house was built at the southeast corner of the present Athol Savings Bank lot, and the No. 2 house was built at about No. 15 Common Street. On November 7, 1826 the two fire companies of the town met together at Preston's Hotel (Uptown) together with the Selectmen, Firewards, and other invited guests, in all number¬ ing about eighty men "took supper, drank toasts & had a jovial time." Apparently the home made engine uptown proved more ef- 508 FIRE DEPARTMENT ficient than the one at the village for in 1830 we find our town voting to pay one-third of $175. for a new engine for No. 1 Company. These earlier engines were of the old "tub" type which are only seen by this generation in museums. They consisted of a large tank or vat into which the enginemen poured water by buckets from any available supply. Out of this tank the water was pumped into the fire hose by pumps operated by long handles or brakes attached to the side of the engine. The monthly records of the fire companies tell of testing the ma¬ chine by filling the engine, emptying it, and returning it to the engine house. April 6, 1840 the town appropriated $60. to provide a suit¬ able carriage for hooks and ladders and a sled, all for Engine No. 2. This innovation did not meet with the unanimous ap¬ proval of the Company for after the record of a fire on May 11, 1841 at Jonothan Wheeler's Dry House (Pinedale), the Clerk of the Company, Stephen W. Bliss, adds "The hook and ladder company was present and used their implements (in my opinion) to the disadvantage of the owner of the property." This hook and ladder company served the whole town until after the new Exchange Street Engine House was built in 1 894, when a hook and ladder company was formed at Station No. 1 and equipment purchased for it. Until 1841 the expense of keeping the appartus in repair fell upon the engine men, but in that year the town voted to assume this expense. Evidently the suction hose engine was then coming into use and some progressive citizens advocated as early as 1843 a new engine uptown. The town still maintained that purchas¬ ing an engine was largely a matter for individual citizens and not the town, but did concede some responsibility by agreeing to pay one-third the expense of an engine for Company No. 2. The next year the town passed another vote obligating the public treasury to pay one-third the expense of an engine for each company and in 1845 the amount to be contributed by the town was increased to one-half for each company. A com¬ mittee of citizens then began investigating different types of engines then on the market. May 1, 1846 two types of engines were demonstrated at Springfield. Nathaniel Richardson with Jonothan Goodell were designated by the citizens of the Factory Village to attend this demonstration. Mr. Waterman of Hudson demonstrated one 509 HISTORY OF ATHOL type and Mr. Button of Waterford, Connecticut represented' the other machine which bore his name. This committee de¬ cided in favor of the Button machine and made a tentative bargain for an engine of that make. Returning home their action was ratified by the local group and ere long the engine was delivered here. It was two years after the new Engine was installed in No. 1 house that the center village acquired a suction engine. In April, 1848 with a new and improved engine, No. 2 Company took a new lease of life. The town authorized the sale of the old engine at that time. These engines acquired at the time when Athol was antic¬ ipating the coming of the railroad were the sole instruments furnished the two fire companies until after the close of the Civil War. But by that time steam fire engines were no longer an experiment and several companies were manufacturing them. Anticipating this improvement in apparatus, the town in 1864-5 built two new engine houses, that for No. 1 Company being built on posts set in the "Paper Mill Pond" at about 68 Exchange Street, while that for No. 2 Company was built on Pleasant Street approximately at the corner of Main Street. Then followed an episode that reflects little credit on our town. With the acrimony between the villages running high, the Lower Village succeeded in April, 1868 in getting an ap¬ propriation to buy a steamer and an Amoskeag machine was soon purchased. It was not until March, 1871 that another $6000. was appropriated to buy a steamer for the Uptown Com¬ pany. Then the purchasing committee failed to act in agree¬ ment; one faction bought another Amoskeag machine while the other faction bought a Jucket machine. Both machines were delievered here and claim made for the payment of both engines. At an acrimonious town meeting on May 4, 1871 it was voted to retain the Jucket machine in Athol and arrange¬ ments were made to sell the Amoskeag engine to Orange. The installation of these steamers made the old hand ma¬ chines obsolete, the Despatch being preserved today as a re¬ minder of the past. That it might be some protection to the then thriving community of Pinedale, the Tiger was takne there, but on July 1 5, 1 874 the mill in that village was burned and the Tiger Engine stored in an ajoining shed could not be saved. 510 FIRE DEPARTMENT At both Athol and Orange the Amoskeag machines did ex¬ cellent service until superseded by motor driven pumpers, the Pequoig in 1923, and the Orange Machine a few years later. The investment in the Jucket proved to be an unfortunate one. It was decidedly unreliable and was frequently out of commission when much needed. It was really a bitter pill for the aging champions of the Jucket to admit in 1891 that a new engine was needed but they had a reasonable alibi in the argument that the Uptown Company had suffered from a dearth of expert mechanics, while the Pequoig Engine had been cared for by expert machinists of whom George H. Rich¬ ardson and George Manderville Gerry were outstanding. On December 16, 1892 the town authorized the disposal of the Jucket and the purchase of a machine of another make. The engineers bought a Silsbury, but even this more modern machine was not as reliable as the old Pequoig. In 1893-4 the town built the present Exchange Street Fire and Police Station. The No. 2 station was moved in 1896-7 onto a rear lot, converted into a town barn, and the present Uptown Station erected. A fire alarm system was installed in 1894 to supersede the whistle blowing, bell ringing, and outcries of other days. This was extended from time to time, but in 1949 it was declared obsolete and a new Gamewell System installed. The first mo¬ torized apparatus was a chemical bought in 1912 which has been followed by many new pieces of apparatus until in 1953 the Department has ten pieces of apparatus, ten full-time men, and thirty-two call men. The latest acquisition of equipment was a Seagrave machine purchased in 1952 which was first exhibited to the public on December 6 when, led by Athol High School Band, Santa Claus made an entry along lower Main Street to officially open the Christmas Season. When and by whom names were attached to our fire engines and with them to the personnel of the fire companies is not known but certainly by the middle of the nineteenth century Engine No. 1 became the Tiger and No. 2, the Despatch. 511 CHAPTER XXXIII ORGANIZATIONS American Protective Association THOL felt the effects of the great political excitement that swept over the country in the mid-nineteenth cen¬ tury. The first was the Know-Nothing movement which in¬ volved a group of men whose great slogan was taken from a statement of Washington who in an eventful moment in the American Revolution said, "Let none but Americans be on guard tonight." Against immigration and bitterly anti-Cath- olic, they entirely upset the political machine in Massachusetts during the State elections of 1854. Then in 1894 came a recurrence of this attitude in politics, and the American Protective Association, (A.P.A.), was formed. In Athol the organization was designated as Council No. 73. This was an entirely secret group, with the membership sup¬ posedly unknown, but in many ways it became apparent who were the adherents. For a few years before passing from ex¬ istence, this party exercised what amounted to a dominant in¬ fluence in our political life, particularly in the election for State officers. In 1921 came another recurrence of this anti-Catholic ex¬ citement when a Ku Klux Klan was organized here. Again there were political reprisals. Timid politicians found some security in open alliance with this organization. So far as is recalled there was but one public appearance and that was at the death of Clayton J. Haskins in November, 1925 when the organization paraded the streets in a funeral procession wear¬ ing robes and hoods. It was said to be in existence for several years and then so far as is known was disbanded. Ancient Order of United Workman. Artisan Lodge No. 86 In the late 80s and early 90s there was a veritable epidemic in Massachusetts of the formation of semi-secret mutual in¬ surance organizations. One of these was the Ancient Order of United Workmen still in existence. With headquarters at 154 Newbury Street in Boston, there is a lodge here in Orange, the Athol and Orange group having merged years ago. In¬ stituted in July, 1887 they were quite strong and substantial 512 ORGANIZATIONS for many years but gradually the older members have passed away and new membership has not flocked to them to any great extent. Athol & Orange Ministers Association Organized on March 12, 1894, this organization is still flourishing, and is now known as the Millers River Ministerial Association. This group of ministers from Royalston, Phillip- ston, Athol, and Orange meets Mondays about once a month, and is of much help to our clergymen in their service to these communities. Athol Associated Charities In 1903 a meeting was held to co-ordinate the various char¬ itable agencies which resulted in the formation of Athol Asso¬ ciated Charities on March 22, 1904. For a good many years this organization took an active part in the philanthropic life of the community. With much government aid granted at the present time the need for this group seems to have passed and the organization is dormant. Athol Board of Trade Was organized at the Pequoig House in 1872 with A. Hard¬ ing as President and F. G. Lord as Secretary, but within fifteen years it had become inactive. New life was injected into the organization in 1887 when Augustus Coolidge, a strong agita¬ tor for a bigger and better Athol, instigated its revival. For some years the Board was active and among other things sought free mail delivery in 1896. Before its eventual merger with the Athol Chamber of Commerce in 1926, it had com¬ bined with the Athol Merchants Association, had inaugurated the policy of Wednesday afternoon store closing, and its of¬ fice had become the center of our World War I activities. In those busy days John F. Hayden, the first paid secretary of the Board, was indispensable. Athol Bands Parades "preceeded by a band of musick" had been men¬ tioned some fifty years previous to the earliest record we have of the Athol Brass Band on April 15, 1845. In it Laban Morse, grandfather of the band historian, played a clarinet. Other members were Charles W. Morse, Dexter Cheney, Freeland Stockwell, Joseph Moore, John S. Lewis, Thomas Blake, Wilder Stratton, Wayland Peck, John R. Pierce and William H. Terrill. 513 HISTORY OF ATHOL Shortly before the Civil War another band was formed with Amos Sawyer, a cornetist, as leader. Many of the young men who enlisted in the army were in that band and many of them joined one organized later in 1866. This latter band was led for a time by George Rich of Phil- lipston who was suceeded by Leander B. Morse. Others who made up the personnel were Henry T. Morse, Joseph Hanson, George Hanson, Sylvester Underwood, Reuben Twichell, L. M. Wellman, Edward Foster, E. E. Kelton, Almond Smith, Amos H. Locke, William S. Wiggins, Albert Horton, Edward Clapp, Luke Sabin, Frank F. Morse, Frederick Morse, Joseph F. Fay, Lucius Simonds, John Saunders, Erastus Clapp, and Fred Strat¬ ton. Edward and Erastus Clapp played in the Orange Band reg¬ ularly but were with the Athol organization for many important engagements. Some of these musicians later became well known. Luke Sabin and Erastus Clapp were selected as flutist and cornetist for the band that went around the world with President Grant on his famous world tour. Mr. Clapp was presented a cornet with a gold mouthpiece by Queen Victoria of England, which she gave him for his remarkable playing. After his return to America, he played in Reeves' Military Band of Providence and the famous Brown's Brigade Band of Boston, and also the Park Theatre Orchestra. This band was discontinued about 1 870 as many of its mem¬ bers had left town. Almost immediately the Athol Cornet Band, 26 pieces, was organized in the Upper Village with Frank F. Morse as leader. Louis H. Cheney, Edward Hanson, Henry Harris, Mr. Dunklee, Charles Frye, George Webster, William Briggs. George Hanson, Hero Amsden, Wilson H. Lee, Edward Sibley, William Bemis, Elliot Amsden, Frank Blodgett and Vernon Cook were some of the members during the six years of its existence. An outgrowth of the disbanded Athol Cornet Band was the Athol Brass Band, with Erastus Clapp as instructor and Frank F. Morse, leader. Their uniforms, particularly their Russian hats with gold frontispiece were spectacular and won many admiring glances at the band tournaments in which they ap¬ peared. They wore navy blue coats with gold buttons and gold braid on the sleeves, and tasseled gold shoulder epaulets. Pants were light blue with gold stripes and the black belt was set off with a gold buckle. Chief of these tournaments was one held at Brattleboro, Vermont where the Athol group was award¬ ed first prize in competition with forty other bands. 514 ORGANIZATIONS This colorful band existed until about 1883 when it dis¬ solved and another one was started with Zenas Luce as leader. Upon Mr. Luce's removal from town, the leadership went to W. J. Hayden under whom it furnished music for Brewer's Skating Rink, which at that time was on the top floor, after¬ wards Masonic Hall, over what is now Bemis' Bakery, Uptown. Previous to this the Citizens Band had been organized in the lower village and as many of these members desired to join the new organization, this band was discontinued. In 1893 Mr. Frank H. Rainey came to Athol. Before long he was to become leader of the Starrett Band. In the mean¬ time, however, he joined the Pequoig Band, a reorganization of the discontinued Citizens Band. The personnel included Harry Preston as director, Frank Coolidge, Joseph Rieb, Elmer Merriam, Fred Coolidge, Edward W. Ellis, John L. Balcom, Charles Bigelow, Walter J. Rickey, Joseph Yeager, James Hay¬ den, Fred Swift, Alex McLeod, Frank Sheldon, Leroy Foster, Hugo Engel and Charles Twitchell. The new Pequoig Band composed of many members of the Uptown and Citizens Bands included Jerome Pierce as direc¬ tor, John L. Balcom, Gut Gifford, Joseph Rieb, Dr. Marshall, Fred Stratton, Arthur Cummings, Edward Wilder, Thomas Henchey, George Lakie, Charles Bigelow, Albert E. Dunklee, Claude Edgerly, Bert Hale, Arthur Hale, Herman M. Comer- ford, and F. H. Rainey. Joining later were Frank E. Weaver, Scott Appleton, "Stub Stockwell," and Fred Stratton. This band continued until 1898. Reorganization of the Pequoig Band became the Starrett Band with Scott Appleton as director. He was soon succeeded by George Mayo. Others who played were L. A. Bemis, Mal¬ colm Smith, Gideon Gaudet, John L. Balcom, Fred Stratton, Pedro Calcari, George Clark, Dr. Marshall, Henry Lescord, Frank E. Weaver, Eli Gaudet, Anselme Brouillet, Edward Bar- rus, Henry Preston, Charles Bryan, Dr. Z. Luce, George A. Bemis, Frank Gorton, Arthur Bridges, Teel Edgerly, George Marshall, Bert Hale, and F. H. Rainey. Later, about 1917, Orie Lund, Walter Davis, Harry Rainey, Ralph Eaton, Roy Blackmer, Norman Perley, John Bacon, Harold Bacon, and sev¬ eral members of the later band joined the original group. In 1910 F. H. Rainey was elected director. They played at four or five fairs a season in those days, besides Sunday con¬ certs at the different parks. During Athol's 150th anniversary in 1912, they gave a concert in the Academy of Music, at 515 HISTORY OF ATHOL which time the late Congressman Wilder complimented them on having such a fine band. One of the most prominent members of this group was the late Frank E. Weaver, who had travelled with the Guy Min¬ strels, was a member of the Aleppo Temple Band, and at one time first trombonist in the Fitchburg Band under Director Patz. Many Athol residents remember his solo work. Starrett Band continued until 1935 when a reorganization was held and the Athol Military Band was formed with the help of the Athol Chamber of Commerce. Athol was fortunate in having Mr. Rainey as director of its band for well over forty years. During this time both his son and his grandson played for him. Athol Exchange Club Inspired by the success of Athol Rotary Club, a group of young men sought a charter for a local Exchange Club. This was granted in 1928 and Parker B. Kimball served as the first President. This Club meets in the Athol House on alternate Tuesdays at 6:30 p. m. It has attracted a younger element to its membership many of whom could not well spare the time which Rotary takes out in the middle of a busy day. Long ago a limit of seventy was put on their membership and much of the time since there has been a waiting list. Yt, Athol Kiwanis Club The Athol Kiwanis Club was organized by the Orange Club on June 10, 1947. About 350 attended the charter night pro¬ gram which took place on September 8, 1947. International Trustee, Roy F. Cooke, gave the main address. Gov. Everett F. Penshorn, Governor of the N. E. District, presented the charter. On the night that the club was organized the group voted to raise and donate $2000.00 to the Athol Memorial Hospital. This amount was obtained by joint sponsorship of all Kiwanis Minstrel Shows, with the Orange Club, and the final payment was made in two years. Athol is the fifteenth club in the 2nd District of the New England District. The membership remains constant at about 50 members, which is four more than were in the club on charter night. Clergy of Athol are all Honorary Members. Meetings are held on Monday evenings at the Athol House. 616 ORGANIZATIONS At-hol Lions Club Organized here April 17, 1950 with Dr. Raymond Fessenden as its first President. It met for a time at Pequoig Hotel but is now gathering at American Legion Home. Dr. Fessenden has subsequently been honored by appoint¬ ment as District Governor of this District which is number 33A. It meets on the second and fourth Monday evenings of each month. Athol Merchants Association An organization of merchants to attempt at a uniformity of hours and other procedure, it eventually merged with Athol Chamber of Commerce and operates as the Mercantile Divi¬ sion of that group. Athol-Orange Lodge No. 1837 B. P. O.E. The newest in the list of Athol fraternities is Athol-Orange Lodge No. 1837 B.P.O.E. Although Athol men have been affiliated for many years with lodges of Elks in Fitchburg, Gardner and one at least in Boston, yet no concerted attempt was made to organize locally until 1950 when some definite action was noticeable. Charles M. Kelley had come here from Boston as a Civil Engineer su¬ pervising the construction of the Veterans' Housing project on Castle Avenue and had urged the forming of an Elks Lodge here. He found a strong supporter in Dr. F. A. Reynolds who had belonged to a Boston Lodge for nearly a third of a century. In April 1951, in response to a post card invitation by Dr. Reynolds, a group of Athol men met at the Pequoig Hotel (then for a short time being named the Kenlin) where they were joined by State and National officers of the Order and details talked over. As an outcome of this meeting another was held at the same hotel on June 5, 1951 when it was revealed that eighty-four names were on the petition for a charter. In November 1951 a committee from this group purchased at auction the Breezy Hill Club, New Athol Road, Orange, with much of its equipment, the property being held by Dr. Rey¬ nolds as Trustee. 517 HISTORY OF ATHOL As the Lodge had been started as an Athol institution and was now contemplating locating not only in another town but in another county there was some delay in organization and a new name had to be adopted — Athol-Orange Lodge. However, on January 13, 1952 the Lodge was instituted at the State Armory in Orange with Dr. Reynolds as Exalted Ruler and Paul E. Morse, Secretary. In July 1952 at the national assembly of the Order the pro¬ ceedings were confirmed and the charter granted. After the initiation of January 13, 1953 there were 160 members of this Lodge with prospects of another large class in the near future. Although when purchased the Breezy Hill building seemed abundantly adequate, yet already more space has become im¬ perative and a substantial addition has been built along the north side of the first story room. Athol Reform Club One of the outgrowths of the strong anti-liquor sentiment of that period, the Athol Reform Club was organized at the Center on March 10, 1876 and exerted a decided influence for sobriety in town. Nearly five hundred persons had signed the pledge within a few short weeks. After carrying on for some ten years the organization passed out of existence. Athol Rod & Gun Club In 1927 a group of local men desired a recreation area more particularly as a shooting range, and organized the Athol Rod & Gun Club. They purchased an area west of where the old Pinedale Mill formerly stood adjoining the town line and grad¬ ually built several buildings for the accommodation of the members and their activities. The reservation opened in 1927 and the Club has been successful in securing a comparatively large membership among Athol people and from surrounding towns. Athol Rotary Club In conformity with the service club idea which swept over the country in the early part of the present century a group of outstanding citizens of Athol organized Athol Rotary Club on September 25, 1925, with A. Abbott Laughton, President, and A. P. Johnstone, Secretary. The club met at the Hotel Leonard on Thursdays at 12:15 until January 1, 1945, when the Hotel 518 ORGANIZATIONS Leonard ceased to serve meals. Then it was at the Y.M.C.A. for a time until a arrangements were made with the Pequoig Hotel management to take the organization there. In 1951 the Club again moved, this time to Athol House. In 1947 Forrest H. Thompson, Past President of the Club, was District Governor of the 197th District of which this club was then a part. Athol Sportsmen's Club Early in 1892 a group of Athol citizens desiring a private fish pond and game preserve negotiated for some 170 acres with Levi B. Fay and some others who were owners of the old Pinedale area through which the Goddard Brook ran. On June 21, 1892 they perfected the organization known as Athol Sportsmen's Club. Shares were sold to different individuals with stipulations as to re-sale and with provision for assess¬ ments as necessary to carry out the project. A dam was built impounding the waters of Goddard Brook in the spring of 1893 flowing the area long ago named Hackmatack Swamp. The organization has continued to have a full membership with some minor additions to its holdings to protect the shores of the pond, which has been stocked with fish on several dif¬ ferent occasions. A few of the shareholders have built cottages around the pond and altogether the large acreage owned is a very enjoyable recreation spot. John W. Campbell is the Pres¬ ident of this Club. Athol Woman's Club On Saturday, March 3, 1900 the Athol Woman's Club was organized in G. A. R. Hall, and within a few weeks the follow¬ ing staff took office: Mrs. George D. Bates, President; Miss Mary Epps, 1st Vice-President; Mrs. P. B. Swift, 2nd Vice- President; Clara S. Hill, Recording Secretary; Arlene Smith, Corresponding Secretary; Mrs. H. S. Goddard, Treasurer; and Mrs. Anna F. Cook, Auditor. One of its initial meetings of historical importance was held in the early 1900s at G.A.R. Hall in observance of ''Athol Day." Mrs. Sarah L. Smith and Mrs. Adele C. Parmenter col¬ lected some of the oldest music which could be found in town. Much of this music, though never transferred to paper, was handed down from one generation to another by the grand¬ mothers often singing the songs as they went about their daily tasks. One hundred and fifty members and twenty-five guests listened with interest to "Yes, 'tis the Indian Drum," "Ever Lamentation," and "A Fine old English Gentleman." 519 HISTORY OF ATHOL The remainder of the program included three short talks about "Interesting Facts in Athol's Early History," by Mrs. Mary B. Lord, "Illustrious Sons and Daughters of Athol" by Mrs. Grace Fish Cass, and "Present Needs of Athol" by Mrs. Sarah B. Burns. Though Mrs. Burns lauded the recent public improvements she stressed the need of a library and town hall, more adequate protection of our water supply, public parks, and a higher standard of public spirit, for "You can kill a town by indifference as surely as you can a woman." In December, 1928 the Club observed the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the Old Town Hall which had been the Club Building since 1921. This building is not without an historical background and significance in the affairs of the town for it was erected in 1 828 by the town to house its pioneer church as the Church of Christ in Athol. There were many interesting features in this celebration under the general direction of Mrs. M. Eunice Coolidge, Chairman of the Community Service Department. Several of the ladies in old- fashioned gowns represented the period when the dedicatory exercises were held, with Mrs. Coolidge wearing her mother's wedding gown. Rev. Benjamin A. Willmott of the Congregational Church read extracts from the dedicatory sermon delivered by Rev. Joseph Estabrook. Charles H. Cooke, then Chairman of the Selectmen, and Mrs. Walter P. Hamilton, President of the Club, spoke briefly. The author of this book had the pleasure of giving the historical lecture and of complimenting this club publicly for the work it has done in preserving and beauti¬ fying the building. Among the curios on display that were of especial interest were the ancient pewter communion set on a table lighted with candles, the hymn books with wooden covers, foot stove, and the sermon of 100 years ago. For a good many years the club had a waiting list, with the membership limited to two hundred and fifty. It is a decided social factor in our town. It contributed some four thousand dollars for the new hospital. Ellinwood Country Club Purchased in 1929, the Ellinwood Country Club property was incorporated under the name of the Ellinwood family whose destinies for four generations were linked with this farm. The history of the club grounds dates back to Dr. Joseph Lord, one 520 ORGANIZATIONS of the original five settlers of Athol, who began a clearing and erected a log house in 1735 on or near the site of our present club building. About 1750 when Dr. Lord fell into a violent disagreement with the Proprietors of the plantation, he re¬ moved to Putney, Vermont and conveyed to his son, Joseph, husbandman, for thirteen pounds six shillings and eight pence 'the northerly half of a hundred acre division, No. 23, with a house, barn, and a saw mill thereon, excluding one highway of 9 rods wide called a stone pit path turning from the country road southwardly crost the brook called South Brook." This probably refers to the south end of Pleasant Street beginning in front of the Club house and to the west end of Doe Valley Road. Eventually the son followed the father to the north country where both ended their days. Dr. Ebenezer Hartshorn, Athol's second resident physician, acquired title to this property on January 24, 1767. Quite suddenly some seven years later he sold out to Dr. Israel Trask of Brimfield and removed almost immediately from Athol. Though there is little information available about Dr. Trask, it is evident that he occupied this place for a time, probably as a local physician. Within six months, however, Dr. Trask sold the property to Dr. Daniel Ellinwood, also of Brimfield, who took over both the farm and the mill which had been leased for the past seven and one-half years by Jonathan and Daniel Wood of Upton. Dr. Ellinwood continued in active occupancy until his death here on April 29, 1794. Lucy, his widow, survived him for nearly half a century, living here with her son and some years after his decease, until her death on March 23, 1 838. Dr. Ellinwood added materially to the acreage here by the purchase of house lot No. 20 EE, a ten acre lot No. 20, an eight acre lot and two and one-half acres of the eighth division of land. It is probable that house lot No. 20 included the site of the club house. Thus for forty-five out of sixty years this farm was the home of the local doctor and it was a central location in those years as Pleasant Street was the principal business and resi¬ dential center of the town. Dr. Ellinwood was succeeded in ownership here by his son, Daniel, and his grandson, Daniel Austin Ellinwood, who was born on this place and who lived here until his very old age. He not only built the present house for himself and the house now occupied by Mr. Charles E. Edwards for his son, Austin F. Ellinwood, who was killed at the saw mill, but also rebuilt and 521 HISTORY OF ATHOL enlarged the saw mill, increased the water power by raising the dam, and for many years did a prosperous business here. When William Miller created great excitement throughout New England in 1843 by his prediction that the world was coming to an end, Austin Ellinwood was one of his most staunch believers. Millerite meetings were held in the mill and Ellinwood and many of his friends made preparations for immediate translation to heaven. As an outgrowth of this came the Second Advent Christian Church of which Ellinwood was a staunch supporter. In common with many other business men Ellinwood was unable to survive the financial stress from 1873 to 1880 and in 1879 was obliged to make an assignment of his property, including his farm and the saw mill for the benefit of his creditors. On July 16, 1879 his assignees conveyed this prop¬ erty to Robert Brookhouse of Salem, and thus the Ellinwood ownership of upwards of 100 years ceased here. Six changes in ownership occurred during the next forty- six years: to Albee K. Litchfield, to George W. Drury and Clarence A. Drury, Frank E. Turner, Orimel B. Preble, and E. E. Nickerson, Marshall G. Goodell and Albert R. Sedgley until 1929 when Webb R. Avery acting for Ellinwood Country Club, Inc. purchased the property. This recreation club opened its golf course in the summer of 1930. Forresters of America Meeting at Eagles Hall, the Catholic Order of Forresters of America elected John F. Hayden as Grand Chief Ranger in 1922. This organization was in existence but a few years. Freemasonry Harris Lodge Star Lodge Athol Lodge Union Arch Chapter Commandery of Knights Templar Harris Council The only diversion for our ancestors from the grinding toil incident to subduing this wilderness and gaining a livelihood here seems to have been the two long sermons in the church on Lord's Day. But at long last the light of Freemasonry began to pervade this area. 522 ORGANIZATIONS The Grand Master of England in 1733 appointed Rt. Wor¬ shipful Henry Price as Provisional Grand Master for New Eng¬ land and within three months after his commission was dated he had opened Saint John's Grand Lodge in Boston. Probably because of lack of inter-communication the Grand Lodge of Scotland granted a few charters in New England and at length in 1769 appointed Most Worshipful Joseph Warren as Grand Master of Massachusetts Grand Lodge. This compe¬ tition continued until 1792 when these two Grand Lodges were united. We know that many of the leaders of the Revolution were Masons and that many a military decision during that conflict was made under the seal of Masonic secrecy. There were two or more military lodges formed among the soldiers of that conflict but we have no knowledge that an Athol soldier affil¬ iated with any of them. The first record we find of any of our townsmen seeking enlightenment is on December 17, 1793 when Joseph Pierce of this town was proposed in Morning Star Lodge at Worcester. Following him on April 15, 1794 Hiram Newhall of Athol was proposed in that lodge. Both of these brothers were made Master Masons on March 23, 1795. Joseph Pierce, a native of Worcester and a Revolutionary veteran, had evidently come here in 1788 from Shrewsbury North Parish (Boylston) and was the local Deputy Sheriff. Hiram Newhall, a native of Leicester, came here in 1772 and was active here for many years after that. As the local Justice of the Peace he was automatically a member of the "Sessions," the Board of County Commissioners of that day. Thus we see that these two men through their County offices naturally be¬ came attracted to the new Masonic Lodge formed in Worcester. Only two more local men seem to have made the long journey to Worcester for Masonic affiliation, and that was Dr. Samuel Rice who was initiated on January 17, 1797 and James Humphrey, Jr., who was proposed on September 15, 1795. Prescott jones was proposed on February 7, 1798 but does not appear to have been further mentioned in that lodge. Meanwhile Harmony Lodge had received a charter at North- field and being much nearer to us attracted our men thither for a time. Aside from the above mentioned five men, eleven more Athol residents were Masons before the end of the eighteenth century, all of them being affiliates of Harmony Lodge. 523 HISTORY OF ATHOL On St. John's Day, June 24, 1801, a public celebration of the day was held at Athol. The brothers met at Crosby's Tavern on Pleasant Street at nine a.m. A procession was formed headed by a band of music and the brothers marched to the Meeting House on Athol Common. There the oration was delivered by Rev. Bro. Ezekiel L. Bascom of Gerry (Phil- lipston). After the church services the procession was re¬ formed and the Masons returned to Crosby's Tavern where a dinner had been prepared for them. Athol men known to have participated in that event were Levi Lovering, Dr. Samuel Rice, Aaron Oliver, Prescott Jones, Aaron Smith, Caleb Smith, Seth Kendall, Hiram Newhall and Joseph Pierce. Local enthusiasm created by this demonstration seemed to warrant the Athol brothers in asking for a charter for a local lodge. Thus on October 20, 1801 Morning Star Lodge was asked to approve the same. This was likewise later asked of Mt. Zion Lodge, then at Hardwick, and Republican Lodge at Greenfield. Receiving approval by these "neighbors" the petition was formally presented to Grand Lodge on June 14, 1802 and a temporary charter granted. The new lodge was named Harris Lodge in honor of an illustrious Mason, Rev. Thaddeus Mason Harris of Dorchester. On October 13, 1803 Isaiah Thomas, Grand Master of Massa¬ chusetts, drove here by previous arrangement and duly insti¬ tuted the lodge. Harris Lodge continued active in our town for some years but after a time the local brothers seem to have lost interest and the membership came largely from the towns east of us. Thus it is natural that on October 3, 1811 it voted to remove to Gerry. The stay there was brief for on December 30, 1813 it voted to remove to Templeton where it succumbed to the anti-Masonic whirlwind of 1828. The next Masonic interest here seems to have been in 1825. On June third of that year a group met in Athol and signed a petition for the forming of a lodge at (North) Orange. Of the thirteen signers of that petition seven were Athol residents, viz: David Younq, Jr., Nathan Nickerson, Jr., James Young, Amos Cheney, Thomas Barry, Adin Holbrook, and Eliphalet Thorpe. The request was granted and the new lodge met for the first time on August 10, 1825. After having taken into full membership eight new members from Athol, the last meeting of that lodge was held on February 22, 1831. Mt. Arrarat Lodge was later (1826) formed in Petersham but 524 ORGANIZATIONS only two or three of our citizens sought membership there. Soon after Harris Lodge was organized Hiram Chapter of Royal Arch Masons and Valley Encampment of Knights Temp¬ lar were organized at Greenwich Village. These bodies made strenuous efforts to survive the anti-Masonic storm of 1828 and in succeeding years, but they eventually succumbed. In the second decade of the last century New Salem was the most populous town in Franklin County, and in its midst Golden Rule Lodge was organized in 1815. But it like all the others locally could not survive the opposition of fifteen years later. Several Athol men in the prosperous years around 1860 again became interested in Masonry and sought membership in Republican Lodge of Greenfield, and later in Orange Lodge, the second of that name, at Orange. On July 4, 1864 twenty-four men were authorized by Grand Lodge to form Star Lodge in Athol and from that beginning the present prosperous lodge of that name has grown. Star Lodge began its career in Houghton's Hall, 444 Main Street, but shortly removed to Fuller's Block, 1479 Main Street. After eight years it was caught in the extreme turmoil of the rivalry between the villages of Athol at that period. Star Lodge voted to return to Houghton's Hall and Athol Lodge was speedily formed by the aggrieved and seceding members. Star Lodge met in Houghton's Hall until 1874 when it moved into elaborate quarters built for it by Lucien Lord in his new Ma¬ sonic Block, 435 Main Street. In this hall on December 21, 1 890 it lost by fire practically all of its property and equipment. For a year after this catastrophe the Lodge met in Tyler's Hall, 576 South Street, and then moved to the third story of a new block built by Mr. C. Fred Richardson and there it re¬ mained until June, 1914 when it again moved to its present quarters in the then new Starrett Block. In as amicable a settlement as could be reached in those days of intense acrimony throughout the town the property of Star Lodge was divided with its seceding members who were chartered as Athol Lodge on September 12, 1872 and con¬ tinued their fraternal meetings in the Fuller's Block Hall. After the completion of Brewer's Block, Athol Lodge on October 18, 1883 removed to that block where it continued for over thirty years. When Mr. L. S. Starrett was building his Main Street block 525 HISTORY OF ATHOL m 1913 arrangements were made with him to construct its entire third floor as Masonic apartments and overtures were made to Athol Lodge to move downtown into these new rooms. This arrangement was far from satisfactory to a group of older members who remembered the troubles of other days, but the younger element was allured by more sumptuous surroundings and forced the removal to the new hall where Athol Lodge has prospered as never before. Star Lodge as the senior Masonic body in Athol holds the lease of the quarters, subletting them to the various other bodies, all with some Masonic connection, which meet there. The organizers of Star Lodge were not content with a "blue" lodge alone but almost immediately began negotiations for the establishment here of a Royal Arch Chapter. Grand Chapter listened with favor to their plea and on March 13, 1866 Union Arch Chapter was organized, its territorial jurisdiction being Mt. Zion Lodge of Barre, Orange Lodge of Orange, and Star Lodge. This Chapter has continued through the years to fol¬ low the fortunes of Star Lodge, changing locations as the lodge made changes. Despite the internal differences of the early seventies coupled with the business depression incident to the stock market crash of 1873 the members of Union Chapter sought opportunity to stand upon the summit of ancient York Rite Masonry and asked to have a Commandery of Knights Templar chartered here. Again their plea was heard, their wish granted, and arrangements were made to organize a Commandery as an incident to the dedication of the new Masonic Hall in Lucien Lord's Masonic Block. This date fell on January 23, 1874 and Athol Commandery No. 37 takes precedence from that time. Like Union Arch Chapter it has followed the fortunes of Star Lodge and remains its tenant in the Starrett Block. Its juris¬ diction as originally prescribed was the same as that of Union Chapter, but with the organization of both a Chapter and Commandery in Orange, the area covered by Orange Lodge is no longer under the jurisdiction of the Athol bodies. Dr. William J. Bolton, a Past Commander of this body, was Grand Commander in 1919. Again after the Masonic bodies were well established in the Starrett Block there was a call for still another local Masonic society. For many years a few Athol brothers had maintained membership in a Council of Royal and Select Masters, some at Fitchburg and others at Greenfield. These brothers joined with the newer aspirants, and on October 30, 1918 were regu¬ larly organized as Harris Council with Henrie C. Fay as lllus- 526 ORGANIZATIONS trious Master. This body like the others meets in the Starrett Block quarters and is a part of the truly Masonic family here. A few of the Masons here have made further Masonic ad¬ vances in the Scottish Rite Bodies of Worcester, Greenfield, and Boston, and not a few have affiliated with Alleppo Temple Nobles of the Mystic Shrine at Boston. Athol Grange No. 175, Patrons of Husbandry Athol Grange No. 175, P. of H., was organized in the old Grand Army Hall at No. 1616 Main Street on March 29, 1 889. It soon removed to the Masonic Hall in Fuller's Block, 1479 Main Street, where it prospered greatly. In 1899 the group made arrangements to take over the second and third floors of Union Block, 1590-98 Main Street, remodelling these rooms into a desirable lodge room with adjacent quarters. Eventually it acquired title to this real estate having aside from this some quick assets. But the expense of the building proved burden¬ some and in 1938 having an attractive offer for its real estate, the Grange sold out, stored its equipment, and removed to Knights of Pythias Hall, 39 Exchange Street. When in early 1943 Corinthian Lodge decided to move to the Bank Block, the Grange at first looked with favor on the change, but later decided to move back uptown and soon ac¬ quired the abandoned Second Advent Church at 1282 Main Street. In purchasing and remodelling this old church the or¬ ganization not only expended all of its ready cash but went somewhat in debt. During 1948, however, the last of the debt was paid and a mortgage burning ceremony held. Associated with this society is Franklin Worcester Pomona Grange chartered January 30, 1892, which holds jurisdiction over granges at Athol, Royalston, Phillipston, North Orange, Warwick, Orange, Wendell, New Salem, and Petersham. Sev¬ eral of the present members of Athol Grange came to it when Garfield Grange at North Dana was disbanded because of the Quabbin Reservoir. Order of Demolay, Harris Council Organized early in 1923 under the sponsorship of Union Royal Arch Chapter, its membership is composed of youths from 14 to 21, is guided by a Board of thirteen Advisors — alf of whom must be Master Masons, and meets the first Tues¬ day in the month in the local Masonic quarters. For some five 527 HISTORY OF ATHOL years from 1942 to 1947 it suspended operations because of the war emergency, but resumed in 1947. Order of Eastern Star, Themis Chapter No. 30 With the growth and general prosperity of two lodges, a Chapter and a Commandery in Athol, the wives and daughters of our Masons began to seek some affiliation with them. This they found in Themis Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, which was organized on June 12, 1890 in Knights of Pythias Hall. Here the Order met with Mrs. George F. Lord as first matron until after Star Lodge removed to Richardson's Block in 1892, when it secured accommodations with Star Lodge and as its tenant this Eastern Star Lodge now continues. Its close proximity to the State Eastern Star Home in Orange has added some interest to the activities of this auxiliary of the Masonic fraternity. Order of Rainbow for Girls, Athol Assembly No. 24 Sponsored by Themis Chapter No. 30, Order of Eastern Star of Massachusetts, was instituted in Masonic Hall on November 19, 1927 by Mrs. Lulu H. Gobrecht, Supreme Deputy, with Marjorie Ainsworth, Worthy Advisor and Rachel Smith, Worthy Associate Advisor. Mr. and Mrs. George Dodge, Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron of Themis Chapter No. 30, were the first Mother Ad¬ visor and Dad of the Assembly. Up to December 31, 1952 four hundred and ninety-three girls have been initiated into this juvenile branch of the Masonic Society. It is well supported, and is a material ad¬ dition to the interest of a large segment of the public in Masonic affairs. Knights of Columbus In the Academy of Music, the Athol Council, Knights of Columbus, was instituted on January 13, 1907 by Supreme Knight Edward L. Hearne. Its membership of forty-two was headed by Rev. J. J. Howard, then pastor of the Church of Our Lady Immaculate. The major degree was exemplified by District Deputy Peter F. Ward and suite of Fitchburg, Massa¬ chusetts. Soon after its organization the Knights of Columbus took quarters in the upper story of the Cooke Block, 487 Main 528 ORGANIZATIONS Street, where it met until 1951 when it removed to 883 Main Street. Knights of Pythias, Corinthian Lodge No. 76 Corinthian Lodge No. 76, Knights of Pythias, was instituted on July 3, 1889 in Odd Fellows Hall, Cardany's Block. It met for a year or more in the Lower Village Grand Army Hall and then for ten years or more in the new Millers River Bank Building, occupying the entire upper or third floor. From there it moved to Simonds Block which was renamed Pythian Block, removing from there in May, 1927 to the former Odd Fellows Hall in Cardany's Block. In 1943 it re¬ moved to the quarters in the remodelled First National Bank Block taking a lease of the entire third and fourth floors. Its affiliates have been Athol Company Uniform Rank, now dor¬ mant, and Mystic Temple, Pythian Sisters, formerly Myrtle Assembly. Two of its Past Chancellors have attained the office of Grand Chancellor, William G. Lord in 1925 and Forrest H. Thompson in 1947. Military American Legion, Ed. H. Phillips Post No. 102 "I he American Legion, conceived and promoted by the re¬ turning soldiers of World War I even before they had left the soil of France, found a ready response among the Athol men and on July 9, 1919, long before the consummation of the Treaty of Versailles, organized Edward H. Phillips Post No. 102. Lt. Col. Harry L. Doane was its first Commander and his successors have continued to keep the Post with high ideals. Quarters were provided for the Post in our Memorial Build¬ ing, and some other special privileges were granted it, all of which seem to have been duly appreciated, but as time went on and the membership seemed to demand more than just a lodge room for formal meetings, the Post began a search for a home of its own. Eventually, in January, 1 945, it purchased the buildings with some four acres of land first developed by Mr. Charles L. Morse in the last years of the nineteenth century. Succeeding Mr. Morse had come Mr. Levi B. Fay, a Civil War veteran and it was his daughter, Kate L. Fay who deeded the property to the Legion members. Material alterations in this home and its adjoining stable 529 HISTORY OF ATHOL have made it an ideal Legion Home where it has gladly ad¬ mitted into its membership many of the veterans of World War II. Several of its outstanding members have been called to fill various offices in our town but the Legion has throughout the years refrained from partisan politics. But in non-political matters it has been most helpful. Among the times when especial help has been forthcoming was during the flood and hurricane period of 1938 and during the World War II years when its members organized the Legion Police, doing par¬ ticularly valuable service in augmenting our regular police force which was seriously crippled by army enlistments. While it rates Armistice Day as its especial obligation, yet as the Grand Army has passed away and the Sons of Veterans have become few in numbers, it has taken on many of the duties incident to Memorial Day. In recent years the Post has provided a Christmas party for the children of Athol, this event being held in Memorial Hall and attended by upwards of 1200 children. The members have done much towards public entertainment, while their Sick and Relief Committee has been most active. Organized in 1928 the Drum Corps was exceedingly active until it disbanded prior to World War II. In 1930 at the National Convention in Boston it made a percentage of 76.56 in which eighty drum corps from all over the country partici¬ pated. Daughters of the American Revolution In the early months of 1920 Mrs. Anne Oliver Kendrick, daughter of Dr. James Oliver, became interested in forming a local chapter of the D.A.R. She was aided in this by Mrs. Edna Proctor Roberts who was then a member of Johanna Aspinwall Chapter in Boston. A meeting was called at the Pequoig Hotel. The aims, ob¬ jects, and achievements of the organization were explained, and a goodly number of ladies expressed a desire to become charter members of an Athol Chapter. They adopted the name of Margery Morton, the first white female born in Athol. Mrs. Kendrick was the first Regent. The organization has continued to attract to itself eligible descendants of Revolutionary soldiers and has been a consid¬ erable factor in the social life of Athol. A few years after its organization it induced the town to make an appropriation to 530 ORGANIZATIONS mark afl the known graves of Revolutionary soldiers in our town and they followed it through to the end that markers were placed on each of these graves. The Chapter is in a flourishing condition and is one of the respected units in the State. Disabled War Veterans Organized on May 2, 1934 with Irwin L. Fuller as Com¬ mander, this less numerous group of veterans of World Wars I and II is another unit of our former soldier citizens. For a time it occupied the rooms in Memorial Building vacated by Phillips Post, but recently it has acquired the former Hebrew Synagogue at No. 47 Pine Street. As its name indicates its first care is for the disabled veteran but beyond that it participates in many veterans' activities. Grand Army of the Republic Parker Union No. 9 Parker Post Hubbard V. Smith Post In these days of many veterans' organizations one wonders PARKER POST G.A.R. MAY 29, 1884 531 HISTORY OF ATHOL that it was not until the close of the War Between the States that any veteran's organization, except the limited membership of the Cincinnati, was ever effected. However, the returning soldiers of 1861-65 seem to have desired strongly to hold their ranks together by some fraternal union. Apparently the first thought was to effect a so-called Vet¬ erans Union and in conformity with that thought Parker Union No. 9 was opened here on October 25, 1866. But ere long, the bulk of the veterans flocked to the Grand Army of the Republic and conforming to the tendency of the times our veterans seem to have abandoned their Union or merged it into Parker Post which was organized June 8, 1870, previous to which a few veterans had affiliated with Gen. Sedgwick Post at Orange. Parker Post met for some years in a block now demolished at 1616 Main Street, taking over the old Masonic Hall in Ful¬ ler's Block soon after the Grange left it in 1 899, and remaining there until 1923 when it moved downtown to Memorial Hall. Even the veterans were not immune from village rancor. Thus we find those residing downtown seeking a post of their own. Hubbard V. Smith Post, G.A.R., was organized in Starr Hall on February 22, 1882. George H. Cooke soon prepared a hall for it in the Stillmen Knowlton property on Main Street GRAND ARMY VETERANS MARCHING EAST ON MAIN STREET JUST WEST OF POST OFFICE From Left to Right: Lyman B. Hastings, George McRea, W. H. Foster (then of Orange), Chas. E. Taft, — P — George D. Marsh, C. V. Goddard 532 ORGANIZATIONS which he had just bought and there it met until it too moved to Memorial Hall in 1923. Depleted in membership, Parker Post disbanded on July 27, 1933, but H. V. Smith Post carried on until its last member, Almond L. J i I Ison, died on June 14, 1934. I give herewith a picture of Parker Post in 1884 drawn up in front of the Dr. Oliver Place fronting on Phillips Park and also one of the members of both Posts parading on Lower Main Street about 1918. Grand Army Auxiliaries Sons of Veterans, General W. T. Sherman Camp No. 65 Matrons of the Republic Hubbard V. Smith Corps As the Civil War veterans approached middle age they thought of perpetuating the ideals for which they stood by the organization of their male offspring. General W. T. Sherman Camp No. 65, Sons of Veterans, was organized on May 26, 1 886. It was composed of sons of mem¬ bers of both local posts as well as those whose parents had no affiliations here. As the veterans grew older the worth of this organization became more and more apparent and it is these sons and their descendants who still carry on the traditions of both Grand Army Posts. Long previous to the forming of Sherman Camp a group of the female relatives of the Parker Post membership effected an organization. They became allied with an embryo State and possibly National group, using the name Matrons of the Re¬ public. They were allotted Number 3 by that body when they were organized on May 3, 1 878. The State and National bodies have long since disbanded but Hoyt Post carried on until 1953 when it disbanded. Nine years later when the recognized ladies' auxiliary of the Grand Army was the Women's Relief Corps, a group of ladies organized Hubbard V. Smith Corps on February 22, 1887. Many were attracted to its membership and for a time it was the outstanding women's society of Athol. Its first president was Clare Hoyt Burleigh who soon achieved higher honors. In February, 1894 she became State President of that order and when she retired from that office at the end of her term she became Superintendent of the National 533 HISTORY OF ATHOL Home of the Order at Madison, Ohio where she served effi¬ ciently for several years. CLAIRE HOYT BURLEIGH 1833 - 1901 Another Past President of the local Corps, M. Eunice Coolidge, was State President in 1920. For years this group of ladies was a powerful supporter of the aging veterans, until 1943 when it surrendered its charter. Massachusetts State Guard Athol's D Company, 18th Infantry, Massachusetts State Guard, organized in 1917 as a war measure, become one of the best companies in the State, under the leadership of Capt. Frank P. Hall. By December 31, 1918 it had a full quota of sixty-eight men ready for any emergency. While at camp in Framingham in August, 1918 this com¬ pany was rated as an A-l outfit and was used as a model. Even the Governor, when he reviewed the regiment at camp, singled out the Athol Company as the best drilled in line. The service which this Company performed during the war and in the Boston Police Strike of September, 1919 was a tremendous asset to our community. 534 ORGANIZATIONS Again during World War II the State Guard became active. Following the removal of the National Guard in 1941 from the communities in Massachusetts, arrangements were made by the State authorities for the recruiting of State Guard Com¬ panies to act in any emergency within the Commonwealth for the duration of the then impending crisis. On February 11, 1941 Lt. Parker B. Kimball was assigned Commander of F Company, 22nd Regiment, MSG, and a week later began recruiting at the local Y.M.C.A. for sixty members to form this newly organized Athol unit, with the result that by April 8, 1941 the Company had reached capacity mem¬ bership and was honored by official recognition as a State Guard Unit. Company F was intensely active throughout the war: holding weekly drills, studying methods of power line defense in the field, practice guarding of railroad trestles and defense plants, participating in battalion maneuvers at Deerfield, studying guerrilla warfare, giving a twenty weeks' course of basic instruc¬ tion in army service to all local men between the ages of 15 and 55, and engaging in rifle competitions. Company F went into action on April 13, 1942 when a permanent 24-hour guard of its headquarters, the Armory Building in Orange, became effective. Paid by the Common¬ wealth of Massachusetts, the guard operated on a three eight- hour relief with three members on duty at a time. A general streamlining of the State Guard set-up during the summer of 1942 changed Company F to a new designation as Company C, 29th Infantry. A few weeks later in further re¬ shuffling for greater mobility and protection in case of emer¬ gency, Company C became Company O, 21st Infantry. Hence¬ forth State Guard Companies, with armories, were known as mobile units, subject to call anywhere in the State. The commendations which our Athol Company received are worthy of record, particularly that by Major Burr G. Jacobsen, then 4th Battalion Commander, MSG, when in April, 1943 he pinned an oral medal on the collective bosoms of Company O members, stating that their morale and spirit were of the highest degree. Throughout the war Company O worked closely with Athol's Pequoag Guards and in so doing not only intensified its own training and efficiency but also strengthened home defense. 535 HISTORY OF ATHOL National Guard Located at the Armory in Orange, our local National Guard Company with a majority of its personnel being residents of Athol was speedily put upon a war basis at the outbreak of World War II. On January 26, 1941 F Company left for a year's training at Camp Edwards, Cape Cod, and thence to Federal service. But a few weeks elapsed before Athol and other communities of the Commonwealth arranged for pro¬ tection at home by organizing State Guard Companies. Pequoag Guards A year after the creation of the Massachusetts State Guard Reserve, voters of Athol gave their approval on February 16, 1942 for additional protection to our town during World War II, and in so doing gave the new Company, later to be known as "The Pequoag Guards," the distinction of being among the first of the State Guard Reserve Companies to be formed in Massachusetts. Under the command of Capt. Parker B. Kimball, the Com¬ pany's quota was set at forty-five men and three commissioned officers. Three months after its inception, the Pequoag Guard unit became officially recognized by Adjutant General Erickson. In June, 1942 the Guards were allowed to increase their strength to sixty-one men, with permission to sign up an ad¬ ditional ten per cent for active service, as well as a reserve group or "waiting list" to fill vacancies as they occurred. As more guardsmen left for regular army service, member¬ ship fluctuated and required frequent recruiting drives to bring the ranks to full strength. This situation was not peculiar to Athol alone but was State wide. As a solution Gov. Salton- stall reduced the minimum age requirements for enlistment from eighteen to seventeen years and removed the maximum age limit to fifty. By February, 1944 thirty-six members of the Athol Company were in the service. Hence the task of keeping up Company strength was a continuous one. When the reorganization of the entire Massachusetts State Guard became effective, the Company dropped its nickname of "Pequoag Guards." From December 12, 1943 the unit be¬ came known as the 15th Company, 4th Battalion, 29th Infan¬ try, MSG. At a surprise testimonial dinner given by the Com¬ pany three days later, Capt. Kimball resigned his command. Lt. William T. Woodrow took over the command of the newly 536 ORGANIZATIONS designated 15th Company and received his commission as Captain on April 5, 1944. The Guards underwent a program of intensive training throughout the war. In swift succession followed war maneu¬ vers involving defense of Athol's industrial plants, specified areas such as a power sub-station, and even of the town itself. Even as V-E Day approached in May, 1945 the Guardsmen were still training. They attended school sessions at Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, at the Fitchburg Armory, and a week's encampment at Camp Chase in Hingham, Massachu¬ setts. Voluntarily in March, 1943 the Guards assumed the twelve midnight to six a.m. morning watch at the Athol District Warning Centre, one man each night to this duty. It had the signal honor of being one of the first security units in the State to possess the "walkie-talkie" radio sets with which to keep up communication in an emergency when other means were not available. Major General John F. Williams, Acting Chief of the Na¬ tional Guard, gave our Guards a fine commendation when he wrote in April, 1944 to The Adjutant General of Massachu¬ setts in Boston: "1. This Bureau has received a copy of the 1944 Annual Inspection Report of the 15th Company, 29th Infantry Regi¬ ment, Massachusetts State Guard, Athol, Massachusetts, which contains the following remark: 'This company is sharp and drill is much better than the average company. Also, it will be noted that they are unusually well equipped. In fact each man is armed with a trench knife in addition to other equipment. It was also true that the men seemed to be of somewhat better intelligence and more able to answer questions.' "2. I am happy to add my commendation of the officers and men of the 15th Company, for their loyalty and hard work towards the development and training of an efficient military force." There were other letters of congratulations from Major General Sherman Miles, Brig. General William J. Keville, Major General Thomas F. Foley, Col. Walter L. Beaman, and Capt. Charles H. Qualters. Official disbandment of "Athol's Own Company" was an¬ nounced on October 31, 1946 by Charles H. Qualters, then Lt. Colonel. 537 i HISTORY OF ATHOL United Spanish War Veterans, George A. Brooks Camp Locally at least two organizations grew out of the War with Spain and the Philippine Expeditions following it, but only one survived and that was George A. Brooks Camp, or¬ ganized about 1904 under the name of Legion of Spanish War Veterans, with Oscar D. Hapgood as the first Commander. In 1908 Brooks Camp was merged into a unit of United Spanish War Veterans with Harry L. Doane as first Commander. Since most of the veterans of that era were members of Co. E, Second Massachusetts Infantry and that Company's Armory was at Orange, it is natural that this camp which includes veterans of both towns should be located in Orange. Though depleted in membership, this organization is still functioning with but a few members still living. They meet in the Memorial Hall in Orange on the second Thursday of each month. Col. Harry L. Doane was Honorary Commander until his death in 1951. Veterans of Foreign Wars, Roy L. Boyce Post No. 650 On June 6, 1921, some two years after Phillips Post, Ameri¬ can Legion was formed, a group of its members (most of them remaining in the Legion membership) together with some who had never joined the Legion organized Roy L. Boyce Post No. 650, Veterans of Foreign Wars. They met for a time in Memorial Building and then sought other quarters, locating at No. 55 Exchange Street for a few years and then as their membership increased by the affiliation of many World War II veterans, it bought the Franklin C. Woodward property at 73 Traverse Street where it maintains its headquarters. In 1950- 51 a substantial assembly hall was added to the rear of their building. It has cooperated with the Legion in many of its public ac¬ tivities and its personnel seems to find many congenial com¬ panions among its membership. In the small grass triangle at the junction of School, Traverse and South Streets, there is a bronze plaque on a granite base which commemorates not only the golden anniversary of the V.F.W. but also is in memory of the men and women of this community who have served in the armed forces in times of war. This Veterans Memorial in Foreign Wars Memorial Park was dedicated on November 5, 1949 with U. S. Senator Leverett Saltonstall as chief speaker. During the colorful cere- 538 ORGANIZATIONS mony, when Rep. Warren C. Karner and this author both spoke, there was a flight of planes from the Air National Guard of Westfield led by two Athol fliers, Lt. James Romanowicz and Lt. Richard Barrus. Odd Fellows Tully Lodge, Independent Order of Fellows Masonry not proving adequate for the social aspirations of many people, other fraternities began to appeal to our citi¬ zenry, but it was some years before any of the more generally recognized non-Masonic fraternities found a welcome here. The first to come was Tully Lodge, Independent Order of Fellows, which was organized here October 15, 1884. The lodge has met in Cardany's Block, in the Millers River Bank Building, and on June 29, 1929 it bought the Academy of Music Building built by Lucien Lord in 1892 where it and most of its associate orders have since met. Canton Athol No. 60 As a branch of the local Odd Fellows, Canton Athol No. 60 was instituted on July 1, 1889, and Mt. Pleasant Encampment on April 23, 1 889. Daughters of Rebecca, Banner Lodge No. 89 (I.O.O.F.) A strong support to the Odd Fellows, this affiliate has been in existence since its organization on April 17, 1890. Millers River Lodge No. 7742 There is also a Manchester Unity Odd Fellows Lodge named Millers River Lodge No. 7742 which was organized June 20, 1902. It has met at various fraternal halls but now has its headquarters in a private home. Foquaig Club On Thursday, November 5, 1891 nearly a hundred Athol citizens gathered at Landlord Mowry's new Commercial House (now the Leonard) and organized Poquaig Club. For more than half a century previous to that time the resi¬ dents of the "Factory Village," later "Athol Depot," had been wont to gather in the office of the old Pequoig Hotel, which was in the southwest corner of the main building, and there 539 HISTORY OF ATHOL around the spacious fireplace discuss important and unimpor¬ tant affairs of village, town, County, State, and Nation. This gathering, facetiously called the Pequoig Senate, had been made welcome by succeeding landlords from Newell to Aldrich & Stone, but when these last named gentlemen took over the management in May, 1901 they had other ideas about the usage of their office space and mildly suggested to this group of non-paying habitues that they hold their conferences elsewhere. Those were prosperous and busy days in Athol and many of our citizens were not averse to arranging for a more spacious location where they could gather in social intercourse during their leisure hours. Although those were truly "horse and buggy" days in our town yet Athol had begun to glimpse a vision of a new era. Lucien Lord had opened Lake Park two years before and Augustus Coolidge had built a half dozen modern houses on River (Crescent) Street. By the active assistance of our aggres¬ sive Board of Trade, Hill & Green, F. W. Breed, and Goddard and Manning had started new industries here. After a dozen years of litigation and struggle Mr. L. S. Starrett had bought the wooden factory west of the Cotton Factory and was steadily adding to his relatively small number of employees. An electric dynamo had been installed at the Cotton Factory and strung along our streets were a dozen or more carbon elec¬ tric lamps giving by night a sputtering and uncertain light. For five years Athol had agitated macadam roads, but in 1891 not a load of crushed rock had been used and the sur¬ face of our streets and roads was undiluted Athol mud. Dun¬ ham and Brown had solicited and procured from both Athol and Orange an electric railway franchise but not a yard of rail had been laid along the contemplated right of way. The range of amusements was an occasional road show in the Skating Rink or Hi Henry's Minstrels in Starr Hall. For ten years Athol had had a long distance telephone serv¬ ice. Still there were but few private telephone boxes installed and these were operated by a crank at the right side of the box turned vigorously to attract the attention of Hattie Sawtelle, the sole telephone operator. Elisha F. Brown was Station Agent at the Depot and Zepho- rine E. Carter telegraph operator there. 540 ORGANIZATIONS Webb's Block had been built following the fire of 1890 and Millers River National Bank had moved its old building to the north and erected a new three-story block. A sewer had been built that year from the watering trough to the iron bridge. Perhaps a dozen buildings along the route had sewer connections and installed crockery toilets so that by pulling a chain all deposits were washed down into the river. Outside of these few aristocrats an old two holer back of the house still served its useful purpose. Such was the Athol into which Poquaig Club was born. Ben¬ jamin Harrison was President and the problem of the politicians was how to dispose of the unwieldly surplus which was piling up in the United States Treasury. That progressive young demo¬ crat, William E. Russell was Governor and George W. Bishop was Chairman of the Selectmen. Nine days after the organization Mr. Lucien Lord proposed to the club that he would build for it in his contemplated Aca¬ demy of Music Building, to be erected on Aunt Sally Fish's Garden, quarters adequate for all its needs and forthwith a contract was entered into with him. Millers River Bank offered temporary quarters in the rear of the second floor of its new building at practically the spot where First National Bank Di¬ rectors hold their meetings today. Much of the equipment for the new Club was produced locally. The piano case was from Goddard & Manning, some of the furniture came from Athol Reed & Rattan Company, while the pool and billard tables were from Goodman's. The new quarters were dedicated October 25, 1892. Al¬ though after some seven years the building was seized by Mr. Lord's creditors yet through several ownerships the Club con¬ tinued to occupy its quarters until in june, 1909 the space was leased for the local telephone exchange and the Club moved into the easterly section of the Pequoig Block, second floor. There it prospered for a time as never before. Then a busi¬ ness man was scarcely to be found in our midst whose name was not on the rolls of the Club. But the radio, the auto, and finally the financial crash of 1929 each took their toll of mem¬ bers. In 1932 the Club moved again, this time into an apartment at 151 Marble Street, but in 1933 it returned to the bright lights of Main Street, this time into much smaller quarters in the Webb Block. There it existed until early 1952, its member- 541 HISTORY OF ATHOL ship reduced to a few who were reluctant to see it disband. The quarters were abandoned on February 1 and the Club di s— banded as of May 1, 1952. When the hospital drive was on in 1947 the Club offered its rooms to that corporation and there the Hospital had its business office pending completion of its building. The several Presidents of the Club were Hon. Charles Field, 1891-1908; George D. Bates, 1908-14; Levi B. Fay, 1914- 1930; Parke B. Swift, 1930-32; Simon MacKay, 1932-3; and William G. Lord, 1933 to 1952. Townsend Club In the distressing days following the stock market crash of 1929 and the bank holiday of 1933, Dr. F. E. Townsend of California gained national prominence by his advocate of a monthly payment to all our citizens who had passed the three score and ten milestone of a monthly allowance of two hundred dollars with the stipulation that no part of it should be hoarded but all spent, thus greatly increasing the volume of money in circulation. All sections of our broad land had many believers in this theory of economical salvation. A Townsend Club was formed here to be followed by another club and great was the enthusiasm for the innovation. Political activities were a factor in a few elections, but failing to get Congressional action and with a substitute Social Security law written into our national code the membership of the clubs has apparently dwindled to the vanishing point. Tully Medical Society This club of local physicians flourished in an inconspicuous way for many years. It brought our doctors into a closer fel¬ lowship and was considered by all to be a worthwhile effort. However, around 1940 its leaders felt it inadvisable to continue longer and it was disbanded, its cash assets of a few hundred dollars being turned over to Athol Memorial Hospital. Women's Christian Temperance Union Very speedily after Frances E. Willard organized the first group of women under the Junior or White Ribbon, a local circle of the W.C.T.U. was organized in Athol on August 16, 1876. For approximately three-quarters of a century these women had consistently opposed the liquor traffic and have been in the forefront of every movement looking to the sup- 542 ORGANIZATIONS pression of that traffic, even when national prohibition came and the organization seemed to have achieved its utmost aims. In the years while the sale and use of liquor have increased, these sturdy women have maintained their strong opposition to the liquor traffic and all use of intoxicants. In recent years, one of its local members, Mrs. Julia B. Kohler, has been County President and State Vice President of the Union. Worcester Northwest Agricultural & Mechanical Society The success of the first cattle show held on Athol Common in September, 1858 prompted the formation of the Athol Agri¬ cultural & Mechanical Society a month later. With ninety-eight members the Society elected Dr J. P. Lynde as President; Samuel Lee, Secretary; Moses Wood, Treasurer; and Elias Bassett, Calvin Kelton, Joseph F. Dunbar, and Lyman W. Hap- good as Trustees. This was a voluntary organization holding its fairs each year on Athol Common and using the Congre¬ gational vestry as an exhibition hall. In 1867 it proposed to own and develop a Fair Grounds, which made incorporation advisable. Adopting the title Worcester Northwest Agricultural & Mechanical Society, it purchased for $1500.00 substantially the area now the Athol Athletic Field of Samuel Prouty and Benjamin Estabrook, erected an exhibition hall, and on October 5, 1867 held its first fair there. The grounds were replete with horse sheds, grandstand, and the like. Fully 16,000 people attended the September, 1920 fair. A new grandstand had been erected in the meantime and the grounds had been reconstructed. During World War I John A. McGregor, president of Union Twist Drill, had ambitions to make the Fair Grounds into a horse racing center. To relieve himself of some surplus cash he acquired a trotting horse and proceeded in the height of the high cost of construction during the war to build a new grandstand. He thoroughly reorganized the setup at a tre¬ mendous cost and saddled the Society with a debt of some $100,000 which eventually he had to underwrite. Hard times of 1929 ended this most colorful event in Athol to which the Governor came each year. It had been a decided honor to be a trustee of this Society and its last show in 1930 marked the passing of a great factor in our town. 543 HISTORY OF ATHOL Young Men's Christian Association The pioneer Young Men's Christian Association was or¬ ganized in Boston in 1851. It was only eight years after this when on December 1, 1859 a group of young men came together and organized the Athol Y.M.C.A. Its list of first association officers includes the names of men who exerted great influence in the development of Athol: Farwell F. Fay, President; John R. Pierce and R. Garfield, Vice Presidents; Levi W. Carruth, Treasurer; R. T. Oakes, Secretary; A. V. Dimock, I. Y. Kendall, and R. Putnam, Directors. While nearly all the officers were residents of the Upper Village, yet the Association to attract members from both of the villages arranged for alternate meetings, one Monday night at the Congregational Vestry and the next Monday night at Union Hall, which was the Vestry of the First Baptist Church. Since that time there have been several lapses in the con¬ tinuity of the activities of this organization, and two or three attempts were made to reorganize and enlarge the scope of its work. Eventually in March, 1887 there was a meeting at the Baptist Church Vestry and Will C. Wood was elected Pres¬ ident. From that time to this day the activities of the Y.M.C.A. have been continuous. For some nine years they met in the various churches con¬ fining their activities to Sunday afternoon meetings, but in 1896 a suite of four rooms was engaged in the Webb's Block and a reading room was made available to the townspeople. In less than a year these rooms in Webb's Block were aban¬ doned, and the former District Court rooms in Simond's Block at 456 Main Street were taken over. After the fire in Webb's Block on December 21, 1890 William W. Fish, then Postmaster, built a temporary Post Of¬ fice building at 434 Main Street which housed the local Post Office for several months. After the building was abandoned for that purpose it was acquired by Mr. Lucien Lord and was moved to the west side of Exchange Street just north of the then new Engine House. There it was made a part of a build¬ ing devoted to a bowling alley, pool and billiard rooms. In April, 1897 this entire building was leased by the Y.M.C.A. and there it maintained an active organization for approx¬ imately fifteen years. Then Mr. Starrett became deeply interested in this work and offered them in February, 1907 the present site for the new building, and $15,000 towards the erection of this new edifice. 544 ORGANIZATIONS In 1910 there were sufficient funds in sight so that Mr. Starrett deeded the lot to the Y which on July 15, 1910 was chartered as a Massachusetts Corporation. In the spring of 1911 erection of the present building was started. The corner stone was laid on April 25, 1911, and the building was dedicated on March 15, 1912. Since that time there have been added a swimming pool and some additional recreation facilities, and about 1945 the Richardson property southwest of the building was purchased with a view to eventual further expansion. The building has been in reality a civic center, for two generations of the youth of Athol have found recreation and wholesome enjoyment there. It is a real asset to our community. The present secretary, A. P. Johnstone, came to the insti¬ tution in 1918, has served it continuously since then and as its executive officer is still doing for it an outstanding job. 545 CHAPTER XXXIV IT HAPPENED ONE DAY 7XTOTABLE events, dates some of us remember most vividly, calamities, and the like have been a part of us and in many cases have tried us truly. For instance, the hurricane of 1938 wrecked many of our homes and factories, tore down our beautiful trees, taxed the services of our Red Cross, and brought us closer together in a bond of fellowship. In some measure, great or small, these disasters have had a part in shaping our lives and the character of our town. Thus — it happened one day. It is to be presumed that in the early days of Athol many events passed unchronicled that might well be classed under the heading of "Calamities," but such as have come down to us we record here. In the Summer of 1777, that year when all New England was most apprehensive as to her safety because of the threat of three mighty forces under the English Crown to cut her off at the Hudson River and then sweep across her with an irresistible force, there swept across our township an epidemic of malignant dysentery as it was diagnosed. In the short space of a month there were thirteen deaths in this town of perhaps eight hundred population and many more violently ill. At Christmas time in 1811 there was an accumulation of snow of such depth that it was eight days after Capt. John Oliver died at his home on Lyons Hill before his body could be transported to the Old Pleasant Street Cemetery where it was buried near the entrance gate. The fate of Athol during the cold Summer of 1816 was little different from other New England communities. Exces¬ sive heat was followed by severe cold and in most places in town there was a frost every month in the year. But one field of corn in town survived to maturity and that was on the farm at the easterly end of Vaughan Road now owned by the heirs of Joseph Staraitis. Sensing a need in the 546 IT HAPPENED ONE DAY following springtime of seed corn far more pressing than the immediate uses he could make of his crop, Deputy Sheriff James Oliver carefully cured most of his crop and out of his supply furnished seed corn for farmers from places both near and far from his home. In 1839 came a financial calamity of great proportions, the worst for Athol of that century. The Cotton Factory with its auxiliary, the Factory Store, was the one great enterprise in our community. Its stability was not questioned by anyone. With no banking institution in this area the Factory Company assumed much of the services rendered today only by banking institutions. It accepted surplus cash of our citizens allowing them a substantial interest rate on their ''deposits." The more affluent found the stock of the Company an attractive invest¬ ment. Thus this Company was closely tied to the economic life of our vicinity. Economic conditions were far from good throughout the na¬ tion during Jackson's administration and the succeeding years. Hence the Factory Company found it difficult to operate at a profit but no one seems to have questioned its stability, having full confidence in the manager of the Company, Col. Nathan Nickerson, living at 585 Main Street in the house still stand¬ ing there. On April 25, 1839 Col. Nickerson left town, presumably on Company business, but a few days later rumors were in cir¬ culation that he had absconded and that the Factory Company was in financial difficulties. Then the storm broke. There were no bankruptcy laws in force at that time, thus the priority of the claims depended upon when suit was brought and attachments made. Soon the supply of writs was exhausted, extra blanks being rushed here from Petersham and Orange. John H. Partridge had recently succeeded to the office of Deputy Sheriff and his inexperience added to the confusion. In one day Deputy Partridge forwarded to Worcester one hundred and two writs, practically all of them being against the one company. A long period of liquidation followed. The personal property falling for short of the claims against it, various parcels of real estate were set off by appraisers to satisfy claims and when the company's assets were exhausted the deficit fell upon the stockholders, many of whom were impoverished by the adjustment of these debts. 547 HISTORY OF ATHOL A few days after Mr. Nickerson left Athol his wife followed him to locate at Cleveland, Ohio where he died less than two years later. In noting this death in his paper mill book. Esq. Thorpe added, "No man can run away from trouble." Every great enterprise takes its toll of human life and the building of the Vermont & Massachusetts Railroad through these valleys was no exception. When in the later months of 1847 the roadbed of the utility was graded, the bridges built and the rails laid down, there was planned an initial testing trip from South Royalston to Athol. Sentimentally it seemed fitting that this first entry into the village should be by the engine "Athol" and that locomotive, one of four then owned by the railroad, was attached to some flat cars and a group of interested men taken along as guests. For over a mile the pioneer train ran along without incident but when it was in the second bridge west of South Royalston that structure, undoubtedly being a covered wooden bridge, gave way and precipitated engine, cars, and passengers into the river. Authorities differ whether the number of fatalities was five, six, or seven, but no matter what number we know it was a gruesome sight as the bodies were taken from the river and laid side by side on the hillside of the "Rich Pasture." The Engine Athol was wrecked beyond salvage. Nearly two decades passed before another locomotive was given that name. Authorities differ as to the cause of this disaster. The Annual Report of the directors of the railroad says it was "by design," which translated into modern language probably means sabo- age. Nathaniel Richardson who examined the wreckage care¬ fully says it was caused by the inferior quality of the iron rods used in building the bridge. Twice Athol has been visited by a smallpox epidemic of considerable proportions. Though I find little information concerning the 1870 epi¬ demic, I do know of two lonely graves in the Almhouse pasture where two victims are buried. One of them was named Fuller, a son of the "Fullerite" founder, I believe. In any event, I find a record of his death on February 22, 1872 of smallpox, as well as two other deaths of varioloid. 548 IT HAPPENED ONE DAY Nathaniel Richardson and Henry A. Burgess, both close neighbors of this author, were ill with the disease. In addition to a building at the Poor Farm which was used as an isolation hospital, the town took an old house still standing at 1674 South Main Street for at least one year. In March, 1902 the Andrews' family, then controlling the James Lamb Place at 921 South Athol Road, entertained a relative from New York. This kinsman soon fell sick and Dr. Perry was called. It would appear that this man was a victim of smallpox although Dr. Perry never agreed to that diagnosis. From the Andrews' home Dr. Perry went next to the home of an invalid, William B. Sanger, clearly afflicted with "old fashioned consumption" as those prolonged tubercular cases were called. Soon after this visit Mr. Sanger grew worse and died. A public funeral was held, no questions were asked as to Dr. Perry's diagnosis of his case, but in a few days the under¬ taker who cared for the Sanger body and at least two of the bearers at the funeral came down with smallpox. The Pinedale School House was taken as a pest house, John B. Jacques a local constable was assigned to police duty there, Mrs. Carrie Grover was engaged as nurse, and Dr. A. V. Bowker volunteered to turn his other cases over to the other physicians to become the attending physician. In all, thirteen cases were treated, of whom three died. Public sentiment did not approve of the school house as a hospital. To appease the citizenry the Board of Health bar¬ gained for the Stanton Place on Old Keene Road, once Joseph Paine's Tavern, but before it could be used it was set afire, by whom was never discovered, and entirely destroyed. As an aftermath of that epidemic the town bought the Contagious Disease Hospital on Thrower Road which it still owns though it has never been used as an isolation hospital. Athol has experienced many periods of high water in its river but as improvements have crowded the river bed the results have become correspondingly more serious. In 1839 when our people were so sorely distressed because of the failure of the Cotton Factory, we would not expect un¬ usually heavy public expenses except in case of great emer¬ gency. We have no record of any floods in 1839 and yet that 549 HISTORY OF ATHOL summer we find the townspeople rebuilding the bridge near the Athol Manufacturing Company dam which was on the road to Royalston, the bridge at the lower end of Main Street on the way to North and South Orange, and placing horses or supports under the bridge on the Greenfield Turnpike just off the South Athol Road and on the way to (South) Orange and the western towns. March 15, 1844 between 2 and 3 p.m. the river broke up carrying away the Crescent Street bridge and completely flood¬ ing the "Island." December 18, 1845 Hoar & Co.'s dam at what is now Water Street gave way doing serious damage to at least ten mills or factories on Mill Brook. No great damage was done downtown but water was a foot deep in Main Street below the Y.M.C.A. March 14, 1846 came another ice jam that carried away the Kendall dam and damaged the Royalston Road and Crescent Street bridges. The year 1881 was one of a marked scarcity of rainfall throughout most of the United States. The newspapers told of severe forest fires that were raging in parts of the country, particularly in the State of Michigan. On September sixth of that year the sun rose in a haze which had much the appear¬ ance of a smoky fog, but as the day wore on the weather did not clear perceptibly. The daylight was not adequate to do any close work. School sessions were attempted but were soon dismissed for the day. The Lee Shoe Shop, then the largest factory in town, operated by gas light for a time and then blew the whistle announcing to the workers that operations were suspended. Superstitious ones became convinced that this was a mani¬ festation of impending doom and that further calamities would be forthcoming. But with the changing of the wind, the next day brought practically normal conditions. It was generally conceded that the cause of this was a thick blanket of smoke from the burning pine forests which spread over New England. This gave to the day the designation of "The Yellow Day." The winter of 1887-8 was not an unusual one. Early in March the warm sun settled the snow banks and made sleighing decidedly "scratchy" in spots. The predictions for Monday, March 12th, were for fair weather; therefore no one was on the lookout for a storm. 550 IT HAPPENED ONE DAY By mid-forenoon a fine snow was falling accompanied by quite some wind. This increased until by nightfall there was fully two feet of new snow on the level, which was an unusual fall, and travel was difficult. By mid-afternoon train service had ceased and by bed-time travelling either by team or on foot was all but impossible. Tuesday morning dawned cloudy and cold upon a world all but buried in snow. The town teams were hitched onto bob sleds and with a field plow lashed on either side made some progress through the streets of the villages but were helpless on the outlying roads. As no trains came in there was no communication with the outer world save by telegram and an imperfect telephone system connected with the outside world through Gardner. Not a factory attempted to run nor was any school opened that day, and most able-bodied men spent their time digging out their homes. A group of some half dozen young women residing in Orange were employed in the Wallet Shop, usually commuting by train, arriving here about 7 a.m. and returning to Orange on the 5.40 going west, but that day of the big snow no 5.40 nor any other train ran, nor was vehicular traffic to Orange possible. Hence they seemd doomed to spend the night in the railroad station, but the Gardiner Lord family learning of their plight took them in, fed them, and managed to house them all. It was a week before a train ran over the railroad to Spring- field and ten days before sleighs and sleds could reach all the outlying houses in town. Those were days of the storage of household supplies — flour, sugar, and crackers by the barrel, as well as other supplies in relatively large quantities. Thus there was very little actual deprivation among our people. Cows were kept in many village barns thus producing milk in suf¬ ficient quantities so that there was no real want unsupplied. Travelling was back to normal conditions again within ten days and the Big Snow was only a memory. But the sight on the morning of March 13, 1888, on Traverse Street with the snow across the street level with the door knobs is a memory which is vivid in the mind of the writer after sixty-five years. February 11, 1900 after a period of warm rain, the river broke up carrying massive cakes of ice onto Crescent Street Bridge and tearing out the center pier of the northerly Ex- 551 HISTORY OF ATHOL change Street Bridge. An ice jam formed near the lower rail¬ road bridge which flooded lower Main Street as well as South Main Street. EXCHANGE STREET (NORTH) BRIDGE, WRECKED FEBRUARY 14, 1900 At the risk of being awarded a premium as the prize pre¬ varicator I am including an experience which I personally went through but which is generally treated as a base exaggeration. In the late afternoon of June 24, 1 899 following a somewhat severe thunder shower, hail stones began to fall upon Athol's thickly populated area which speedily increased in size until there were innumerable stones larger than hens' eggs and not a few of them larger than the standard size baseball. In the twenty minutes that this storm continued it did considerable damage to roofs, glassware, and so forth, and necessitated a tremendous amount of expense by real estate owners. Some hail stones were hastily gathered and photographed by Mr. Andrew J. Hamilton, though no other object was near with which to compare them in size. Until the first years of the present century no Chief Execu¬ tive of our nation is known to have honored Athol by calling upon us but in a little more than a year after he succeeded to the presidency, upon the death of President McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt made a tour of New England and desig¬ nated Athol as one of his calling places. A large platform was 552 IT HAPPENED ONE DAY erected west of the railroad depot and a carpet spread from the tracks to this platform. The accompanying picture shows Dr. Oliver, chairman of our Reception Committee escorting "Teddy" along this carpet. HAIL STONES JUNE 24, 1899 During his short stay here President Roosevelt was presented by our townsman, Andrew J. Hamilton with a bound copy of his original poems which had recently appeared in the local and Springfield papers. Shortly after leaving here President Roosevelt was involved in a serious accident in Pittsfield when his carriage was run down by a local trolley car. When Leander B. Morse heard of this accident he promptly stated that as Mr. Roosevelt arose from the dust of the road he exclaimed, "My God save my Athol poems." Times of flood peril from our river are many but the two episodes probably the most serious of any recorded occurred in 1 936 and 1 938. On March 13, 1936 warm weather and heavy rains had swollen the river to the extent that some trouble was feared and before the day was over jams and back water were becom- 553 HISTORY OF ATHOL ing increasingly perilous. Gradually the low lands were flooded thus making the highways impassable. High water set back into the plant of Athol Gas & Electric Company making the operation of that plant impossible. At one time the company stated it had fifteen feet of flood waters over its floors. Railroad bridges were swept away, a corner of the Starrett factory was torn out, smaller bridges were swept WHEN "TEDDY" ROOSEVELT CALLED ON US, SEPT. 2, 1902 Dr. James Oliver escorting him to platform erected for the occasion west of Depot Park down stream and a general cessation of business ensued. It was some ten days before train service was restored and only a little shorter time before the Gas plant was in operation. Refugees were housed in the Y.M.C.A. and in many hos¬ pitable homes. In all, the estimate of damage to our town was well over a million dollars. Much debris was brought down the river and lodged on the low lands as well as in the river bed which necessitated much dredging. In some two weeks our industries had resumed operations but it was many months before the scars of this catastrophe had largely disappeared. The 1936 flood was only a weak preview of the big show which came two and a half years later. The older inhabitants had been accustomed to the equinoxial storm due around the beginning of the last third of the month 554 IT HAPPENED ONE DAY of September and thus were not unduly alarmed when heavy rainfall began on September 19, 1938. On September 21 the proportions of the downpour became alarming, particularly when by mid-afternoon our river was out of bounds and the radio told of a southern tornado headed our way. As workmen built sand bag embankments at the end of Crescent Street to prevent the river from flowing down Main Street, the winds began to howl and trees to fall; then came the chimneys crashing onto roofs. Roofs of some buildings broke loose and flew from their structures. The stately Baptist Church spire designed by Elbridge Boyden and built in 1859 crashed to the ground. As a haven of refuge the Y.M.C.A. was again pressed into use for residents of Marble Street and other low lying areas; the Red Cross began emergency aid measures; and as darkness came on, our people waited in awe and fear of the fury of the elements. When morning of the 22nd dawned, many if not most of our streets and roads were rendered impassable by fallen trees and other debris, while in the low lands waters poured into the windows of many dwellings, reaching nearly to the ceiling of not a few homes and business places. The waters of Millers River poured across Marble Street, and using Island Street as a channel made a river of Main Street, flowing through the driveway west of the Starrett Block into the Lord's Pond Canal. At the former Pythian Block, 460 Main Street, was a First National Store. The writer personally saw a Red Cross motor boat run up the street to that store, enter the store through the front door, load on provisions, then back out and proceed on its way to relieve isolated families who were without food. Subsequent investigations showed that the bottle neck in the river was at Wendell Depot setting the waters back nearly to the Starrett dam. At the westerly end of Main Street the waters flowed back to Union Street thus entirely submerging the houses and the Cass plant on Canal Street. Bread and some mail were brought in by air to Orange Air¬ port but it was only through Petersham and Route 122 that it could be reached. South Main Street homes which were not flooded were entirely isolated until eventually reached by boat. Again as in 1936 the railroad was a great sufferer and no trains were run over the line passing our station for many days. Hundreds of acres of forests were laid low necessitating im- 555 HISTORY OF ATHOL mediate lumber operations and bidding fair to produce lumber far beyond local needs. The Federal Government sent its Disaster Loan Represent¬ atives here and through it much of the timber was cut into logs and dumped into ponds and lakes to prevent borer des¬ truction. Eventually these logs were bought by New England Box Company and trucked overland to Winchester, New Hampshire, where they were sawed into lumber. But in dealing with local owners a system of log measurements angrily called the “swindle stick" credited the owners with much less board feet than has always been the custom in local operations. September 23rd Companies A, B, C and D, 1st Battalion, 181st Infantry, Mass. N. G., were assigned to military duty here, continuing until October 2. During the period we were under military surveillance which amounted to Martial Law as none of us was allowed to frequent the streets without a pass. But when the winds ceased and the floods receded our people heroically set about restoring the damage with commendable zeal. One dwelling at 365 Exchange Street was swept down stream, as were two large hay barns on the north meadows, and with them many smaller structures making at Main Street bridge a lumber jam that cost much time and effort to remove. Elsewhere in this work is mention of the new Masonic Block built by Lucien Lord in 1873-4. Adjoining the property on the west was the Mersylvia Twichell house lot which she oc¬ cupied until her death on November 8, 1872. This adjoining property Mr. Lord acquired from her executor, Franklin Barnard of Wilmington, Vermont on April 30, 1873 and remodelled the lower story into two stores naming it the Central Block. Eventually he closed the driveway west of the building and built thereon a store taken over under lease by W. W. Norton who removed here from Springfield to open a dry goods store. In the Central Block in 1890, beginning at the west, were W. W. Norton's Dry Goods, Fred W. Lord's Drug Store, Fred U. Smith (shoes) with C. A. Houghton (cobbler) in the rear of his store and the Benjamin F. Barrus boarding house on the second floor. The Masonic Block was occupied by C. M. Briggs, plumber, in the basement; E. E. Cleveland, the Post Office, and C. A. Carruth on the ground floor; E. V. Wilson's 556 IT HAPPENED ONE DAY law office, H. M. Slate, billiard parlor; J. W. Donovan, barber; and the Selectmen's office on the second floor; and the Ma¬ sonic bodies on the third floor. Fire broke out in the basement under the Post Office and Cleveland store on a Saturday night or early Sunday morning of December 21 , 1890. Quickly spreading to the Central Block, it raged until both buildings were damaged beyond repair. In fighting the blaze an Athol fireman, Alexander MacLeod, was killed. The stocks and fixtures of all the occupants above mentioned were seriously damaged. For immediate and temporary quarters Mr. Norton and Mr. Carruth built the building which is now the first floor of the northeast building of J. F. McElwain Company plant, and Fred W. Lord found temporary quarters with the C. F. Paige & Company. The Post Office was for a time in the front room of the "Aunt Sally Fish house" until the Postmaster, William W. Fish, built in the then vacant lot at 438 Main Street a tem¬ porary structure which is now a part of the rear building at 216 Exchange Street. Through the years Athol had been proud of its banking insti¬ tutions and fully convinced of their solvency but there had poured into their coffers many more funds than could be used locally. Hence they sought bond investments for their surplus funds. After the crash of 1929 many securities deemed high grade in the lush days preceding the depression fell to but a fraction of their former value. The Savings and Co-operative Banks had no daily quotation of their assets published in the newspapers and thus not even the management of those insti¬ tutions knew accurately the value of their investments. With the bond investments it was different. Daily the executives of our two national banks saw the market value of their assets shrink lower and lower. Twice the directors of each bank made donations out of their own funds to relieve the situation only to see the donations wiped out and the shrinkage go on. Bank examiners admitted frankly that our situation was little different from many others except that we had a larger percentage of listed securities. Conferences were held with a view to consolidating the two institutions but neither was strong enough to assist materially in supporting the other. Then came the Fourth of March and the Bank Holiday proclaimed by the Roosevelt Administration. Every bank in the land was closed and only allowed to open 557 HISTORY OF ATHOL When it could show figures indicating solvency. The men in charge believed that an upswing in the stock market must come but they were confronted with present figures and not future hopes. Consequently neither bank felt it could sign the required certificate of solvency. The time came in the process of liquidation of these banks when, had the securities been held until then, they would have paid every debt of the bank and par value of the stock. Representatives of all our banks made a hasty trip to Washington for consultation with the Treasury Department and there were advised to follow the so-called Spokane Plan which in effect was to organize a new bank which would buy the sound assets of the older institutions. This involved raising $150,000 in new money which was soon accomplished and then came the weeks of delay by an overloaded Treasury De¬ partment. The ban of suspension was held over all State char¬ tered banks of Massachusetts until our problem with others could be solved. Although our money was in readiness Athol was one of the last to get organized. As the weeks dragged on payments of deposits were allowed for emergencies only, even by the solvent Savings and Co¬ operative Banks, but a patient public waited during the four and half months which elapsed before a new Commercial Bank was in operation and the ban was lifted on the others. During the months that followed several dividends were paid by the Receivers of the closed banks until finally some¬ thing over 90% was paid on each depositor obligation of the closed institutions. Several different men served as Receivers during the long process of liquidation but the real burden of liquidation fell upon C. Edward Rowe, Esq. who took over Mill ers River Bank's affairs and much later those of Athol Na¬ tional Bank. 558 CHAPTER XXXV ATHOL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL GEORGE N. KENDALL, a descendant of Jonathan Kendall who was a pioneer on Chestnut Hill and a Revolutionary soldier, died in Athol on March 4, 1908, leaving no issue but a second wife, Mrs. Sarah Kendall. Mr. Kendall, at the time of his decease, owned the property at 86 Newton Street. As Mrs. Kendall had no one to occupy this house except her aged father, she conceived the idea of starting a small hospital and in this initial enterprise was most ably aided by her own family physician, Dr. David G. Coolidge. After a period of individual operation she appealed to a group of citizens in Athol to assist in the management and support of the institution. A considerable number of interested men became associated with her and organized a voluntary as¬ sociation for this purpose. The President and most active member of this group was Honorable Thomas J. Worrell who gathered about him a considerable group of public spirited citizens. This was later merged into a Massachusetts corpora¬ tion, chartered on December 23, 1918. There was considerable interest in the project and a large number of people became contributors to it. On September 19, 1922 a new code of by-laws of the association was adopted and a large number of local people became contributing mem¬ bers of the corporation. At that period, the officers of the association were: President, N. D. Cass; Treasurer, W. M. Hunt; Clerk, A. M. Buchanan; Directors, N. D. Cass, W. M. Hunt, R. L. Dexter, W. L. Edgar, M.D., D. G. Coolidge, M.D., J. F. Higgins, J. G. Sisson, J. F. Hayden, Fred H. Lee, T. J. Worrell, W. G. Lord, G. J. Bassow, M.D., and J. A. Smith, M.D. However, notwithstanding the quite general public support, the income failed to meet expenses and at length Mrs. Kendall advised the group that she felt she must withdraw from further activities in the matter. The hospital was closed, leaving a substantial amount of indebtedness. Much of this indebtedness was in the form of a note held by the Millers River Bank which was signed by several of the Directors. These signers bore the larger part of the payment of this note, but with numerous contributions 559 HISTORY OF ATHOL from other interests, ere long the indebtedness of the corpora¬ tion was adjusted. Then in May, 1927, at the instigation of Dr. William L. Edgar, and a few other physicians and laymen, the various or¬ ganizations of the town were asked to send delegates to a meeting to take some hospital action. This group met at the Y.M.C.A., taking positive action towards the reorganization of the hospital corporation. An entirely new corps of officers was elected and there was much enthusiasm about starting imme¬ diately a campaign to raise funds for a hospital building. The officers elected were: William G. Lord, President; Fred¬ erick H. Lee, Secretary; John F. Hayden, Treasurer; and with these the following Directors: George W. Andrews of Orange, Frank A. Ball, Robert Barrett, N. D. Cass, Richard T. Fisher of Petersham, Eben E. Gridley of Orange, Oscar Horton, Joseph E. Garbarino, Simon MacKay, James O'Laughlin, Frazier K. Paige, Spencer A. Reed, Arthur F. Tyler, E. Warren Tyler, Howard P. Warren, W. W. Woodward, and Charles E. Worrick. As soon as this new organization was well under way, it was discovered that the charter of the former corporation had been annulled by act of the Legislature, but the new management asked to have the charter reviewed which was done by Chapter 90 of the year 1928. During the year 1928 this new group arranged for final liqu idation, to compromise the indebtedness of the old cor¬ poration, and proceeded to give the subject of a hospital build¬ ing a very thorough investigation. Architects were consulted, concerns experienced in soliciting funds were interviewed, managers of other hospitals came to talk to the directors, and they were well on the way toward making a definite start. The late W. W. Woodward and this author interviewed Mrs. Mary Sawyer Bradley, asking that she donate the location now the hospital site to the corporation for a hospital. She declined to accede to our request but did give a price for which it could be bought. Before plans were far advanced, a committee from Orange came before us and stated that the Orange members wished to withdraw from the activities whether they be to gather funds for a hospital in the dim future or to proceed shortly on an active campaign. Thus, after that interview, the Orange Di¬ rectors were no longer counted as members of the body. In June, 1929 a meeting of the Directors was held at which there was strong sentiment in favor of proceeding with a 560 ATHOL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL campaign to raise funds, but certain members felt that it was advisable to defer for a time until the financial atmosphere seemed to be somewhat nearer normal and action was deferred. Then came the financial crash in November, 1929, and it was a matter of great rejoicing that we were not embarked on an extensive program during that most unpleasant experience. Yet the corporation was kept alive, and when on May 15, 1943 Mr. Hayden, Treasurer, died, Town Treasurer Charles W. Faulkner was elected in his place. Some funds were be¬ queathed to the corporation and at various times it considered the resuming of activities toward raising a fund to build a hospital building, but each time it seemed to be the consensus of opinion that it was advisable for the Board to defer action for a time. This was the condition of affairs when in 1947 a group of younger men started a movement looking towards the organization of an independent corporation. Representatives of this group interviewed the directors but they were not con¬ vinced that it was advisable to start on an active campaign and they accordingly made preliminary efforts to organize a new corporation. In this new group were many active younger citizens but apparently they failed to draw quickly to them¬ selves the financial backing necessary to successful efforts. With much determination this group then brought the matter before the town at the annual meeting of 1946, asking that a committee admittedly favorable to their plans be ap¬ pointed to consider the matter from a municipal angle. Many of this group had been openly antagonistic to Special Town Meetings but nevertheless their committee brought the matter before the voters on December 3, 1946 for final action. Their program was adopted by a clear majority but as a two-thirds vote was necessary to finance the project and as with 1364 voters casting their ballot on the matter, the number in favor was found to be some 31 votes less than the required two- thirds, the motion was declared lost. The amount asked for under the recommendation of this committee was $350,000. (less than half what was subse¬ quently made available and this larger sum was hardly ade¬ quate). Shortly after this town meeting, Mr. Arthur H. Starrett called together some twenty-five men representing the larger financial interests of Athol, for a noonday lunch at the Pequoig Hotel, asking these men to advise as to what should be done in this very controversial matter. At the meeting this writer, as President of the Athol Memorial Hospital Corporation, pre- 561 HISTORY OF ATHOL sented the offer of the directors of that corporation to allow the older corporation to be the basis of any voluntary com¬ munity hospital project, with it of course turning over some $17,000. already accumulated for this purpose. Events moved rapidly. It was only a few days before both groups, the older corporation and the newer enthusiasts, met on Sunday morning, December 29, 1946 at the Pequoig House and effected an agreement to join forces in a drive for funds for a privately managed institution. Another town meeting was held on December 30, 1946 at which time it was antici¬ pated that there would be a general agreement to take no further action looking toward a municipal hospital, but to the surprise of those who had agreed to the privately supported hospital proposition, an attempt was made both in the debate and in the ballot to secure the necessary vote to perfect the municipally owned project. However, the voters present de¬ feated this attempt by a very substantial margin, the vote being —yes 525, no 909. Immediately following this, preparations were made to start an intensive drive for funds by private contribution, several making payments before the end of the calendar year, it being advantageous from a tax angle for them to do so. The trustees of the existing hospital corporation arranged to have the by-laws revised to meet the wishes of the combined group as well as possible and speedily filled the membership on the Board of Directors to the number of thirty-one as pro¬ vided by the new by-laws. During this preparation for active work, Mr. Lord notified the group that he did not feel he could carry on the responsibilities of the corporation through the period of intensive activities and soon tendered his resig¬ nation. This was accepted and he was thereupon elected Hon¬ orary President. Roy F. Cooke was elected President on February 6, 1947. On February 17th Dr. Henry Pollack, former Director of the Massachusetts Memorial Hospital, was hired as consultant to the Building Committee. Two days later Henry Souders, a Representative of Aderton- Johnson Assoc, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, arrived in town and started a survey in accordance with the vote of Board of Trustees. Pre-campaign survey indicated, after checking with fifty-five men and women of the town, that 88% of the group contacted favored a fifty to sixty bed hospital. They also felt that a sum of $500,000 to $600,000 could be raised. 562 ATHOL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL James H. Ritchie and Son, arriving in town on March fourth, were shown five proposed sites for the hospital building. It was their opinion that the Sawyer lot was the best location available. This "Sawyer Lot" is a tract of about twelve acres acquired in 1871 of Benjamin Estabrook by Addison M. Sawyer, a native of Templeton, who by a series of inventions had accumulated abundant means. A. M. SAWYER MANSION, 1871-1949 NO. 2033 MAIN STREET Upon this tract, with Frank C. Doane as his builder, he built a mansion house, a caretaker's cottage and a sizable stable. Calamity seemed to have marked this citizen, for in about three years after he moved into his sumptuous home the wife of his youth was taken by death, she to be followed some ten years later by her younger son and the illness of the other son who survived his father less than ten weeks. His palatial home was also a disappointment for it was found impossible to heat it comfortably and it had to be abandoned in the winter months. Mr. Sawyer died January 24, 1890, and his widow, a second wife whom he had married in 1877, and a most estimable lady, 563 HISTORY OF ATHOL soon married a Mr. Bradley and removed to Hudson, Massa¬ chusetts. Charles H. Hayden and Mary, his wife, lived in the care¬ taker's house and cared for the property, eventually acquiring that part of the estate at a nominal figure. In her old age Mrs. Bradley was tenderly cared for by Mr. Sawyer's nephew, Burn¬ side E. Sawyer in Fitchburg. She died at Worcester, December 18, 1936, aged 92, leav¬ ing the real estate the property of the Sawyer heirs. During the last years of Mrs. Bradley's life the Athol real estate had been allowed to deteriorate, the windows being boarded up by police order, and the whole finally being sold for accumulated taxes. During that period the lot at the corner of Main and Me¬ chanic Streets was sold off and a gasoline station built there. Following this, a grand-nephew of Mr. Sawyer secured the tax title and a release from the other heirs and in 1946 offered it through Selectman Thomas Kendrick as a site for a hospital to be known as Sawyer Memorial. An enthusiastic group of our younger citizens were strong for accepting it, but when the merger was effected with the existing Athol Memorial Hospital group the name of that corporation was agreed upon. Mr. Lester T. Sawyer placed a price of $23,000 on the property but eventually deeded it to the corporation, his only stipulation being that somewhere in the building a Sawyer memorial should be placed. Hired on April seventh to start their fund raising campaign at once, Aderton-Johnson Assoc, arrived in town on Patriots' Day, April 19th, and located in the Poquaig Club Rooms for a strenuous financial campaign. On the same day the Board hired James H. Ritchie and Assoc, of Boston to make plans for a building not to exceed $400,000 for a forty bed hospital. Mesdames Taft, Towne and Hamilton were asked to start a Ladies Auxiliary. Members of the Executive Committee drove to Waban, Massachusetts on May 5th and after a discussion with Dr. Pol¬ lack, it was voted to increase the size of the building to a forty-eight bed hospital. Early in December, 1947 the officers went to Boston where an application for a federal grant was filed with the Federal Security Administration and Division of Hospital Survey and Construction of Commonwealth of the State. 564 ATHOL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL An offer of $712. was made for the Sawyer Mansion which was accepted. It was razed in January, 1948. Although the officers were led to believe that we would re¬ ceive approval for the grant which meant that the Federal Gov¬ ernment would pay one-third of the entire cost of the building and equipment, we were amazed when word was received that the grant had been turned down completely by the State Board Committee. This demanded quick action. Consequently the following members: President Roy F. Cooke; Vice-Presidents Arthur H, Starrett and John W. Campbell; Chairman of the Building Committee. George F. Holland; Edward T. Fairchild and Dr. Donald B. Cheetham went down to the State House on one of the worst days of winter with one object in mind — to get the Federal Grant approval. Each member appealed to the fifteen-man State Board and at the end of two hours, the State Board voted unanimously to back these leaders of the hospital with a grant of one-third of the entire cost. On March 14, 1949 Dr. D. B. Cheetham was appointed head of the Medical Advisory Committee. Bids on the hospital building were opened on May 17th. William Belbin was the lowest of eleven bidders with a price ATHOL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 565 HISTORY OF ATHOL of $623,630. This was $3630 or about Vi % above the price estimated by the architect. Paul Nalon, Director of the Frank¬ lin County Hospital in Greenfield, was engaged as Consultant for Purchase of Hospital equipment. Work was started on the hospital on May 31, 1949, and on the following September 11, before a crowd estimated to be 2500, the cornerstone of the building was placed. Dr. Frank Leahey of Boston was the principal speaker. Broadcast over Radio Station WHOB of Gardner, highlights of the program arranged by Chairman George M. Dodge and his committee included cornerstone placing, William G. Lord, Honorary Pres¬ ident; Vice Presidents Arthur H. Starrett and John W. Camp¬ bell; Chairman of the Building Committee, George F. Holland. The musical program was furnished by Union Twist Drill Glee Club and Athol Military Band. Revs. Costello, Fowler, and Rabbi Ucko gave spiritual emphasis to the occasion. As Administrator of the hospital, Henry B. Kidder of Lima, Ohio was engaged on June 1 5, 1 949, to start work as of August 1, he continued with us until July 1953 when he resigned to accept a similar position in Canton, Ohio. With little delay the Executive Committee engaged in Mr. Kidder's place Mr. John R. Lally of Ludlow, Massachusetts, who began his duties here August 1, 1953. Sunday, September 10, 1950, the doors of the institution were thrown open and with members of the staff already re¬ cruited and of the Board of Trustees as reception committee and guides, the public both of Athol and of all nearby towns was escorted through the building and much details explained to them. On Thursday, September 14, the first patient was admitted to the hospital and it continues to serve this area. In 1951 the management asked for additional funds for operating, naming a figure of $100,000 as desirable, and without undue effort that sum was oversubscribed by some $2000. Athol people are constantly learning the true value of this institution to the community and are also learning something of the efforts and costs entailed in maintaining and operating it. No intensive campaign has been made by the hospital's Endowment Committee but already as of July 25, 1953 there was $52,761.13 in Treasurer Faulkner's hands as a nucleus of permanent endowment fund and it is anticipated that as years come and go many more donations will come into that fund. 566 CHAPTER XXXVI PROFESSIONAL MEN A HISTORY of Athol without the story of her professional men who have actually participated in the life of the town would be incomplete in its component parts. With the various churches the clergymen are mentioned. The others — doctors, lawyers, dentists, optometrists, veterinarians, coroners, and medical examiners are given below with a short sketch for each so far as the information could be obtained. Doctors Austin, Horace B. — Born in Townsend, Vermont, 1806. Married Sally W. Lewis at South Royalston on March 5, 1845. Died in Athol on August 15, 1856 — thrown from his buggy near 108 Templeton Road. Bassow, Carleton Francis — Born Athol, June 16, 1908. Graduate Athol High School, 1925; attended Worcester Academy one year; graduate, Uni¬ versity of Vermont (General Course), 1929; and University of Vermont Medical, 1933; interned Ellis Hospital, Schenectady, New York. Began practice in Athol, 1935. From May 1, 1942 to September, 1945 served in Army; rank of Captain. Bassow, George J. — Born Springfield, Vermont, January 12, 1877. Attended University of Vermont, 1897-8; was graduated University of Baltimore, April 8, 1899; post graduate course in surgery at Harvard, 1905. Prac¬ ticed in Gardner, Petersham, and came to Athol in 1 899. Medical Examiner 1 944- 1951. Bentz, Felix John — Born New Britain, Connecticut, 1894. St. Louis Medical, 1926. At 268 School Street (Dr. Coolidge office), March 1935. Re¬ moved 1938. Birch, Sylvanus Jutkins — Born Bethlehem, New York, October 3, 1845. First appearance in this area was in 1875 when he was a candidate for the vacant pulpit in the Universalist Church, Orange. Practiced medicine in Orange from about that period until 1897. Came to Athol where he continued for several years. In 1902 returned to Orange. One of his early activities was as a Temperance lecturer which attracted consider¬ able attention. Died in Orange on April 4, 1923 and was buried in Amesbury. Bolton, William Jackson — Born Hinsdale, New Hampshire, 1870. College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, 1892. Here in Athol at Main & Church Streets, May 1909; at Starrett Building, March 1914. Eminent Commander of Athol Commandery, K. T. Grand Commander of Grand Commandery of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, 1919. Removed from town October, 1919. Died during summer of 1936 in Jacksonville, Florida. 567 HISTORY OF ATHOL Bowker, Alphonse V. — Born Savoy, January 17, 1857; removed to Bernard- ston, 1865. Attended Powers Institute; graduate of University of Ver¬ mont Medical, 1879. Began practice in Millers Falls. Post Graduate work at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. Came to Athol in February, 1890; bought 573 Main Street. On School Committee in Montague and Athol; also Associate Medical Examiner in Athol from 1902 to 1945. Died October 9, 1950. Broons, Frank E. — Came here in 1869; removed about 1877; lived at 1179 Main Street in house now at 1010 Main Street. Brown, Windsor A. — Born Aurora, Illinois, November 15, 1868. Attended Mt. Hermon School, 2 years; graduate of Vermont Medical before 21 years of age. First practiced in North Brookfield, then in Athol, and then in Worcester until 1909 when he went to Luzon, Washington. Then to Seattle, took State examinations, and practiced there until De¬ cember, 1943. Came East in 1926 for courses in blood and skin diseases at New York Skin & Cancer Hospital; returned to Seattle to specialize. Died February 1944 in Seattle, Washington. Burns, Hiram H. — Born Kingston, Mass., 1856. Graduate of Kingston High School, 1876, and of Tufts College in 1880 — valedictorian. Taught school for 4 years: in Marlboro, Hollis, New Hampshire, and Deane Academy, Franklin. Studied medicine with Dr. J. B. Brewster in Plymouth. Graduate of Harvard Medical in 1887; practiced in Kingston. Came to Athol in February, 1888; built house at 1302 Main Street in 1889-90. Returned to Plymouth in 1901. Died May 7, 1941. Chaplin, Ebenezer — Born Millbury, August 18, 1776, son Rev. Ebenezer. Bought 1564 Main Street, October 31, 1815. Married Abigail Ellen- wood, May 20, 1820. Selectman, 1828, and Representative, 1827-29. Died of apoplexy, May 14, 1844. Chase, Daniel A. — Born Whitingham, Vermont. Came to Athol in 1 875; lived at 479 Chestnut Hill Avenue. Removed to Illinois in 1878 and later practiced in Cambridge, New York. Cheetham, Donald B. — Born May 2, 1896, Canton, New York. Graduate of St. Lawrence University in 1916; Columbia University in 1919; Co¬ lumbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1921; Jersey City Medical Center, 1921-23; Worcester State Hospital, 1923-25. Practiced in South Barre from 1925-34 and in Athol since 1934. Colb urn, Samuel H. — Born in 1826. Methodist Minister, Vermont Con¬ ference for 16 years. Graduate of Hahnemann Hospital, Philadelphia in 1870. Practiced in Springfield Vermont; came to Athol in October, 1875. Sold his practice to Dr. C. H. Forbes and removed to Worcester in May, 1883. Returned to Athol in 1888 and died here on August 22, 1890. Colony, George D. — Born Keene, New Hampshire, May 6, 1823. Graduate of Dartmouth College in 1843. Studied with Dr. Amos Twichell at Keene; Woodstock Medical School; graduate U. P. Medical in 1846. Came to Athol on August 6, 1846; built house at 339 Main Street, now at 260 Exchange Street. Member of School Committee from 1 850 to 1 859, with exception of 1855. Removed to Fitchburg on May 1, 1861 and died there on October 2, 1898; buried in Keene. Coolidge, David Goldwaite — Born Orange, Mass., February 26, 1 865, son of Loring. Graduate of Orange High School; University of Michigan, 1889 with M. D.; post graduate courses at Chicago College of Ophthonology, 568 PROFESSIONAL MEN graduated 1891. Returned to Orange as practicing physician. Soon re¬ turned to University of Michigan as Assistant Surgeon of the Ann Arbor Railroad in Michigan. Returned east and settled in Athol in 189/. Contract Surgeon, World War I; Commander E. H. Phillips Post A. L. 1922; Member, Memorial Hall Building Committee. Died July 16, 1933. DR. D. G. COOLIDGE 1865 - 1933 Coolidge, James — Born Orange, August 28, 1831. Admitted Mass. Medical, 1856. Lived at 590 Main Street. Died October 10, 1869. Cuddy, James F. — Born North Brookfield, Mass., January 18, 1882. At¬ tended local Parochial schools; graduate Baltimore Medical in 1905. Interned Metropolitan Hospital one year; in Worcester one year. Came to Athol in 1907. Medical Advisory Board, World War I; Medical Ex¬ aminer 1921-36. Died in Athol, December 3, 1936. Dame, F. Russell — Born 1872. Graduate of Baltimore Medical, 1897. In Medford 1902-6. Came to Athol in 1924; residence 1302 Main Street. Killed on railroad crossing in Orange, December 21, 1934. Davis, Kendall — Graduate of Jefferson Medical; admitted Mass. Medical in 1834 from Pepperell. Retired in 1872; removed to Templeton. Deane, Henry A. — Graduate of Dartmouth in 1868. In Royalston 1868 to 1869. Left Athol about 1880; probably removed to Deerfield. While here lived at 42 Church Street with office building just north of house, and now at 29 Union Street. Diamand, Morris — Born Austria (later Poland), February 25, 1892. Graduate of University of Vienna, 1920. Medical officer Austrian Army 4 years. Passed examinations at University Lwow, Poland; practiced there 15 years. Having little sympathy either for Russia or Germany left Europe in 1940; came to Athol and began practice here, December, 1940. 569 HISTORY OF ATHOL Dodge, George F. — Born Tamworth, New Hampshire, 1872. Graduate of Baltimore Medical, 1906. Opened office here December, 1915; resi¬ dence 1302 Main Street. Died May 6, 1924. Drury, Orasmas M. — Born Shutesbury. Graduate of Harvard Medical in 1867; joined Mass. Medical 1868 from Orange. Died in Orange, June 28, 1881 (age 40). Only short practice here. Dudis, Roger G. — Born Athol, February, 1916. Graduate of Athol High School in 1934; Dartmouth College with an A. B. in 1939; Albany Medical College with M. D. in 1943. Then an internship, and two years in service, discharge, and a year's residency in Worcester. Began prac¬ tice in Athol June 1 1, 1947. Removed to Atlanta, Georgia in 1950. Dufault, Francis X. — Born Spencer, Mass., October 9, 1 897. Moved to Brockton, Mass., May 30, 1905. Graduate of Sacred Heart Parochial, Brockton; High School, St. Joseph's Seminary, Canada; Boston College, A. B. 1919; Tufts College Medical School, M. D. 1924. Internship at Brockton Hospital, October 1, 1923 to May 1, 1925. Started practice in Athol, March 15, 1929. School Committee, Athol, from 1940-46. Dunbar, Hervey O. — Born White River, Vermont, June 24, 1851. Came to Athol in 1873. A student at Harvard Medical one year, 1874-5. Re¬ turned to Athol March 22, 1890. Died December 27, 1894. Dunne, H. Russell — Came to Athol about 1 882; lived at 3 Church Street. Removed to Westerly, Rhode Island in 1891, and died there on October 15, 1899. Eaton, Lillie A. — Born Wakefield, 1871. Graduate Dartmouth Medical, 1892. Assistant, Hospital Cot. Ch., Baldwinville. Came to Athol in January, 1895. In Winchester 1900-1907. Edgar, William Ladell — Born Pawtucket, Rhode Island, October 16, 1872. Educated in Providence public schools; graduate of Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia, Pa., 1894. Came to Athol, June 23, 1894. Vice-President, Athol Co-operative Bank. Died in Athol, October 11, 1941. Ellinwood, Daniel — Bought farm of Dr. Israel Trask, April 28, 1775, de¬ scribed in deed as of Brimfield; resident 1928 Pleasant Street. Ellin¬ wood Country Club named after him. Died in Athol, April 29, 1794 in his 42nd or 44th year. Fessenden, Ray — Born .1900; licensed 1924 — medical and osteopath. Member, Athol School Committee, 1935-40. Selectman 1941-43. Moderator, 1951 to present. Field, George — Succeeded Dr. Hero in Water cure; very little information about him. Forbes, Charles H. — Born Millville, New Jersey, January 25, 1860. In Mon- son, 1865. Educated at Brookfields High School, and graduate in 1883 of New York Homeopathic College. Came to Athol in 1883, succeeding Dr. Colburn. Member, School Committee, 1906-11. Died at Masonic Hospital, Shrewsbury on February 7, 1939. Gardner, Harrie M. — Born Wales, 1 870. Graduate of University of Vermont Medical, 1895. Came at once to Athol and stayed until 1902. Died in Cambridge on May 1 1, 1934. 570 PROFESSIONAL MEN George, Frank W. — Born Bristol, New Hampshire, 1878. Graduate Harvard Medical, 1902. Came to Athol in 1906 and removed to Worcester in 1908. Died in Worcester on December 18, 1928. Gleason, Benjamin W. — Born in Stowe, 1870. Graduate of University of Pennsylvania Medical, 1901. Practicing in Boston in 1906. Came to Athol in 1908. Served in World War I. Removed to Boston, 1920. Died in Manchester, N. H., February 28, 1933 and buried in Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge. Gould, Joshua B. — Born Hillsboro, New Hampshire. Graduate of Woodstock, Vermont Medical, 1850. In South Royalston 1850; married daughter of Silas Hale. Member of Athol School Committee, 1861. In Templeton, 1862 to 1874; then West Somerville. While in Athol he lived in E. T. Lewis' then new house at 39 Summer Street. Grossman, Myer J. — Born East Boston, November 22, 1902. Graduate of Boston English High School, 1922; Middlesex Pre-medical, 1924; Mid¬ dlesex College of Medicien and Surgery, 1933. Two years, Newark, New Jersey Memorial Hospital. Contract Surgeon, U. S. Army for C. C. C., 5 years. Came to Athol, 1935. Chairman, Athol Board of Health, 1949. Hartshorn, Ebenezer — Probably the Ebenezer Hartshorn, Jr. who was born in Concord, April 16, 1741, son of Dr. Ebenezer. Bought 1928 Pleasant Street, January 24, 1767. Sold to Dr. Israel Trask, October 18, 1774. Hero, John H. — Born 1820; residence 1 169 Chestnut Street. Bought Water Cure of Dr. Hoyt in 1851; sold business only to Dr. George Field, and real estate to Gilbert Southard; removed to Westborough; died there on January 6, 1 898. Holmes, Jacob — Born 1778; married Thankful Jones of Westminster, April 29, 1809. Admitted to Mass. Medical, 1811. Succeeded in Athol by Dr. Hoyt in 1832. In Leicester from 1834 and died there in 1847. DR. GEORGE HOYT'S WATER CURE 571 HISTORY OF ATHOL Holmes, Louise Dodson — Born Greensboro, North Carolina, July 9, 1872. Graduate of Tufts Medical. In Athol at 384 Crescent Street, November, 1904; Traverse Street, November, 1905; 321 Main Street, March, 1913. Died September 10, 1914. Hoyt, George — Born Deerfield, April 17, 1801. Education at Deerfield Academy and Pittsfield Medical School; interned in Boston. First prac¬ ticed in Hubbardston, 2 years. Came to Athol in 1832; bought 1169 Chestnut Street; water cure. Sold to Dr. J. H. Hero, 1851 and removed to Boston. Returned to Athol, 1856; bought 1534 Main Street. Mem¬ ber of School Committee 1837, 1841, 1845, 1847, and 1849. Died June 24, 1 866. Humphrey, Royal — Born Athol, September 22, 1761. Served as apprentice 2 years in Winchendon. Revolutionary Soldier, 1777-78. Lived on Pleasant Street. Died in Athol, March 30, 1848. Larkeque, Garrett B. B. — Born in France about 1863. Began practice here about 1896; residence 290 Main Street a part of the time. Served on local Board of Health and in that capacity contracted small pox. Left town 1 905. Lindsey, Marshall L. — Born Swanzey, New Hampshire, December 9, 1831. Removed to New Salem, 1832; Petersham, 1834; North Dana, 1849. Educated at New Salem Academy; Berkshire Medical, 1855; and gradu¬ ate of Harvard Medical, March, 1863. In North Dana 1863 to 1882; removed to Athol; lived at 324 Main Street, and died here February 10, 1898. Lord, Joseph — Born September 27, 1794. Graduate of Harvard, 1726. In Warren, Sunderland, and came to Athol September 17, 1735. Removed to Putney, Vermont (then New Hampshire) in 1759. Judge, Court Com¬ mon Pleas, Cumberland County, 1766; declined reappointment, 1772. A Loyalist in Revolution. Died Westmoreland, New Hampshire, De¬ cember 7, 1 788. Lynde, James P. — Born Gardner, March 19, 1828. Educated at Lawrence Academy, Groton; studied under Dr. Harriman at Gardner and Dr. Ira Russell; lectures at Dartmouth and Harvard Medical, graduated there March 3, 1852. In Hardwick 1852 to 1856; Representative, 1855. Re¬ moved to Athol, 1856; married Candace Brooks, 1857. School Commit¬ tee, 1864-67; Superintendent of Schools, 1870-72. Died January 28, 1890. Morton, Joshua — Born Athol, October 20, 1744. Married Azubah Graves, February 1, 1774; Rebecca Rich, 1785 in Royalston; Azubah Williams, 1816 in Dana. Lived at 487 South Main Street; Town Treasurer 1788- 1793; Minute Man, April 19, 1775; Private, Bennington Alarm, July, 1777. Died February 3, 1827. Musson, William Robinson — Born Morgadore, Ohio, June 10, 1879. Gradu¬ ate of Mass. Medical, May, 1904; licensed, 1905. Lived at 1382 Main Street; died May 14, 1945. Oliver, James — Born Athol, June 28, 1836. Taught District Schools and was Assistant in High School. Studied under Dr. Lynde; graduated Boston Medical, July 16, 1862. At once Com. Asst. Surgeon, 21st Mass. Rgt.; promoted to Surgeon, May 26, 1864. In South Carolina for 20 years. Returned to Athol in 1876; member of School Committee for 9 years; Associate Medical Examiner from 1877-1890; Medical Examiner from 1890-1911; Representative from 1907-1910. Died February 8, 1918. 572 PROFESSIONAL MEN Parsons, Azariah W. — Graduate of Harvard Medical in 1880. Came to Athol in January, 1880, first in Knowlton House, 466 Main Street. Left town December 9, 1880. Returned to Athol in 1892 and located in Lee's Block on January 14; sold to Dr. Perry, October 27, 1892. Parsons, Charles W. — Admitted Mass. Medical 1877; residence Worthington. With Fred W. Lord bought Albert Ellsworth's drug business. Removed to Worthington and died there May, 1883. Perry, George Lewis — Born Woodstock, Vermont, April 17, 1849. Graduate of Dartmouth Medical, 1878; licensed 1895. Practiced in Petersham, then in Athol in 1901; lived at 304 Main Street. Died here January 13, 1924. Reynolds, Francis A. — Born Winthrop, May 24, 1896. Educated at South Boston High School, Tufts Pre-Medical College, and was graduated in 1921 from University of Maryland; internship at Mercy Hospital, Springfield, 1921-22. Licensed 1922 and came directly to Athol. Nine Post Graduate courses, one of them in Switzerland. Medical Examiner in Athol from 1936 to 1944, and Associate Medical Examiner from 1945-1951 and Medical Examiner since 1951. Rice, Samuel — Born Worcester, July 10, 1769. Came to Athol in 1793-4; bought 219 Pleasant Street; removed to 1591 Main Street in April, 1800; sold this 1803; removed to New Salem, 1807; to Holton, Maine, 1811; to Woodstock, New Brunswick, 1820; died in Denneysville, Maine, March 1, 1854. Rubino, Bernard C.- — Born Webster, Mass., March 12, 1912. Preliminary High School, Baldwinville, Mass.; B. S. from University of Vermont, Burling¬ ton, 1934; M. D. from University of Vermont in 1937. After internship entered U. S. A. Medical Corps for 6 years; followed by 2 years of graduate residence work in general surgery and orthopedic surgery. Started practice of medicine in Athol, September, 1948. Associate Medical Examiner since 1951. Sibley, Marion B. — Born Millers Falls, Mass., November 21, 1885. Graduate of Athol High School, 1903; Tufts Medical School, 1907; interned 1 year at Mass. Homeopathic Hospital. Practiced 1 year at Leominster. Came to Athol in 1908; elected to Board of Health in 1919. Married Warren E. Sibley in 1920 and moved to Baldwinville, for 2]/2 years serving simultaneously as School Nurse, School Physician, and Agent to Board of Health. After Mr. Sibley's death in 1923, returned to Athol; Town Physician from 1924-1937; physician to Town Infirmary until resignation in 1942; served on Board of Health since 1924. Smith, Joseph Arthur — Born Petersham, Mass., June 8, 1875. In Athol High School for a time, then to Cushing Academy; graduated in 1894. Graduate in 1898 of B. U. Medical School. Practiced in Roxbury and New Bedford; returned to Athol in 1 902. Member of Worcester North Medical Society and Tully Medical Society. Athol school physician for 30 years. Chairman of School Board in 1923, 1924, and 1925. Died July 17, 1945. Smith, Sumner T. — Born Claremont, New Hampshire, June 8, 1839. Gradu¬ ate University of Michigan Medical. In Alstead, New Hampshire for 20 years. Removed to Athol in 1889 and succeeded Dr. H. R. Dunne. Died in Athol, March 26, 1892. Stone, Anthony Joseph — Born Athol, July 28, 1914. Graduate of Athol High School; college work completed at Tuscaloosa College; received medxal 573 HISTORY OF ATHOL degree at Yale University School of Medicine, 1944. Interned Rhode Island Hospital, Providence. Then in Army — did Neurology and Psychiatry. After discharge, spent residence at Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio; Crawford W. Long Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, Ga.; and Emma Pendleton Bradley Home, Riverside, R. I. Member of Mass.. Medical Society, and diplomate of National Board of Medical Examiners. Practice devoted exclusively to Pediatrics. Swain, Oliver A. T. — Born New Bedford, 1868. Graduate of Washington Medical, 1892. Came to Athol in 1901 and succeeded Dr. Burns; resi¬ dence and office, 1302 Main Street; removed from here in 1912. In Washington, D. C. in 1916. Taylor, Vernon Otis — Born Charlestown, Mass., August 28, 1 847. Attended Tufts College 1864-65; graduate of Harvard Medical, 1868. September 15, 1871 married Sabra J. Lord in Athol; first editor, Athol Transcript. Sixth Master of Star Lodge A. F. & A. M. Removed to Lowell, May, 1874; to Providence, R. I. in 1882; died in Providence, Sept. 10, 1907; buried in Athol. Thayer, Henri R. — Born Pittsford, Vermont, November 5, 1819. Graduate of Hahnemann Homeopathic School, Philadelphia, March, 1855. In; Augusta, Ga. for 5 years; driven out in 1860. In Athol 1871-76 and again, February, 1892 to 1899. Trask, Israel — October 18, 1774 bought Dr. Hartson's real estate, he then of Brimfield. April 28, 1775 sold to Dr. Daniel Ellinwood of Brimfield. Wheaton, Christopher C. — Born Leicester, Mass. Graduate of Amherst, 1 828.. Died in Athol, September 24, 1846. Whitman, William F. — Born Palmer, December 10, 1825. Medical Clair¬ voyant nearly 50 years. Came to Athol in 1857; lived 2298 Main Street; house long since razed. Died October 7, 1903. Wheeler, Orrin S. — Born Calais, Vt., July 14, 1835. Magnetic Healer. Came here about 1882; married Ellen A., widow of Cephas L. Sawyer, June 13, 1882. Died here November 2, 1908. Williams, Alfred G. — Born Stonington, Connecticut, 1824. Asst. Surgeon, 1 1th Rgt., Mass. Vols. Inft., April 23, 1862 to August 1 1, 1862; dis¬ ability. Afterwards Contract Surgeon on Hospital Boat Nashville on Mississippi River; later in Rebel Prison at Elmira, New York. Returned to Athol but soon removed to North Adams. Williams, William H. — Born Deerfield, June 28, 1792. Descended from founder of Williams College; came to Athol about 1816. Married Frances Humphrey, May 12, 1822 (second wife). Postmaster 1837-1841 and 1842-1847; Town Clerk, 1829-1833. Surgeon in State Militia. In later life kept the only drug store in town. Died June 22, 1855 of paralysis. Yates, Wilbur S. — Born in Milan, New Hampshire. Registered as a physiciarv here, April 12, 1918. Removed to California, January, 1923, selling his practice to Dr. Burnham H. Darling, who changed his location to Lee's- Block, November 1, 1923. 574 PROFESSIONAL MEN Lawyers Allen, Frederick H. — Graduate, University of Vermont, 1823; opened law office opposite Joseph Young's Tavern on Sept. 9, 1828. Freedom's Sentinel notes the marriage in Deerfield Feb. 26, 1829 of Frederick H, Allen, Esq. of New Salem and Mrs. Harriet Dickinson of Deerfield. Back, R. Harlow — Came here about 1898 from Union, Connecticut, and with Hartley R. Walker of Orange opened an office under name of Back & Walker. Walker soon withdrew. After some 6 years he removed because of domestic troubles and emigrated to Vancouver, Washington where he eventually became Judge of Superior Court. Died in Vancouver, 1941. Beecher, Robert E. — Born in Ohio, January 7, 1840, son Rev. William and nephew of Henry Ward Beecher. In Williams College, 1861-2, took war degree, enlisted in U. S. Army as a resident of North Brookfield; com¬ missioned Colonel by President Lincoln. Practiced in North Brookfield and later removed to Dana. Opened an office in Athol, 1895. About 1902 bought William D. Luey's house at 126 Maple St. Died March 27, 1920 Burleigh, Henry M. — Born in Hartford, Connecticut, March 2, 1835 as Henry M. Smith, name later changed. Studied under private tutors and ad¬ mitted Mass. Bar, July, 1858. Practiced in New York City 3 years; then enlisted in 1st N. Y. Rgt. Vols. Inft.; various services until 1865. Prac¬ ticed in Leavenworth, Kansas 7 years and there married Clare Hoyt of Athol. Coming to Athol in 1872 he formed a partnership with his brother-in-law. Col, Geo. H. Hoyt. After some years he summarily left Athol but returned here again and resumed the practice of law. Died a suicide, March 2, 1894. Camann, Milton H. — Born Laconia, New Hampshire, January 26, 1919. Came to Athol, May, 1919. Graduate of Athol High School, 1936; Boston University School Business Administration, 1941. U. S. Army, 1941-45. Boston University Law School graduate, 1948. Admitted Mass. Bar, April 14, 1948. Began practice in Athol, January, 1949. Duncan, William Sterling — Born Carlisle, England, February 11, 1876. To Clinton, Mass., 1880; attended public schools there. Graduate of Union Academy, Meredith, N. H., 1899, and Boston University School of Law, 1905. One of firm of Buttrick, Stone & Duncan. Clerk, 2nd District Court Eastern Worcester, 1913-22. State Representative, 1912-13. 1st Lieut., U. S. Inf., World War I. Came to Athol in 1922; Special Justice, 1st District Court No. Worcester, 1922-40, and Justice at the same court from 1940-44 when he resigned because of blindness. Died October 26, 1 947. Fay, Farwell F. — Born Athol, February 17, 1833. Second Principal, Athol High School. Graduate of Harvard Lavy School; admitted 1859. Repre¬ sentative, 1862. Capt., Co. E 53rd Rgt., Mass. Vols., 1862-3. Removed to Boston about 1882; died there a suicide. May 6, 1888. Field, Charles — Born Athol, June 9, 1815. Removed to Greenfield, 1826. Educated at Greenfield schools, Fellenburg Academy, and studied law under Hon. Daniel Wells; admitted 1837. After 4 years in west, re¬ turned to Athol. Representative, 1856; Senator, 1857-8; Presidential Elector, 1860; Judge, 1st District Court No. Worcester, 1884. President Poquaig Club, 1891-1908. Died here September 7, 1908. In 1867 built house at 192 School Street, which in 1906 he "swapped" to Catholic Church for their former Rectory on Park Street, now standing at 234 Riverbend Street. 575 HISTORY OF ATHOL Field, Charles, Jr. — Born Athol; graduate of Williams College in 1881. Prac¬ ticed in Athol. Died here, May 17, 1918. Garbose, William — Born Athol, March 11, 1915. Attended local schools; L. L.B. from Boston University; admitted March 6, 1946. Began practice in Athol, April 1, 1946. Hamilton, Andrew Foster — Born Athol, October 3, 1877. Graduate of Athol High School, 1897; Amherst College in 1904; Harvard Law School; opened law office here, 1905. Treasurer, Athol Co-operative Bank 1907 and 1911-1920. Associate Justice, 1st District Court, 1916; Member Const. Con., 1917-1919. Died January 20, 1922. Haven, Robert R. — Born Goshen, Indiana, June 30, 1906. Attended public schools of Nashua, N. H.; graduate Boston University College of Busi¬ ness Administration; L.L.B. in 1932 from Boston University Law School; admitted to Bar, 1935. Came to Athol to practice, September 2, 1935. Herr, Henry P. — Born Dedham, July 28, 1887. Graduate of Hyde Park High School, 1905; and from Boston University Law School in 1909, cum laude. Early legal training with Judge Edwin C. Jenney. Admitted to Bar August 31, 1909. Overseas with 301st Inf., 1917. With Allen & Barnes until 1922. Came to Athol in 1922. With Owen A. Hoban in Gardner 1 year; to Greenfield September 1, 1925 with Timothy M. Hayes. Died in Greenfield, March 12, 1942. Hinds, Ephraim — Graduate of Harvard in 1805. Practiced in Athol, Barre, and Harvard. Hogan, Henry — Born Pembroke, Maine in 1864. Admitted to Bar 1888; practiced in Athol. Horr, George W. — Born New Salem, June 22, 1829. Educated at New Salem Academy, Quabog Seminary in Warren, Phillips Academy in Andover, and Williston Academy in Easthampton where he was graduated in 1848; Harvard, 1849, Lawrence Academy, Harvard Law School, L.L.B. Studied at Greenfield with Davis & Allen, and with Lincoln, Maynard & Chatfield in New York. Admitted at Greenfield, 1860; practiced in New Salem 3 years; to Athol in 1863. Wrote History of Athol in Jewett's County History, 1879. Died in Athol October 24, 1905. Hoyt, George H. — Born Athol, November 25, 1837; removed with parents to Boston in 1851. Was a law student there when John Brown raided Harper's Ferry; volunteered and was accepted as Counsel for defense. Admitted to Bar in 1859. In 1861 enlisted in John Brown, Jr.'s Co. of Sharpshooters; later Lt. Col. 15th Kansas Cav.; commissioned Brigadier General by Brevet. Married Mary A. Cheney of Athol, March 10, 1862. Attorney General of Kansas, 1868. 1871 returned to Athol and later formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, Henry M. Burleigh. Editor, Athol Transcript, 1871-3; member of Legislature, 1872-3. Died in Athol February 2, 1877. Jewell, William H. — Born South Reading, now Wakefield, February 26, 1840. In 1848 went to Vicksburg, Miss. In Confederate Army 4 years. Came to Mass, and read law, then returned to the Southland. Came to Athol in 1883 but the climate disagreed with him and he went to Orlando, Florida; Mayor there several terms. State Commander Con¬ federate Veterans. Died in Orlando, February 2, 1912. Kelley, Charles M. — Born Boston, April 8, 1912. Graduate of Boston English High, 1930; Northeastern University, 1935, cum laude, as Civil 576 PROFESSIONAL MEN Engineer. Came to Athol in June, 1946 as Engineer in charge of Vet¬ erans' Barracks at Castle Avenue. Boston College, law course, 1948; admitted to Mass. Bar, 1949. Kenney, William E. — Located here about 1900; removed to Claremont, New Hampshire about 1904; died there. Meade, Jay Walter — Born Williamsett, June 13, 1902. Attended Chicopee Schools; L.L.B. in 1925 from Boston University School of Law. With Irving R. Shaw at Springfield and Nathan P. Avery at Holyoke. Private practice in Amherst 10 years. Associated with Judge C. Edward Rowe in Athol, 1 944-49. Removed to Orleans, Mass. Miles, Clough R. — Born Westminster, May 31, 1796. Graduate of Harvard, 1817; admitted to Bar, 1820. Postmaster here, 1823-1835; lived at 1551 Main Street. Removed to Millbury, 1835. Lewis' History says, "Practiced Townsend, Millbury, and Athol." Died in Wellesley Hills, 1879. Plotkin, A. William — Born in Russia, November 15, 1902. Came to U. S. and Athol in 1906. Attended local schools, graduate of High School in 1921; Boston University; Graduate of Suffolk Law School, 1926; ad¬ mitted to Bar, 1 926. Began practice in Athol, March, 1 927. Appointed Special Justice, November, 1944. Proctor, Joseph — Born Littleton, February 1 1, 1766; to Warwick before Revo¬ lution. Graduate of Dartmouth, 1791. Practiced in (North) Orange; to Athol; married Mary H. Orcutt of Templeton, 1811. Built office build¬ ing corner Main & Grove, 1812, which was razed to make way for JOSEPH PROCTOR 1766 - 1822 577 HISTORY OF ATHOL Music Hall. Resided at corner Main & School Streets (now a gasoline station) in house now at No. 1 158 Main Street. Postmaster here 1809- 1822; Representative, 1819. Died here August 6, 1822. Rice, Daniel H. — Born Barre, Mass., May 25, 1901. Graduate of Barre High School; Boston University Law School, 1926. Opened office in Athol, June, 1926 and kept office here until he sold the furniture in 1928 to C. Edward Rowe; went to Worcester to be Attorney for the State Mutual Life Assurance Company; Officer and A sistant Counsel for the State Mutual the following year, and Associate Counsel since 1947. Rowe, C. Edward — Born Marlborough, May 27, 1904. Educated at Marl¬ borough Schools, Boston College High School, Suffolk Preparatory School, and Suffolk University Law School; admitted to Bar, 1927. Came to Athol in 1928. Special Justice, District Court Eastern Franklin, 1933-36; Justice of that Court, 1936 to date. Sanderson, Simeon — Admitted to Bar, 1820; practiced Westminster and Athol. Smith, Sidney P. — Born Princeton, Illinois, July 13, 1850. Graduate of Am¬ herst, 1874. Principal Athol High School, 1876-80. Graduate, Union College of Law at Chicago, 1882; admitted to Bar in Illinois, 1882. HON. SIDNEY P. SMITH 1850 - 1902 Returned to Athol, 1883; Representative, 1887-88; Senator, 1891-92; defeated for Republican nomination for Congress, 1892. Died in Athol, June 17, 1902. Stevens, Isaac — Born Wareham, April 12, 1792. Admitted to Bar, 1821; practiced in Middleboro, was Representative from there. Came to Athol, 578 PROFESSIONAL MEN 1836; Postmaster 1841-42 and 1850-54; Representative, 1858; re1- sided at 1422 Main Street Died in Athol, September 6, 1866. | Ts V# 1 ISAAC STEVENS 1792 - 1866 Strong, Solomon — Born Amherst, 1780, son of Simeon Strong, Judge of Supreme Court. Graduate of Williams College, 1793; admitted to Bar, 1803. Came to Athol in 1803; Postmaster, 1803-1805; Member, Harris Lodge A. F. & A. M Removed to Westminster, 1 806 or 07; State Senator there, 1812, '13, '14; served two terms in Congress. Judge, Court Common Pleas, 1818-1843. To Leominster, 1820; died there in 1850. Titus, Joseph A. — Born Leicester, January 31, 1838. Educated at Leicester' Academy and Amherst College for 3 years. Enlisted 42nd Rgt., Mass. Vols., later 1st Lieut., Co. F, 60th Rgt., Mass. Vols. Studied law in office of Chapin & Dadmun in Worcester and admitted to Bar in 1868. In Legislature from Worcester in 1873. Removed to Orange in 1891 and to Athol in 1894. Tucker, William H. — Born Boston, September 8, 1922. Educated at Boston' public schools, Boston University College of Liberal Arts, and graduate of Boston University Law School with L.L.B. cum laude. Practiced in Dedham and Boston; came to Athol, summer of 1 949 and associated with Judge C. Edward Rowe. Ward, Harry E. — Born Guilford, Vermont, January 7, 1874; admitted to Bar in Vermont, October 14, 1898. Practiced in Newfane 3 years. Admitted in Mass, at Boston, November 11, 1901. Joined with Hartley R. Walker at Orange and Athol in 1901. Removed to Greenfield, 1908; died there April 22, 1940. 579 HISTORY OF ATHOL Welch, William M. — Born Springfield, Mass., September 20, 1880; attended Cathedral Grammar and High Schools there. Received A.B. Cum laude. Holy Cross; L.L.B. Boston University Law School; admitted to Mass. Bar, 1907. Came to Athol in 1910. To Northampton, 1918; Private, O.T.C., 1918; Commander, Northampton Post A.L., 1923; District Commander, 1924; Mayor of Northampton, 1926-7. Collector, Internal Revenue for Mass., 1935-8. Judge, Probate Hampshire County since 1938. Wilson, Edgar Vinton — Born Winchendon, July 1, 1847. Early life in Stod¬ dard and Sullivan, New Hampshire. Graduate of Cornell, 1872. Studied in office of Batchelder & Faulkner in Keene, and admitted in that State, 1875, and at Greenfield in 1876. After a short residence in Orange, E. V. WILSON 1847 - 1923 came to Athol. Trial Justice, 1881 until position was superseded by District Court; Associate Justice, District Court. Prominent Mason. In 1897 built house at 89 Ridge Avenue; a cripple the later years of his life. Died in Athol, December 10, 1923. Woodrow, William T, — Born Dartmouth, August 23, 1904. Graduate of Biddeford, Maine, High School, and Northeastern University. Came to office of Attorney C. Edward Rowe in 1935; residence, Orange. Ad¬ mitted to Bar, 1937; to Greenfield, 1942 for office only. Asst. Distr.ct Attorney, Franklin-Hampshire, 1945 and 1946. 580 PROFESSIONAL MEN Brouillet, Charles S. — Born Valcourt (Ely), Province of Quebec, Canada, February 14, 1884. Graduate of Dental Department, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pa. Studied with the late Dr. C. E. Smith of Athol. Prac¬ ticed in Gardner 13 years. Opened practice in Athol, August 1, 1922. Cooke, E. Ward — Born 1851. Studied under Dr. H. C. Smith; began practice for himself in 1875; to Cambridge, August, 1883; returned to Athol; married Etta J. Lewis, daughter Enoch T. Lewis. Died in 1925. Coxeter, John J. — Born Grantham, New Hampshire, December 9, 1849. Be¬ gan study of dentistry under Dr. L. F. Tolman in 1876; later in partner¬ ship with him 3 years; in 1879 opened independent office. Removed to Newton in June, 1888; sold to Dr. C. E. Smith. Died in Newton, May 28, 1926. Darling, William E. — Born North Adams, April 14, 1872. Educated at Phila¬ delphia Dental College; on March 27, 1905 started practice here; first located in Starr Hall Block on March 21, 1905; to Simpson's new block in September, 1908; and to Starrett Block in October, 1914. Around 1918 removed to Barre, returning here about 1935. Died in Athol, June 21 , 1 942. Glaser, Samuel I. — Born in Lithuania, July 20, 1904. Educated in Athol public schools; graduate of Athol High School in 1922; Tufts College Pre-Dental; Tufts College Dental School, 1927. Practiced in Athol since 1927. Served U. S. Navy from August 17, 1943 to February 9, 1946; rank of Lt. Commander (Dental Corps). Humphrey, Henry Martin — Born Athol, August 10, 1840. Studied two years in Boston; graduate of Philadelphia Dental College. Five years, 1863- 1868, associated with Dr. J. H. Williams; 1870 purchased the Williams Drug business; sold it to Lord & Howe; continued newspaper business. Member of Legislature, 1882; School Committee, 1876-79; Library Trustee, 1883; Registrar of Voters to 1919. Died in Athol, February 8, 1919. Leach, Vallette W. — Born Wendell. Registered October 22, 1890; located in Athol National Bank Building, 1473 Main Street. Luce, Zenas Russell — Born North Brookfield, October 2, 1857. Graduate of Boston Dental (now Tufts). Practiced in Dorchester; came to Athol about 1895; practiced at 1473 Main Street. Died October 8, 1914. Muzzey, Ivor P. — Born Croyden, New Hampshire, August 21, 1898. Gradu¬ ate of Tufts, 1919; received F.A.C.D. (Fellowship in the American Col¬ lege of Dentists) in St. Louis, 1938. Was an instructor at Tufts in operative dentistry; practiced in Orange for 10 years; began practice in Athol, August, 1930. Post-operative courses: With Dr. George B. Winter of St. Louis on Exodontia in 1933; Dr. Simpson of St. Louis on X-Ray; Dr. Tuller on Prosthodontia in Boston and New Orleans. McBride, William T. — Born Gilbertville, September 11, 1881. Graduated from Palmer High School and Baltimore Dental, 1908. Came to Athol in 1908; located in Starr Hall Block. Died May 20, 1935. Shultz, Grace R. — Born in Oakland, Neb. Educated in Creighton Dental College, graduated 1940. With Dr. I. P. Muzzey for nine months, practicing independently since then. Smith, Charles E. — Born Nashua, New Hampshire; studied there under Dr. C. F. Locke; graduate of University of Philadelphia Dental, 1888. Suc¬ ceeded Dr. Coxeter here in Starr Hall Block, June, 1888; to new Bank Building, June, 1891. An early automobile enthusiast. Died January 9, 1913. 581 HISTORY OF ATHOL Smith, Harold E. — Born Petersham, April 2, 1885. One year of medicine, senior year at Dartmouth; two years at Tufts Dental College. Began practice in Athol, February 22, 1913. Smith, Horace C. — Born Coopersville, New York, 1837. Educated at Hart- wick Seminary, Baltimore Dental College; under Dr. Robinson at Water- town, New York. Came to Athol, December, 1861; at Nathaniel Foster House, 371 Main Street; in old bank building, now at 164 Exchange Street; then at 386 Main Street; after 1892 at 4 1 9 Main Street. Lived first at 1 8 1 School Street, later built fine residence, now demolished, at 224 School Street. Died in Athol, May 3, 1903. Taft, Clarence Milton — Born East Sullivan, New Hampshire, August, 1895. Educated at Keene, N. H., High School; graduate of Tufts Medical, D.M.D. 1917. Enlisted April 26, 1917 in U. S. Navy; transferred to U. S. Marines, February 15, 1918; rank of Capt., 13th Rgt., 5th Brigade; in France until August 14, 1919. Opened office in Starrett Block, Athol, 1920. Died in Springfield, Vermont (airplane accident), July 30, 1920. Tolman, Leon C. — Came here with his father. Dr. L. F. Tolman, about 1875. Succeeded his father in practice here; eventually removed to Brookfield, where he died in April, 1925. Tolman, Lorenzo F. — Born Fitchburg, 1843. In Sixth N. H. Inf. in Civil War. Studied under Dr. Stebbins at Shelburn Falls; after practicing there for some 8 years he came to Athol, taking offices in Starr Hall Block, buy¬ ing out Dr. James Hemmingway. 1894 retired because of partial blindness. Died December 16, 1916. Williams, John H. — Born Athol, August 24, 1 824, son Dr. William H. Williams. Studied under Dr. Ball in Boston. Practiced here 25 years; operated a drug store 30 years; Postmaster 4 years. Died in Athol, August 22, 1875. Optometrists Berm's, Howard Albert — Born Worcester, July 2, 1904. Graduate of School of Optometry, University of Rochester, 1926. Practiced optometry in Athol since September, 1926, having purchased the practice of the late Dr. Fay McFadden. Past Master of Star Lodge, A.F. & A.M.; Past Presi¬ dent, Athol Exchange Club; Past President, Athol-Orange Community Concerts Association; Chairman of Wachusett Society of Optometrists; member, the Rotary Club and the "Masquers.'' Forest, Camille, Jr. — Born Rochester, New York, September 22, 1875. Came to Athol April 2, 1914. Died March 23, 1921. Furbush, W. Clifford — Born Saugus, August 31, 1907. Graduate of Grove- land High School, 1925; Mass. School of Optometry, 1928; post gradu¬ ate work at University of Rochester, N. Y., 1930-31. Practiced in Orange and Lawrence; opened office in Athol, September, 1938. Resi¬ dence Orange. Howe, George L. — Born Bradford, New Hampshire. Came to Athol in October, 1893. Died November 17, 1915 - age 75 years, 4 months, 1 3 days. Leonard, Richard L. — Born West Newton, December 1 6, 1 907. Educated at Newton High School, Harvard University, and Mass. School of Op- 582 PROFESSIONAL MEN fometry. Practiced in Williamstown, September, 1939 to November, 1949. Succeeded Dr. Ward C. Lincoln in Athol, July, 1948. Lincoln, Ward C. — Born July 19, 1892. Educated in Boston's public schools. Married Olive Hamm of Hudson, Mass., March 18, 1918. Graduate of Mass. School of Optometry, Boston, 1920. Came to Athol in 1921; pur¬ chased practice of Camille Forest, April, 1921, in the Starrett Building; in 1931 moved to new offices in the York Building; in 1943 to First National Bank Building; in 1948 sold practice to Richard Leonard, and purchased the practice of Norman Hughes in Hyannis, June, 1948. Belonged to all Masonic Orders in Athol; High Priest of Chapter in 1941; also III. Master of Harris Council, 1938. Podiatrists Goldman, Norman — (Chiropodist - Podiatrist) Born Taunton, Mass., February 28, 1921. Educated at Taunton Grammar School and graduate of High School in 1939; Beacon Institute of Podiatry, graduate, 1942. Interned New England Foot Clinic, Boston; Long Island Hospital, Long Island; Capt. John B. Adams Memorial Hospital, Chelsea, Mass. License issued by State Board of Examiners, 1943. Served in Army from October, 1942 to 'February, 1946. Opened office in Athol, April, 1946. Snyder, Victor — Born Brockton, January 7, 1907. Graduate Brockton High School, 1925; Middlesex College of Medicine and Surgery, School of Podiatry. Practiced in Athol, January, 1935 to August, 1942. Three years in Armed Forces, 18 months overseas' duty as Battalion Podiatrist, 2nd Battalion; 8th Marines, Second Marine Division. Veterinarians Adams, Howard C. — Born Millbury, Mass., September 12, 1921. Attended public schools there and at Clark University; received D.V.M., Middle¬ sex University, March 6, 1944. With W. R. and L. R. Haubrich at Claremont, N. H. Came to 287 Pinedale Avenue, Athol, March, 1947. Clark, Thomas B. — Born Orange County, New York. Leased Summit House in Athol, June, 1882; in W. W. Fish Block, 520 Main Street, June 19, 1884; to Knight's Stable, 328 Main Street, January 15, 1889. Died September 30, 1 890. Humphrey, Bernard F. — Born Lowell, 1872. In Moore's Stable, 80 Exchange Street, Athol in May, 1902. Left Athol October, 1903. Meaney, John H. — Born Templeton, December 19, 1868. Educated at Templeton and Phillipston Schools; Templeton High School. Learned trade as a blacksmith, worked in Templeton; came to Athol in employ of W. J. Howard. Entered University of Toronto, graduated 1903. Prac¬ ticed in Athol since graduation. Stanhope, H. R. — At C. W. Moore's Stable, Athol, October, 1900. To 185 Exchange Street, Billings' Stable, May, 1907. Died April 17, 1913. Stearns, Oscar F. — Born Windham, Vermont, 1 872. In A. P. Richardson's Stable, 186 Marble Street, September, 1894. Left Athol in 1903 or 4. 583 HISTORY OF ATHOL Coroners and Medical Examiners The first mention we find of these offices is on February 7, 1783 when Josiah Goddard was appointed Coroner. In 1877 the title of Medical Examiner was created and for our District Dr. James P. Lynde was appointed with Dr. James Oliver as his Associate. Upon the death of Dr. Lynde in 1890, Dr. Oliver succeeded to his office, holding it continuously until his voluntary retirement in 1911 when Dr. James F. Cuddy followed him, holding the position until his death in 1936. Then followed Dr. Francis A. Reynolds for a term of seven years, to be succeeded on January 5, 1944 by Dr. George J. Bassow, who in 1951 was succeeded by Dr. Reynolds. The Associates have been: Dr. W. A. Brown, 1898-9; Dr. Hiram H. Burns, 1899-1901; Dr. A. V. Bowker, 1902-1945, when he was succeeded by Dr. F. A. Reynolds who when he was promoted was succeeded by Dr. B. C. Rubino. The District assigned to the local men in 1 877 consisted of Athol, Dana, Petersham, Phillipston, and Royalston. When Dana was abolished by the waters of the Quabbin Reservoir,, that town was of necessity dropped from our jurisdiction. The following should have appeared on Page 573 in list of Doctors: Quinn, John J. — Born in Worcester, Mass., July 6, 1881. Educated in Worcester schools; graduated from Baltimore Medical College in May, 1903; served internships at Maryland General Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, and Columbus Hospital, Chicago, Illinois; post graduate course at Harvard Medical. Opened practice in Athol in January, 1937. The following should have appeared on Page 574 in list of Doctors: Vaughan, Edwin Clarence, D.O.- Born in Newport, N. H., March 16, 1896 Graduated Keene High School in 1914. Took apprentice course in Lynn General Electric, then entered Tufts College for pre-medical training Graduated from Mass. College of Osteopathy, 1924. Practiced Osteo- 111927 'n Burbank H°sP'fal, Fitchburg, Mass. June Vaughan, Frank Ivan, D.O. — Born in Keene, New Hampshire, Sept. 16 1902 VhnnfeM SCh°?L'? KA6ne' 9raduated from Medford High School, Medford, Mass. 1921. Attended Allen Military School 1922 look pre-medical training at Colgate University ] 923-24— graduated from Mass. College of Osteopathy in 1930. Practiced summer of 1930 in Montreal, P.Q. Opened office in Athol November 1931 In 1934 o°f?irpC°forSe m tPr0cto'°9V at Tbe Dover Clinic, Boston, Mass. ' Maintains office for practice of osteopathy and proctology in Webb Block. 584 CHAPTER XXXVII GENEALOGIES ESTABROOK FAY FISH HAVEN KENDALL LEE LORD MOORE MORSE OLIVER STOCKWELL SWEETSER WHEELER It is a matter of regret to the author that he cannot elaborate on the doings and the genealogy of many other Athol families. The Mortons, pioneers in Pequoig, were a great influence for a long period, but there are few descendants of the family in Athol today. The Goddards, likewise descended from real estate operators who came here well before the town was incorporated, were numerous not only in Athol but in surrounding towns. The Twichells perhaps brought more honor to Athol than any other of her sons. Honorable Ginery Twichell was long a stage driver and stage line operator, later becoming president of the Boston & Worcester Railroad, the Western Railroad (now the Boston & Albany), and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, and serving for several years as member of the Con¬ gress of the United States. Sylvanus E. Twichell was landlord of the Pequoit House, and was pleasantly remembered by our aged citizens. Uri Twichell was landlord of the inn at Templeton. Many of this family lived in the adjoining town of New Salem, but because of the loss of their records we have little data relating to them. The annexation of a portion of New Salem to Athol in 1837 brought several members of the Twichell family into our township, among them Captain Ben- 585 HISTORY OF ATHOL jamin Twichell, whose grandson, Marshall C. Twichell still resides in Athol. The Humphrey family also deserves more than passing men¬ tion. Rev. James Humphrey came to Athol in 1750, when the town was an outpost of civilization. For more than thirty years he bore with its people and administered to their spiritual wants. He was particularly noted for his patriotism during the trying days of the Revolution. He raised a numerous family, many of whose members were prominent in the town, notably the eldest son, James, Jr., a veteran of the Massachusetts Militia, to whom reference has been made in the political and mercantile portions of this work. Few descendants of this family, however, are to be found in Athol today. The Estabrook Family 1. REV. JOSEPH ESTABROOK, born in Lexington, Mass., married on September 3, 1788, LUCY CUSHING of Pembroke, Mass. As a young man when the British Regulars were resisted on Lexington Common by the Revolutionary patriots, Joseph Estabrook seized a gun and took part in the skirmish. He was graduated from Harvard College and in 1787 became the pastor of the old First Church in Athol. For nearly half a cen¬ tury he was a leader in the community. Kindly, intelligent, and liberal in thought, he held the people together long after other communities were split apart by religious disagreements. Children: i. LUCY CUSHING, married Abner Young. ii. MARCIA, married Theodore Jones, Esq., and resided at the Jones Homestead, 1591 Main Street, corner of Chestnut, until her death, January 14, 1888. iii. FIDELIA, married Rev. Preserved Smith, once of Warwick, later one of the outstanding clergymen of western Massachusetts. iv. TURNER, died young in the South. v. NATHANIEL C., a general officer of the Massachusetts Militia, who spent his active life in Leominster. vi. JOoEPri H., a graauate ot Vvilliams college and Harvard Medical School, who practiced medicine for many years in Maine; died in Portland in 1 885. vii. BENJAMIN, who retained the family homestead at 2094 Main Street, where he died October 1 9, 1 872. With his passing the last bearer of this once prominent family name was gone. The Fay Family Another family both numerous and prominent in the story of Athol is the Fay family. The pioneer here appears to have 586 GENEALOGIES been Solomon Fay, who came to Athol from Shrewsbury in 1760, and resided in a house still standing on Bachelder Road just off South Athol Road. He is credited with having been a soldier in the Seven Years' War, and to have been in the army under Wolfe that scaled the Heights of Abraham when Quebec was taken. He was one of a family of 25 children, only two of whom appear to have come to Athol. Solomon Fay's brother, Joseph, settled on the farm at the junction of Riceville and Conant Roads, and it is from these two brothers that all of this family in Athol seem to have descended. SOLOMON FAY'S FAMILY 1 SOLOMON’ FAY Children supposed to have been born in Athol i. NABBY, born April 16, 1762, married John Haven, February 10, 1784. ii. SUSE, born April 20, 1765. 2. iii. ARTEMAS-, born May 15, 1767. iv. VIENA (or VINEY), born March 13, 1769, married Oliver Parmenter of Marlboro, N. H., April 4, 1793. v. ANNA, born March 17, 1771. Possibly it was she who married John Haven, March 5, 1 823. Children: vi. MARY vii. NAHAM, born November 1 2, 1 777, married Sarah White, October 18, 1804. Died August 28, 1810. viii. EMMA ix. ELIZABETH, born April 10, 1780, married Nathan Bullard, August 20, 1 800. x. SABRA, born July 3, 1783, died June 6, 1786. xi. POLLY, born August 5, 1785, married Sylvester Stockwell; August 12, 1832, int. 3. xii. JONAS", born March 24, 1788. 2. ARTEMAS2 FAY (Solomon1), married DELIGHT CLEVE¬ LAND of Walpole, February 20, 1797. Walpole, February 20, 1797. Children: i. SABRA3, born October 27, 1 797. Died September 25, 1804. 4. ii. EMERSON, born July 11, 1801. 5. iii. LYSANDER, born May 3, 1805. 3. JONAS2 FAY (Solomon1), born March 24, 1788; died October 28, 1849; married January 19, 1814, ANNA RAY¬ MOND WARD, daughter of Alpheus Ward of Athol, who died August 4, 1 857. Children: i. LUCY RAYMOND3, born October 11, 1815; died June 28, 1866; married in 1842 WILLIAM H. McCLELLAN of Concord, N. Y. 587 HISTORY OF ATHOL Child (surname Raymond): 1. Horatio, born Dec. 1844; died June 21, 1864. ii. CHARLES PRATT, born October 24, 1817; left no issue. 6. iii. BERIAH W., born in Athol, December 2, 1819. 7. iv. WILLIAM G., born in Athol, August 7, 1821; died De¬ cember 31, 1910. 8. v. FREEBORN R., born January 1 6, 1 827. vi. NANCY MARIA, born March 18, 1831; married (1) J. L. PIERCE, resided in Geneva, Ohio; married (2) CORTEZ STEVENS of North Hadley, Mass., resided in Ashtabula, Ohio; married (3) RUFUS SCOTT of North Hadley. Child (surname Stevens): 1. Perlia Fay, married January 23, 1895 at Athol, Charles F. Hawley of North Hadley; both died some years ago. 4. EMERSON' FAY (Artemas2, Solomon1), married NANCY A. FOSTER in 1830. He resided in New Salem, although evi¬ dently he was in Athol part of the time, since his daughter, Celestina is recorded as having been born in Athol, and the biography of his son, Farwell F. Fay, states that he also was born in Athol. Children: i. CELESTINA MIRANSKA, born May 2, 1831. ii. FARWELL F4., born February 17, 1833; died in Boston in May, 1888. For a time he was one of the outstanding young men of the community. After teaching in the Athol grade schools, he became the second principal of the high school, leaving this position to enter Harvard Law School. Admitted to the bar in 1 859, he at once began practicing law in Athol In 1862 he represented this district in the Legislature, but when Athol's aristocratic Company E, 53rd Regiment, was organized, Farwell F. Fay was chosen its captain, serving with the company during the year it spent in the South. After the war, although he reestablished himself here to some extent, he never regained his former prominence nor the regard in which he had been held in his younger days. Eventually he removed to Boston, where he was but little more successful than in Athol. Child: 1. William Emerson", born November 10, 1865; died in 1 949 in Brookline. 5. LYSANDER2 FAY (Artemus2, Solomon1), born in Athol, May 2, 1805; died in Athol, July 9, 1881; married PRISCILLA E. CHAMBERLAIN of New Salem, int. May 30, 1830. At the age of 17 Lysander Fay became a school teacher, and is said to have taught in 28 district and select schools and 93 writing schools, having had under his charge more than 4,000 pupils. He was a namesake of Rev. E. Lysander Bascom, long Dastor of the church in Phillipston. Espousing the doctrines 588 GENEALOGIES of the Baptist Church early in life, he was baptized in the summer of 1828 at the age of 23 in the First Baptist Church of Athol. In 1831 he was licensed to preach, and on November 25, 1834, he was ordained as a Baptist clergyman. He held pastorages at South Orange, Erving's Grant, Warwick, Royal- ston, Winchendon, and other places. He resided in a house still standing at the corner of Gage Road and Partridgeville Road in Athol, in a section then known as the Elder Fay District, where he carried on a farm and operated a sawmill a quarter of a mile east of his home. In 1848 he represented Athol in the Legislature and served for several years on the School Com¬ mittee. Children: 9. i. ADONIRAM J.4, born June 24, 1831. ii. SERENO E., born Sept. 12, 1835; married in 1862, EMMA P. HOLTON of Gill. He taught school for some years; engaged in the grocery business in Athol, and was long an active member of the First Baptist Church, serving as its clerk for more than 20 years. Children: 1. Frederick H.“, born in 1867; died June 22, 1900; unmarried. 2. Perley E., born in 1 873; married Josie M. Goodale of Greenfield; died without issue in 1 939. iii. LOVINIA E., born August 14, 1836; died about 1868;, married Deacon AMOS BRECK of Sterling; had one son. iv. JOSEPHINE A., born August 13, 1838; died in 1892 in Leominster; married GEORGE A. BISHOP; had four chil¬ dren. v. DEBORAH M., born luly 22, 1841; married (1) LEVI BOURNE of Athol, who died in the Army; had one son; married (2) GEORGE WOODS of Leominster. vi. OTHELLO A., born in Athol, October 14, 1844; died August 27, 1914; married October 13, 1868, CLARA A. LEE. For a time he was in partnership with his brother Sereno in the firm of Fay & Fay. He was engaged extensively in the lumbering business and was eminently successful financially, lea/ing a substantial estate. Child: 1 LULU D., born November 7, 1871; married CHARLES W. PRATT, November 4, 1891. Child: (surname Pratt): a. Othello Fay, married Pearl M. Walker, October 3, 1917; resides in Hollywood, California. 10. vii. PRISCILLA E., born September 19, 1847. viii. CLARA L., born June 17, 1851; married Joseph Slate, October 15, 1868; resided in Edinburg, Illinois; three children. Fay, Bertha, Ernest. 6. BERIAH W. 1 FAY (Jonas', Solomon1), born in Athol, De¬ cember 2, 1819; Married October 1, 1868, HATTIE L. BAL¬ LARD, daughter of Daniel and Dulcenia (Brown) Ballard of Wendell. He studied at New Salem Academy, and in the years 589 HISTORY OF ATHOL immediately preceding the organization of a high school in Athol he taught select school here. Subsequently he became a successful surveyor, doing much work in towns throughout the area. In the Legislature of 1 865 he represented the district of Orange, New Salem, and Warwick, and held nearly every office in the town of New Salem. Children: i. HARRY Ward4, born June 13, 1877; unmarried. He followed his father's profession for some years, and has for nearly twenty years been one of the Board of Select¬ men of New Salem. ii. BEATRICE A., born June 14, 1882; married November 5, 1921, NATHAN J. HUNTING, a land surveyor and long prominent in town affairs in Shutesbury. Children (surname Hunting): 1 . Martin Ward, born November 1 9, 1 923; married August 9, 1947, Roberta Summerville of New York State; he teaches chemistry and mathematics at Eastern Nazarene College in Wollaston, Mass.; no children. 2. Fay Emma, born July 28, 1 925; is assistant in¬ structor in science in the Quincy Hospital, Quincy, Mass. 7. WILLIAM G.3 FAY (Jonas2, Solomon1), born August 7, 1821, died in Athol, December 31, 1910; married (1) October 20, 1846, EMILY S. KING of New Salem, who died January 9, 1849; married (2) August 13, 1850, SARAH E. HAVEN of Athol, who died October 16. 1909; married (3) April 27, 1910, SARAH L. YOUNG. He was a member of Captain Fay's Company E, 53d Regi¬ ment, serving in the Civil War, and was a bootmaker by occu¬ pation. Child by second wife: i. SARAH JANE4, born December 31, 1851; died June 12, 1857. 8. FREEBORN R.3 FAY (Jonas2, Solomon1), born January 16, 1827; died in Athol, April 27, 1865; married LUCY AUGUSTA FOSTER, June 4, 1849. He enlisted in Company E, 53d Regi¬ ment, serving as Surgeon's Orderly with the regiment in Louisiana. Children: i. WALDO E.4, born in Athol, December 10, 1850; married May 29, 1889, ETTA E. KING; died July 31, 1930. Child: 1. HAZEL L.B, unmarried; beginning in 1919 she taught in the Athol High School for two or three years, then going to the Providence High School, where she has taught for twenty-five years. 590 GENEALOGIES 11. ii. LEONA, born July 31, 1852. iii. HELEN, born September 5, 1 853; died in Athol July 1 7, 1 7, 1 909; unmarried. iv. FLORA A., born August 21, 1854; died February 16, 1855. 9. ADONIRAM J.4 FAY (Lysander1, Artemas2, Solomon1), married ALTEMIRAH A. SMITH, daughter of Lynde and Fanny (Morton) Smith, November 23, 1854. He died April 4, 1925. Children: i. CHARLES L.“, born January 28, 1 865; married EDITH L. FLETCHER, November 25, 1885; died February 7, 1942. Children: 1. GEORGE F. ", born December 13, 1889; married Myrtie M. M. Millett, January 1, 1914; died De¬ cember 23, 1 923. Children: a. Dorothy A., born March 20, 1916; married Harold C. Peterson, June 28, 1 952. b. Edith G., born May 10, 1917; married Edgar Ward Temple Hume, November 20, 1941; three children, Jeffrey, born Jan. 25, 1 947; Brent, born March 1 5, 1 948; Michael, born Sept. 16, 1952. c. June, born July 2, 1 923; married Elmer O. Dame, February 28, 1943; two children, Gerald S., born October 16, 1947; Janet E., born December 20, 1 950. 2. RUSSELL JUDSON, born June 24, 1886; unmarried; resides in Phoenix, Arizona. 3. RENA M., born September 6, 1891; married Claude Edgerly, November 25, 1912. Resides in Nutley, N. J.; three children. Fay, Eugene, Charles. ii. ROSA, born July 1 3, 1 872. iii. CLARENCE, born July 24, 1879. 10. PRISCILLA E.4 FAY. born September 19, 1847; married September 12, 1872, CHARLES F. TANDY; died March 30, 1937. Children (surname Tandy): i. CHARLES EUGENE, born September 15, 1873; married March 4, 1897, GERTRUDE MARIA STOCKWELL, daughter of Winfield S. and Ellen A. (Jones). Children: 1. Gladys Lelia, born May 12, 1898; married July 9', 1923, Clarence W. Jones. Child (surname Jones): Priscilla May, born June 22, 1931. 2. Mildred Stockwell, born March 13, 1899; un¬ married. 3. Marjorie Eveleen, born January 6, 1 900; married October 6, 1922, William E. Closson. Children (surname Closson): a. Willian Marjorie, born May 31, 1923; b. Faye Helena, born September 25, 1926; c. Eugene Everett, born October 2, 1928. 591 HISTORY OF ATHOL 4. Clifton Winfield, born October 2, 1902; died March 13, 1952; married November 1, 1930, Clara Sails. Children: a. Jane Gertrude, born August 22, 1 932; b. Winfield Thayer, born December 25, 1938; c. Susan Clara, born April 1 7, 1 946; died August 28, 1950. 5. Spencer Eugene, born November 15, 1904; married (1) June 16, 1926, Helena Doubleday, who died February 16, 1927; married (2) October 13, 1934, Grace Perry. Children (by 1st wife): Norman Edward born January 13, 1927; (by 2nd wife): Helen Mae, born April 6, 1 936. 6. Thenis Gertrude, born October 8, 1907; married August 21, 1921, Luther Williston MacKenzie. Chil¬ dren (surname MacKenzie): a. Jean Thenis, born January 18, 1932; b. David Williston, born July 30, 1934; c. Edward Tandy, born April 30, 1947. 7. Thelma Ruth, born October 6, 1912; married March 4, 1934, Joseph E. Lillie. Children (surname Lillie): a. Joan Bernece, born August 1 3, 1 934; b. Joseph Elon, born October 3, 1 940. 8. Huber Wilbert, born October 28, 1914; married May 18, 1941, Margaret Doubieday. Children: a. Feme Carol, born June 1, 1943; b. John Robert, born February 13, 1948; c. Dana Myron, born March 25, 1950. 9. Marcia Priscilla, born November 3, 1919; married (1) March 9, 1940, Frederick Smith, who died February 9, 1 946; married (2) February 1 2, 1 949, Laurence G. Fisher. Children by first husband (surname Smith): a. Charles Frederick, born Septem¬ ber 8, 1940; b. Carl Edward, born June 12, 1943. ii. WILBERT CLIFTON, born February 1, 1875; died Septem¬ ber 12, 1949; married June 20, 1925, FLORENCE HUNTER; no children. iii. RUTH L., born May 26, 1 886; died March 25, 1 949; married August 2, 1911, ARTHUR E. LUCE. Children (surname Luce): 1. Eleanor Faye, born March 27, 1915. 2. Phillips E., born April 10, 1917. 3. Alvin A., born May 26, 1919. 11. LEONA1 FAY (Freeborn R.3, Jonas2, Solomon1), born July 31, 1852; married FRANK A. GATES, April 23, 1873; died August 30, 1922. Children (surname Gates): i. HENRY L., born April 5, 1874; married February 13, 1900, MARY A. DUVAL. Child: 1 FRANKLIN, has two dauahters. ii. ARTHUR C., married April 7, 1900, ALICE LOUISE SMITH. 592 GENEALOGIES Child: 1. JAMES WINFRED, born January 24, 1907; married March 23, 1935, Alyce A. Brigham; resides in Methuen, Mass.; no children. iii. RALPH W., born June 3, 1 880; married MELVINA DUVAL. Children: 1. LAWRENCE R., born June 29, 1903; married November 22, 1941, Doris Emery Lino. 2. HERMAN W„ born July 1 1, 1904; married May 24, 1927, Lillian M. Palmer. 3. HERBERT H., born November 21, 1905; married Mav 24^ 1 927, Maria Cummings. 4. NORMAN H., born December 12, 1915; married June 18, 1938, Geneva H. Pond. 5. EVELYN J. L., born January 18, 1908; married July 2, 1 927, Benjamin W. Skinner. 6. DORIS H., born July 22, 1912; married John A. McDonald. 7. MILDRED G., born October 11, 1917; married July 2, 1938, William K. Whittemore. iv. FREDERICK L., died young. v. HARRY JOHN, died young. vi. FREEBORN FAY, born in 1 885; served from Athol in World War I; he is said to have died in 1939 in a Vet¬ erans' Hospital in Dayton, Ohio. vii. CARL FOSTER, died young. viii. ROBERT AUBREY, died young. ix. ANNIE MAY, born in Petersham, March 4, 1889; died in Athol April 18, 1953; married (1) WILLIAM LaROSE; married (2) November 1 1, 1926, AUSTIN STOWELL. Child by first husband (surname LaRose): 1. WILLIAM JOSEPH, born February 6, 1910; resides off Winter Street, Athol. Children by second hus¬ band (surname Stowell): 2. BARBARA, born March 5, 1927; married in 1948, Jason Bowers. 3. RICHARD, born March 21, 1929. x. DORIS HELEN, married June 16, 1912, FRED E. PRES¬ COTT; resides in Townsend. Children (surname Prescott): 1. FREDERICK LEON, born January 19, 1915. 2. EDITH MAY, born September 26, 1916. Joseph Fay's Family 1. JOSEPH FAY, married ABIGAIL TWICHELL, June 3, 1773. Joseph Fay, brother of Solomon, was a native of Wales, who settled in southern central Massachusetts, coming to Athol from Westboro about 1760; he was a soldier in the Revolution. Children: 2. i. JOSIAH2, born March 10, 1774. ii. NEHEMIAH2, born December 1, 1776. Went to New York State in early life. 593 HISTORY OF ATHOL iii. DOROTHY, born December 14, 1778; married February 7, 1799, DANIEL ELLINWOOD, Jr. Children (surname Ellinwood): 1. THOMAS, born September 13, 1800; married Persis F. Ball, November 13, 1825; died June 6, 1840; had one child, Frederick T., born May 1 3, 1 827. 2. MARIA, born July 2, 1 802; married Ezra Sargent of Putnam County, Georgia, December 12, 1824. 3. BELINDA, born November 9, 1804; married Calvin Kelton, Jr., int. April 10, 1829. 4. ROHENA, born April 13, 1807. 5. ABAGAIL FAY, born April 13, 1812. 6. AUSTIN, born November 10, 1814; died February 4, 1816. 7. DANIEL AUSTIN, born December 6, 1816; died September 26, 1883; married (t. r. David A. wdr.) Priscilla A. Mann of Petersham, December 9, 1 846. Child: a. Austin Farnsworth, born May 5, 1 842; died April 15, 1870. His daughter, Rebecca Farns¬ worth, born May 18, 1870; married Osman H. Casavant; no issue. BENJAMIN, born May 2, 1819. I think he was the one who in 1 840 lived on the farm at easterly end of Vaughn Road. iv. MATILDA, born July 7, 1781; married January 18, 1807. SENECA ELLINWOOD; resided in Erving, Mass. v. BENJAMIN, born September 14, 1783; went to New York State in early life. vi. ABAGAIL, born October 20, 1785; died March 21, 1810; unmarried. vii. SALLY, born July 11, 1788; went to New York State in early life. viii. SETH, born July 1, 1791; married LUCY ADAMS of New Salem, int. April 10, 1819. ix. HANNAH, born February 12, 1794; married GEORGE MASON of Warwick, int. May 12, 1814. x. LUCINDA; died July 2, 1849, aged 53; unmarried. xi. NABBY 2. JOSIAH2 FAY (Joseph1), married September 18, 1798, MOLLY WARD. Children: i. ESTHER W.3, born May 28, 1799; married March 8, 1821, JONATHAN STRATTON. Children (surname Stratton): 1. ELEANOR, born December 5, 1822; married January 3, 1 849, Amos T. Stratton. Children: a. Mary, born August 1 7, 1 852; died July 9, 1 934; unmarried. b, Myron A., born August 17, 1852; died Octo¬ ber 16, 1920; married Emma J. Ball, May 17, 1878; one child, Mabel A., born July 14, 1879; married May 17, 1898 Clarence E. Deane; had one child, Marvis A., born March 24, 1 900; married August 3, 1 920 Bernald F. Coffin; no issue. 594 GENEALOGIES c. Myra A., born August 21, 1856; died Febru¬ ary 22, 1939. 2. LUCENA, born May 11, 1825. 3. JOSIAH HENRY, born May 1 8, 1 829; married Lucy H. M. (Peckham) Reynolds, January 27, 1883; died January 11, 1906; no issue. 3. ii. JONATHAN WARD iii. MINERVA, born December 11, 1803; married JAMES OLIVER, September 20, 1 829, and was the mother of Dr. James Oliver; died August 1 6, 1 873. (See Oliver Family) iv. POLLY, born March 16, 1806; married SYLVESTER STOCKWELL. (See Stockwell Family). v. JAMES SULLIVAN, born May 18, 1808; married (1) MARY B. FARRAR of Petersham; married (2) HARRIET A. TWICHELL, May 31, 1848. Child by first wife: 1. James Humphrey', born February 1, 1839; died January 21, 1906 without issue. Child by second wife: 2. Mary Abbie, born August 30, 1 852; married Amos Blanchard, September 22, 1 892; died probably in South Royalston. vi. ADALINE, married ABEL LORD (See Lord family). vii. BETSEY, born January 27, 1814; died February 21, 1816. 3. JONATHAN WARD:‘ FAY (Josiah2, Joseph1), born April 26, 1801; married September 1 1, 1828, MARY L. BABBITT. Children: i. REBECCA L. ) ii. JOSIAH died young. iii. MARTHA CLEMENT J iv. JOSEPH F.4, born October 3, 1830; died in Athol Novem¬ ber 27, 1892; married MARION ESTELLA PRATT, December 22, 1875. He enlisted in the 27th Mass. Regiment in the Civil War, serving in the Regimental band. They had a daughter, Eudora M., born March 13, 1878, who married C. Frank Doolan; 5 children: Richard Fay, born June 5, 1906, a World War II casualty; Kenneth Edward, born December 22, 1907; Marjorie Lois, born March 28, 1916; Robert Lee, born June 18, 1917; C. Francis, Jr., born April 1 0, 1 924. v. ABBIE ANN, born January 31, 1837; died July 2, 1917; married April 7, 1 857, CHARLES S. LAMB who was born December 25, 1 834. Child (surname Lamb): 1. Lena, born February 11, 1859; married November 29, 1876, Fred Turner; died July 2, 1917. Child (surname Turner): a. MABEL I., born November 1878; married July 23, 1 898, Michael J. Noonan. Child (surname Noonan): (1) Clifford Edward, born October 23, 1898; married October 13, 1930, Helen Peal. No children. iv. LEVI B , born July 17, 1843; married HATTIE SMITH, daughter of Gamaliel Smith; died April 23, 1930. He served during the Civil War in Capt. Farwell Fay's Co. E, 595 HISTORY OF ATHOL 53rd Mass. Regiment. Returning to Athol, he was a barber for a time; later, in company with Orrin F. Hunt, he operated in lower Main Street a sales stable of horses, cattle, and vehicles, carrying on the business alone for ten years following Mr. Hunt's death in January, 1 890. In 1 900 he was elected president of the Athol Savings Bank and occupied this position for thirty years. In 1914 Levi B. Fay was the Republican nominee for Representative, being defeated by the Progressive candidate, Fred W. Cross. His home is now the American Legion Home. Children: 1. KATE L., born June 8, 1870; resides (1952) at the Hotel Bellevue in Boston; unmarried. 2. LOTTIE, born May 14, 1877; died October 7, 1883. Two others of the Fay name have long been residents of Athol. Bartlett Fay was an Irish immigrant who settled first in Lancaster, later coming to Athol. He was a Civil War veteran, and left many descendants, but was not related to the Solomon or Joseph Fay families. Henrie C. Fay came here long ago from Montague and operated a hardware store and later an insurance agency. He also was not related to the original Fay family. The Fish Family The pioneer of this family in Athol seems to have been SAMUEL FISH, who in 1793 journeyed from Worcester to Athol in an ox cart, bringing his wife and her furniture, several pieces of which are still preserved by the family as choice antiques. Samuel located first on Lyons Hill, later at 2123 Petersham Road, and finally at 479 Chestnut Hill Avenue. About two years after Samuel Fish's arrival in Athol, he was followed by his father, SIMEON FISH, who purchased the Freedom Street water power, which had been developed long before by the Kendall family. With this he acquired the entire Lower Village section of Athol, extending from the Y.M.C.A. to Main Street Bridge, to Traverse and South Streets on the south, and the river to the north. 1. SIMEON FISH married in Mendon Tabitha Taft, a mem¬ ber of the Taft family of southern Worcester County. In Mendon he had been a citizen of prominence, among the offices held by him being that of Deputy Sheriff. From Mendon he had hastened to Cambridge on the Lexington Alarm of April 19, 1775, and later had been one of the little band which besieged Ticondsroga under Ethan Allen, and is said, perhaps erroneously, to have demanded the surrender of 596 GENEALOGIES the fort "In the name of the Great Jehovah and the Conti¬ nental Congress." Children: 2. i. SAMUEL2 ii. HANNAH, born May 15, 1779; married JOSHUA SMITH,. January 8, 1 799. Children (surname Smith): 1. MARIA, born June 4, 1800. 2. POLLY B., born February 6, 1 802; died March 7, 1803. 3. LEMIRA, born April 19, 1804; died May 16, 1806. 4. LUCY, born March 11, 1806; died August 12, 1 835; unmarried. 5. ADIN HOLBROOK, born June 19, 1815; married (1) Mary C. Adams of Orange, November 19, 1837, who died January 22, 1 842; married (2) Louisa M. Adams of Orange, March 2, 1 843. Children: a. Martha Jane, born May 1 0, 1 839; married Jonathan W. Sawyer, May 1 5, 1 859. Children (surname Sawyer): (1 ) Mary Jane, born May 26, 1861, mar¬ ried Lemuel H. Smith, January 1, 1 885; child, Stanley Sawyer Smith, born February 25, 1 887; married RUTH E. HANSON, June 2, 1910; Children: (a) Rachel Hanson Smith, born June 15, 1911, married Regi¬ nald E. Brackett, November 26, 1936; has an adopted daughter, Charlene Elizabeth, born January 25, 1 943. (b) Mary Sawyer Smith, born Au¬ gust 23, 1919; married Carl Evert Olson May 1 8, 1 946, has two children: Stephen Sawyer Olson, born August 3, 1 950; Wendy Mary Olson, born August 8, 1953. (2) Orrin, born October 2, 1 863; married Ada E. Hardy May 28, 1 888. No issue. He died July 2, 1918. (3) Everett, born January 30, 1 869; long a merchant in Athol, Chairman of its Board of Assessors for forty-two years; died November 27, 1 948; unmarried. b. Ellen Elizabeth, born September 1 5, 1 840; married Jonothan Davis of Sterling, September 8, 1 863; died November 28, 1 882. Children (surname Davis): (all born in Sterling) (1) Louise Sophia, born June 10, 1864, died December 14, 1951. (2) Mariah Smith, born September 22,. 1 866, died March 2, 1 945. 597 HISTORY OF ATHOL (3) George Adin, born July 5, 1868, died October 1 , 1 890. (4) Alice Jane, born January 15, 1873. (5) John Abbott, born July 5, 1 877; married Maude Harmon Shattuck of Worcester, November 1, 1904. Children: (a) Jonathan, born October 7, 1905; married Elisabeth Mad- dison of W. Somerville, Mass., November 1 5, 1 933; had two children, John Maddison, born May 16, 1937, and Robert Shattuck, born January 1 0, 1 939, in Sterling. (b) Mabelle, born September 26, 1907. (c) Evelyn Elizabeth, born No¬ vember 1 8, 1 909; married in Sterling, April 10, 1937, Charles Hyde Cowles of All- ston, Mass.; had three chil¬ dren born in Needham, Davis Olmsted, born February 1 2, 1 938, Deborah, born April 7, 1940, and Amy Elizabeth, born July 1 9, 1 946. (d) George Shattuck, born De¬ cember 8, 1911; married in Groton, Mass., November 1 6, 1 935, Mary Elizabeth Fletcher of Stow, Mass.; three children, Dix Fletcher, born October 1 8, 1937, George Abbott, born November 28, 1938 and Mary Louise, born March 1 8, 1 945, all born in Sterling. c. Mary Adams, born April 11, 1847; married November 13, 1871, Edgar T. Hansen; no issue. d. Henry Waldo, born April 1 5, 1 850; died June 25, 1920; unmarried. e. Lucy Maria, born April 15, 1855; married Leory C. Parmenter, June 21, 1876; died May 14, 1921. Children (surname Parmenter): (1) Bertha, born April 28, 1880. (2) Ruth L., born March 24, 1 882; died September 20, 1900. 2. SAMUEL2 FISH (Simeon1), died in Athol July 23, 1834; married at Worcester, August 22, 1793, BETSY KINGSBURY, who died March 1 6, 1 858. As has already been stated, Samuel Fish, the eldest of the children of Simeon Fish, was the pioneer of the family in Athol. 598 GENEALOGIES i. JOSEPH ', born in Athol, December 21, 1793; married in October, 1818, NANCY CROSBY, who was born in Athol, July 12, 1798. Early in life he removed to Putney, Vermont. 4. ii. JASON, born February 14, 1796. iii. NANCY, born April 28, 1798; married (1) DANIEL H. FELTON of Athol, who died March 19, 1819; married (2) June 21, 1821, HENRY LEE, son of Jonathan and Sally (Haywood) Lee, born June 1 1, 1786, died July 29, 1845. (Grandparents of the late Frederick H. Lee of Athol and the- late Wilson Horatio Lee [See LEE family] of Orange Conn.) iv. FRANCIS, died in infancy. v. LUCINDA, born March 26, 1803; married EBER GOD¬ DARD and lived on Chestnut Hill at the west end of Gulf Road. Mrs. Helen Stevens of Athol, who died April 5, 1951, was her descendant. vi. BETSEY, born May 25, 1 895; married SAMUEL NEW- HALL, the first landlord of the Pequoig House. C. Stanley Newton and his daughter, Sybil B. Newton, the children of the late Arthur N. Newton, Gordon B. Newton, and Chandler N. Newton are her surviving descendants. vii. SALLY, born June 9, 1 807; married her cousin, HENRY FISH, and had two sons, Ezra W., and Samuel, both of whom died without issue. viii. SAMUEL, died January 16, 1863; was for many years su¬ perintendent in one of the Amoskeag Mills in Manchester, N. H. ix. ESTHER, born January 25, 1812; married LABAN MORSE. Sumner L. Morse and his children and the children of the late Henry T. Morse are her descendants. (See Morse Family). x. LUCIA, born July 20, 1814; died without issue June 16, 1891; married (2) JOTHAM D. OTTERSON, long a mill superintendent in Clinton, Mass. After his death, she re¬ turned to Athol, living with her sister Sally until the latter's death, when she bought the house built by Henry A. Burgess at 44 Upland Place. xi. HORATIO KINGSBURY, born Oct. 22, 1818; died March. 30, 1 848, without issue. 3. iii. EZRA iv. BENJAMIN, removed to Peoria, Illinois, where he resided the remainder of his life. v. EUNICE, married Absalom Ball of Warwick; removed to Hartford, Vermont, and later to Grafton. One of her daughters married Thomas Ellinwood, son of Daniel Ellin- wood of Athol, and had a son, George B. Ellinwood, who married Rebecca Flint; their daughter, Minnie, married William Batchelder. George Batchelder of South Miami, Florida, is a descendant. vi. SALLY (or Sarah), married February 12, 1809, Captain Francis Twichell, who lived on Riceville Road in Athol. Children (surname Twichell): 1. Sylvanus E., born March 15, 1810; died October 27 r 1 864. 2. Ginery Bachelor, born August 26, 1811. 3. Uri, born November 19, 1812. 4. Francis, born May 11, 1814. 599 HISTORY OF ATHOL 5. Marion (or Mary Ann) born Sept. 15, 1817; married Clark Ellis March 29, 1 840; a son Chester born August 29, 1 842. 6. Harriet L., born in 1819; died September 10, 1828. 7. Amaziah 8. Lucinda 9. Simeon Fish, baptized August 3, 1 827. vii. LUCINDA, married Reuben Fairbanks and removed to Champlain, New York. With the Kendall purchase there came to the Fish family at least two and probably three dwellings. One was located in the Sally Fish Circle area, where the Kendalls had long ago been credited with maintaining a "Garrison House, planked up the first story," a place of refuge in times of Indian attacks. The best information available places this "Garrison House" on the knoll, now removed, about on the site of the present A & P building. Within the memory of the writer an abandoned dwelling stood at about 53 Sally Fish Circle. This was taxed as the "Old House," which may have been the site of this Garrison House and one of the three acquired with the mills. In 1876, when excavations were made for the first water mains in Main Street, an ancient cellar hole was uncovered al¬ most directly in front of the Pequoig House at 41 6 Main Street, said by older residents to have been the site of a Kendall and later a Fish home. In the last decade of the nineteenth century, when Lucien Lord was extensively advertising his various activities, he published the picture of his birthplace, a small cabin or house said to have been located at about 31 Freedom Street and to have been an old Kendall house which came to his father with the Fish mills, contrasting it with his then palatial heme at 441 Chestnut Hill Avenue, which has now been demolished. The Factory Company disaster of 1839 seriously embar¬ rassed the Fish family, and forced the liquidation of many of their assets, then almost entirely real estate. They had acquired much additional acreage aside from the original purchase of some eighty acres from the Kendall family, the entire Starrett holdings on Crescent Street being one of these items, as were the whole original Lake Park area and some sixty acres lying between Silver Lake Street and Old Keene Road. Simeon had gone to his reward some years previously, and had been laid away in the old Fish tomb, now obliterated, in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. Ezra Fish, who apparently held title to most of the real estate, deeded the home farm, including 600 GENEALOGIES the tavern, to his son Henry. Soon after this Henry died, leav¬ ing his tangled affairs for his widow, Sally (his first cousin) to straighten out as guardian of their two sons, Ezra Wilson and Samuel. During his ownership Ezra had conveyed away most of the Main Street lands east of the Pequoig House, but there remained much of the long frontage west of Exchange Street, as well as the entire Walnut Street and adjacent areas. These were sold in various ways, many items at private sale but others by John H. Partridge, the local Deputy Sheriff, acting in most cases, apparently by agreement, in his capacity as a licensed auctioneer, but probably applying the proceeds to liquidate claims in his hands for collection. At length, however the distressing situation was adjusted, much of the burden being relieved by the coming of the rail¬ road and the general improvement in economic conditions. Then "Aunt Sally" in an orderly way could dispose of enough of the family holdings to relieve all financial pressure and could even afford to be public-spirited. When the arrangement was in the making for the removal of the local Baptist Church to the "Factory Village," its site was donated by "Aunt Sally." Remembering her youth, when play time and playgrounds were non-existent, she made her great contribution to the children of coming generations by donating to the School District the entire area bounded by Union, Newton, Maple and Walnut Streets as a public playground forever. Long after the school district system was abolished in Massachusetts, Athol's No. 7, later changed to No. 2, held its annual meeting and kept its organization intact. It was only when the Sally Fish estate was being finally closed that the District conveyed this area to the Town, the conveyance being confirmed by the administrator. It was then that Athol recognized the giver of this area by naming it Fish Park. "Aunt Sally's" nephew. Wilson H. Lee, donated a memorial fountain there in her memory. The life of this aging lady, however, was not all sunshine. As one and then the other of her sons passed away, she became more and more of a recluse. For a generation she steadfastly refused to dispose of any more of her holdings, and employed her niece's husband, Henry L. Sargent, as her caretaker. Frequent litigations regarding property lines and rights of way marred her tranquility, and seem to have embittered her. Her barnyard was directly north and close to the Pequoig House, the present Academy of Music site was her garden, and the whole Ridge Hill area her cow pasture, and as such she kept them to the end. Financial stringency eventually corn- 601 HISTORY OF ATHOL pelled her to dispose of the Silver Lake Street holdings/ and later, in 1884, the area at rhe corner of Maple and Newton Streets, where William D. Luey and George O. Foye built their houses. In keeping with the custom of the times this family long ago built a family tomb at the southeast corner of Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, and there were deposited the remains of the various members of the family as they died. In the period of prosperity following the Civil War Sally Fish felt financially able to provide a more luxurious resting place for her remains and those of her kin. On June 16, 1870, when returning from a trip to Boston, where she had negotiated for her new tomb, she was involved in the Long Bridge Disaster some three miles east of Athol. The father of this writer was also on that train, but escaped without injury and assisted in caring for many less fortunate. His brother, Nathaniel Y. Lord, accompanied by Deacon Joab Kendall, was chopping on their farms on Chestnut Hill when they heard the crash and rushed to the scene. Finding "Aunt" Sally Fish sitting on a rock in the river, apparently unharmed but thoroughly scared, Gardiner Lord and Deacon Kendall made a "basket" with their hands and carried her to shore, where she was put aboard Jack Bang's train, which had come up the river to the rescue. This accident did not prevent the com¬ pletion of the tomb, and before many months the family bodies were deposited in the crypts provided for them. The last commitment there was the body of Elvira Fish, who died December 6, 1896. For some years the old tomb was used by the town as a receiving vault, but with the erection of the Bullard Tomb in Silver Lake Cemetery in 1884 it was no longer needed, and was permanently closed, later being graded over so that all evidence of it has disappeared. Sally Fish died March 3, 1887. The releasing of her valua¬ ble homestead was not quickly accomplished, for she had decreed in her will that the home place should be under the control of three trustees, Henry L. Sargent, Reuben Win¬ chester, and Beriah W. Fay, and should not be sold for twenty- five years, the whole estate being held in trust. The income was to be paid to her surviving nieces and nephews and to Harry W. Fay, with the further provision that as one of these beneficiaries died that share of income should be applied to the care of the family tomb, the inevitable result being that eventually the whole estate would be held for the one purpose of maintaining the structure housing the family remains. 602 GENEALOGIES This will was duly allowed by the Worcester Probate Court, and the fiduciaries and their legal successors acted under it for approximately thirty years. The Trustees construed the "home place" provision in the will rather narrowly, and soon sold all but about three acres around the buildings, the cow pasture and garden being among lots quickly put on the market. The mansion house and barn with sufficient land around them were kept intact. Some twenty-five years after her death, when all the original trustees were dead and Harry W. Fay was acting as sole trustee, a law student, George H. B. Green, Jr., once of Belchertown and later a teacher in the Athol High School, suggested to some of the heirs the possibility of reopening the estate and effecting a different application of its funds. Those who were rated much wiser than he in legal affairs, told Mr. Green that his scheme was impossible, but he was not deterred by them, keeping eternally at it until at last he secured a Supreme Court decree setting aside the will and appointing him as adminis¬ trator of an interstate estate with exceptionally broad powers. By the Court decree the Town of Athol received one thousand dollars as a Cemetery Trust Fund to care for the Fish tomb. Mr. Green proceeded to register the Fish homestead in the Land Court, and when that was done he quickly sold it to William G. Lord and Nathan D. Cass. These two felt that this area so close to the heart of the Athol business district should be owned by the town, and offered it to the municipality at their cost. However, the voters apparently thought the owners were attempting to get out of an unwise venture, and spurned the offer. The owners then moved onto the southeast corner of the lot two buildings from the Island Street lot where the Methodist Church was to be built. A third building an unused ell, was removed from the old home, these three buildings form¬ ing the three four-tenement houses numbered 47, 55. and 63, in Sally Fish Circle. 3. EZRA2 FISH (Simeon1), married in Mendon, June 27, 1798, CHLOE JOHNSON. He was associated with his father in operating the mills and the home farm, and soon became half owner and finally the sole owner of the mills and the homestead. Children: i. MOSES3, born August 18, 1799; married ANNA YOUNG, May 8, 1823. Probably through his wife's people, this couple owned the farm on Old Keene Road at the west end of Willis Road, where there was built, probably by Moses, an elaborate mansion house, which was mortgaged to other members of his immediate family. When he failed 603 HISTORY OF ATHOL in his payments the farm was taken from him, the building torn down and rebuilt as the present Fish Homestead in Sally Fish Circle. Following this he went west, living in various places, perhaps for the longest period in Paw Paw, Michigan. He died at Somerville, New Jersey, leaving some grandchildren in greater New York. Following the death of his first wife he married a widow named Brown, who long survived him, living at Pasadena, California, to a very advanced age. ii. HENRY, born May 15, 1805 (mentioned in detail else¬ where in these notes). iii. LUC\, born November 12, 1802; died September 18, 1909; married AMOS LEANDER CHENEY, October 31, 1843. Child (surname Cheney): 1. Fred H.; married Annie Knapp; died in Great Bar¬ rington, November 1, 1923. Child: a. Henry Fish, born November 11, 1 877; was drowned July 21, 1884, in the canal west of his parents' Hampstead Place home. 4. JASON3 FISH (Samuel2, Simeon1), born February 14, 1796; married Sophia Merriam. He removed to Dummerston, Vermont, where he resided for fifty years. Children: i. FREDERICK A.4, long resided at Newfane, Vermont. His son, Frank Fish, for a time Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Vermont, lived at Vergennes, where a daughter survives him. ii. PRESCOTT M., a blacksmith by trade, removed in early manhood to Angelica, New York. iii. HENRY L., returned to Massachusetts, buying in Orange a farm with a brick house which is still standing, now owned by Arthur E. Drew, on the road from Tully to Bliss- ville. Children: 1. George H.", eventually removed to Athol; died with¬ out issue. 2. Marion, married George C. Fowler, and lived on West Main Street, Orange; died without issue. iv. WILLIAM W., born in Dummerston, Vermont, May 11, 1832; died in Athol June 23, 1907; married (1) in 1850 ROSELLA B. HEYWOOD, who died in 1 867; married (2) in 1875 ABBA P. BINGHAM of Nashua, N. H. In 1849 William W. Fish went to Angelica, New York, where he learned the blacksmithing trade of his brother, Prescott M. Fish. In September, 1 952, he came to Athol, entering the employ of Asa Foster, a blacksmith, with whom he formed a partnership in 1853, when the business was removed to about 512 Main Street. Mr. Fish later acquired Mr. Foster's interest and operated the shop alone. When the shop was burned on February 12, 1871, Mr. Fish acquired some adjoining land and built there the present W. W. Fish Block, removing the blacksmithing stand to a lot which he acquired on "the Island" where the Methodist Church now stands. A few years later he 604 GENEALOGIES sold the blacksmithing business to Henry H. Coolidge and retired from active business life. However, he found time to serve the community in many capacities. In 1876 he was a member of the Legislature, served four years as a Selectman, and was assessor, road commissioner, and cemetery commissioner. On January 16, 1888, he was appointed Post Master by President Cleveland, holding this office until February 14, 1891, when he resigned following the fire of December 21, 1890, which entirely destroyed his office. William W. Fish was active in Masonic circles, serving as an early Eminent Commander of Athol Commandery, acting as its Prelate for fifteen years, and being High Priest of Union Royal Arch Chapter, rendering its ritual¬ istic work most effectively. In later life Mr. Fish built a substantial home on the hilltop overlooking Athol and situated between Chestnut Hill Avenue and Old Keene Road, now knov/n as Cass Farms. Here he died and was buried with Masonic honors in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. Child (by second wife): 1. Grace Margaret, born November 3, 1876; married September 14, 1898, Nathan D. Cass, a native of Amsterdam, New York, who came to Athol as a paper box shop ooerative, and died September 21, 1949. Children (surname Cass): a. William Fish, born February 24, 1906, mar¬ ried AAabel Peppard. Resides in a house he has built on his grandfather's estate. Child: (1) William Fish, born June 28, 1934; married in Athol November 8, 1 952, Martha B. Still; has daughter, Gina L., born June 7, 1 953. b. Grace Margaret, born May 19, 1918; married James A. Graham. She graduated from the High School in Haines City, Florida, from Bradford Junior College, Andover, Mass., and from Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida, subsequently taking a legal course at George Washington University. She and her husband, a native of Montana, are both practicing at¬ torneys in Washington, D. C., residing at Bethseda, Maryland. Child (surname Graham): (1) Dwight Cass, born December 24, 1952. Nathan D. Cass greatly improved and elaborated on the old Fish homestead, and William Fish Cass has further added to it, maintaining an extensive dairy on the farm which was the nucleus of Cass Dairy, operating some half- dozen farms in the Athol area. The Cass factories have been mentioned in the Indus¬ trial Chapter, but in addition to the factories and the dairy the family has acquired much real estate in and around 605 HISTORY OF ATHOL Athol, as well as in Polk County, Florida, developing there a large citrus fruit acreage. At his death Mr. Cass was one of the largest individual tax payers in Athol, was Chairman of the Board of The State Bank of Haines City, and one of the leading citizens of that municipality. As N. D. Cass grew older, he gradually withdrew from active management of his many interests. These cares have been carried by his son, on whose broad shoulders the entire burden of management now rests. The story of this family was compiled on February 14, 1950, in Haines City, Florida, in collaboration with Grace Fish Cass. Almost immediately thereafter Mrs. Cass be¬ came seriously ill and was removed to a hospital in Lake¬ land, Florida, where she died on March 6, 1 950. Her remains were brought to Athol and on March 1 1 were laid beside those of her immediate family in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. v. ABBY M., married HENRY L. SARGENT. Mr. Sargent was for many years the caretaker of the real estate hold¬ ings of his wife's Aunt Sally Fish, and was named by her as one of the Trustees under her will. When this estate was well adjusted, Mr. and Mrs. Sargent removed to New- fane, Vermont, where they spent their later years. They had one child, Fred H. Sargent, for several years a mer¬ chant in Athol, who predeceased his parents, having never married. The family name of Fish is no longer borne by any Athol resident, except as a middle name of the two Cass descendants, but the names Fish Street, Fish Park, and Sally Fish Circle perpetuate a name which was outstanding during the early days of the town's development. The Haven Family Although not among the original pioneers, one of the early settlers in Athol was Captain John Haven, who, with his two brothers, Simon and Jonathan, came here from Framingham. Although the exact date of his arrival is not known, he is presumed to have come here in 1761, although records here of births in his family date back to 1747. The tradition in the Haven family is that he was the first to settle in the Chestnut Hill area. He located his home on the hillside less than a quarter of a mile north of the southerly end of Townsend Road, where a one-story dwelling known as the Bullard Place stands today. Jonathan Haven settled in Athol in 1763. The Haven title to this property goes back to an original allotment by the Proprietors of Pequoig, who in turn obtained their title and authority from the General Court under the authority of the Crown. 606 GENEALOGIES When the town was organized Captain John Haven took an active part in the setting up of its government, being elected Town Clerk and member of the first Board of Selectmen. His title of Captain probably came from military service prior to his arrival in Athol. At the outset of the Revolution he was looked to for advice in the various situations which arose. He was a delegate to the General Court, being the first represent¬ ative ever sent from Athol; he was on the Committee of Cor¬ respondence, and sat in various county and state councils in the early days. In 1774 he was elected Deacon of the church, which office he held until his death on July 12, 1807. After he was well established here, he was followed by his father, Richard Haven, who died on the Haven Farm on August 3, 1770. 1. JOHN" HAVEN (John", Richard'), married September 8, 1777, MARTHA DEATH, born February 5, 1756, died June 20, 1822. John Haven, Jr., succeeded his father on the Chestnut Hill farm. Returning from the Revolution after the Burgoyne alarm, he built in 1777 the house above his father's home which, now greatly enlarged and altered, is the residence on the Merrifield Creamery Farm. Children: i. LEVI1, born March 17, 1778; married January 5, 1803, MARY SMITH, daughter of Caleb and Submit Smith; lived for a time on the Brickyard Road, later removing to Vermont. ii. SAMUEL, born January 23, 1780; married December 23, 1807, DOROTHY GODDARD; died April 24, 1808. iii. JOHN, born June 16, 1784; died September 8, 1849; married March 5, 1 823, ANNA FAY; resided on Carpen¬ ter Road in a house still standing, overlooking White Pond. One of his daughters was the wife of Edmund J. Gage and the mother of Charles F. and Monroe F. Gage. 2. iv. JOTHAM1, born July 11, 1786. v. ASA, born December 6, 1 792; married in September 1 820, LUCY R. SMITH of New Salem. In early life, Asa removed to Barre, and was the ancestor of a family bearing the Haven name in that town. Children: 1. Lucius Sprague, born January 17, 1821. 2. Lucy Smith, born September 4, 1 823. 3. Asa Sumner, born December 20, 1 825. 4. Twins, born January 17, 1828; died same day. vi. CHAUNCEY, born February 24, 1 800; married in August, 1825, URANIA THOMPSON of Swanzey. He attained the title of Captain probably by service in the militia. He built the house now standing on the southeast slope ot Bare Hill, just off Royalston Road, later removing to Girard, Pennsylvania, where he lived to an advanced age. Child: 1. Urania Aldrich, born in Athol, May 25, 1827. 607 HISTORY OF ATHOL 2. JOTHAM1 HAVEN (John3, John2, Richard1), born July 11, 1786, married HANNAH TAFT of Heath, October 1812, and settled on his father's farm where he died on March 7, 1868. Children: i. ORAMEL TAFT0, born May 11, 1814, on the home farm; died unmarried at the age of 52. 3. ii. JOSIAH, born Ma/ch 16, 1818. iii. EUNICE, born March 20, 1820; married May 26, 1847, Deacon JAMES G. SMITH of Phillipston, grandson of Captain Nathaniel Smith, an emigrant from Truro. They spent their active life on the Smith farm northeast of Athol's Phillipston Reservoir. In 1888 they removed to High Street in Athol, where they resided until death. They had no issue, but adopted two children, both of whom are now deceased. 4. iv. JOTHAM F., born September 13, 1825. v. HANNAH M., born February 12, 1829; married LEVI W. CARRUTH, who died a few months after marriage. She was employed until her old age as a seamstress in Athol and vicinity. She spent some years with her younger brother, William LeRoy, eventually returning to Athol, where she died May 20, 1917; no children. vi. JOHN H., born May 13, 1832; lived on the home farm until his death in 1 855. 5. vii. WILLIAM LeROY. born May 24. 1835. 3. JOSIAH HAVEN (Jotham4, John3, John2, Richard1), born March 16, 1818; died March 19, 1894; married October 14, 1857, SUSAN WILEY, daughter of Samuel and Nancy (Nor- cross) Wiley, who lived on East Hill. In early manhood he learned the carpenter's trade, and was engaged in woodworking manufacturing at the Boutelle Mill in upper Main Street. Later he built several houses, among them the one still standing at 198 Crescent Street. Eventually returning to the ancestral home, he remained there the balance of his life, taking care of his parents until their death. He was Selectman for 21 years and a representative in the Legislature of 1854, and for a long time was one of the outstanding citi¬ zens of the community. Children: i. EVELYN0, married December 16, 1890, FRED H. JUD¬ KINS of Worcester; died there June 23, 1900. Children (surname Judkins): 1 . Ralph Stanley, born in 1 896; died in 1 900. 2. Frederick Haven, born in Worcester, September 16, 1 892; married Almira V. McNutt of Worcester,. July 15, 1914. Children: a. Frederick Arthur, born in Worcester, June 7r 1915; died December 6, 1936. 608 GENEALOGIES b. Earl Herbert, born in Worcester, July 5, 1917; married Annette LaCoste in Athol, April 19, 1941; had one child, Frederick Charles, born April 8, 1942. Married (2) Treesa Padula of Norwalk, Conn.; one child, David. c. Barbara Viola, born in Athol June 4, 1919; married Donald Holman of Gardner, April 12, 1941. 3. Viola Estelle, born May 16, 1895 in North Brook¬ field; married Arthur H. McNutt of Nova Scotia, Canada, December 16, 1914. Children (surname McNutt): a. Charles A. McNutt, born December 11, 1916; married Lillian Martell, June 26, 1937; two children, Judith Ann, born January 1 6, 1 940, and Charles Arthur, born February 1 6, 1 944, in Worcester. b. Harold T., born December 25, 1921; married Barbara May Gould, August 15, 1942; two children, Bruce Harold, born November 1 7, 1 945, and Warren Arthur, born January 4, 1 949, in Worcester. 4. Earl Haven, born in 1 897; died in 1 899. ii. HERBERT, born September 1, 1858; was for some years a druggist in Lowell, later removing to Seattle, where he married and had one son, Pat, still living in Seattle, where he is an executive of a truck manufacturing company, and has a son, Charles. Herbert went to the Klondike in one of the Gold Rushes and never returned. iii. VIOLA E., born August 21, 1 866; died October 23, 1941; graduated in 1 883 from Athol High School; taught school in Athol, Phillipston, Petersham, Northfield and other places, eventually retiring and residing until her death at the home farm. 6. iv. ERWIN J„ born in 1 868. 4. JOTHAM F.5 HAVEN (Jotham', John11, John2, Richard'), married MARY PROUTY of Chestnut Hill, Feb. 1, 1853. Children: i. ISABEL, born May 23, 1 853; married FRANCIS W. WHITNEY, April 23, 1872, who owned the old Whitman Jacobs Farm on Chestnut Hill, now owned by Mrs. Ralph Merrif ield. Child (surname Whitney): 1. Rufus E., born January 5, 1873; married Mary B. Goodell, granddaughter of Wyman and Elmira (Rich¬ ardson) Goodell. Elmira was sister of Nathaniel Richardson. Children: a. Fanniebelle; b. Mildred; c. Celia; d. Ethel; e. Ruth; f. Elsie; g. Wyman; h. Wayne W.; i. Edwin B.; j. Paul W.; k. Jonathan. The last four all reside at 1232 Pleasant Street, Athol. ii. JOHN W.n, born March 1 7, 1 860; died October 26, 1 950; married HATTIE BLISS, daughter of Milton Bliss of the extreme northerly part of Orange. He was a merchant in Athol for many years. 609 HISTORY OF ATHOL Children: 1. C. Waldo7, born August 31, 1889; married Viola M. Dunklee, October 22, 1913; lives in Fitchburg. 2. Florence, born April 13, 1891; married Clifford Gourlay, May 1 9, 1 927, he now deceased. 5. WILLIAM LeROY" HAVEN (Jotharn1, John3, John2, Richard1), born May 24, 1835; married (1) FLORENCE A. WATSON, who died four years after marriage; married (2) in 1873 ELIZABETH STUART TWEED of Williamstown, New Jersey. He was graduated from Williams College in 1864, and served for a time as Principal of Plattsburg Academy and sim¬ ilar educational institutions, in 1869 he became principal of the High School and Superintendent of Schools in Morristown, N. J., where he remained until his death. Children (by second wife), born in Morristown: i. SAMUEL CARRUTH'1, born April 18, 1875; died in Mor¬ ristown, November 21, 1949; married December 28, 1904, HELEN M. HUMPHREY, daughter of Dr. Henry M. Humphrey of Athol. Children: 1. Elizabeth Humphrey7, born November 3, 1905; married March 20, 1 952, Charles John Nevin of Caldwell, N. J. 2. John Stuart, born September 7, 1 907; died October 21, 1946; unmarried. ii. WILLIAM LeROY, born January 20, 1 884; married in Dorset, Vermont, September 4, 1914, MARGARET LOR- ING GILBERT. He is now acting pastor of the Congrega¬ tional Church in Westminster, Vermont. Children: 1. Carolyn Stuart7, born April 16, 1919; teaching in Arlington, Mass. 2. Richard, born August 22, 1924; married 1950, Josephine Corbishley of Much Wenloch, Shropshire, England. Member of faculty of the University of Massachusetts. 6. ERWIN J.'1 HAVEN (JosiahL Jotharn1, John3, John2, Rich¬ ard1), born February 9, 1869; died October 8, 1940; married September 16, 1891. ELLA G. BLAKELY. He improved the home farm and expanded its acreage and carried on an ever- increasing general farming and dairy business until his death. Child: i. EVELYN7, born November 16, 1902; married October 18, 1930, RALPH A. MERRIFIELD, a native of Athol and graduate of the University of Massachusetts, who died in Athol, December 19, 1951. She now carries on five farms on Chestnut Hill known as the Haven Farms, four of which were originally in the Haven family, and a modern retail milk business known as the Merrifield Creamery. 610 GENEALOGIES Evelyn (Haven) Merrifield was educated at Tufts Col¬ lege, from which she was graduated with the degree of A. B. in 1925; in 1939 she received the M. A. degree from Radcliffe College and Harvard University. She is a past Regent of the Margery Morton Chapter, D.A.R., and has been a member of State committees of the D.A.R. For some years she was a teacher in the Athol High School, has served as a member of the Athol School Board, and is a past president of the Athol High School Alumni Associa¬ tion. Child (surname Merrifield): 1 . Erwin Haven, born April 29, 1 939, the eighth generation of his family on this place, a student in Athol High School. The Kendall Family In the years directly preceding 1 640 there came to America, tradition says under the name of Miles, the brothers Francis and Thomas Kendall, sons of John Kendall of Cambridge, Eng¬ land. In 1640 they were landowners in Charlestown, Mass., where Francis was a miller. Thomas married and had eleven children, all of whom were daughters; there is a tradition that one of the daughters ap¬ plied to the court and had her husband take her last name instead of her taking his. 1. FRANCIS1 KENDALL married in Woburn December 24, 1644, MARY, daughter of John Tidd. Francis was one of the petitioners for Woburn town. Children: i. JOHN2, born May 2, 1646 2. ii. THOMAS, born January 10, 1648 iii. MARY, born January 20, 1650/1 iv. ELIZABETH, born January 15, 1652/3 v. HANNAH, born January 26, 1654/5 vi. REBECCA, born March 21, 1657/8 vii. SAMUEL, born March 8, 1 659 viii. JACOB, born January 25, 1660 2. THOMAS2 KENDALL (Francis1) was born January 10r 1648; died at Woburn May 25, 1730; married (1) at Woburn in 1673 RUTH, born December 28, 1656, died at Woburn December 18, 1695, daughter of Samuel Blodgett, Sr.; married (2) March 30, 1696, ABIGAIL BROUGHTON of Weston, who died at Woburn December 15, 1716. Thomas was a tithingman of the west end of Woburn in 1692. Children by first wife: i. RUTH3, born in 1674 3. ii. THOMAS, born May 19, 1677 iii. MARY, born in 1680 HISTORY OF ATHOL 4. iv. SAA/UEL, born October 29, 1 682 v. RALPH, born in 1 685 vi. ELEAZER, born in 1687 vii. EPHRAIM viii. JABEZ } , , /00 ix. JANE ( born ,n 1692 x. A son, born in 1 695; died December 1 6, 1 695 3. THOMAS" KENDALL (Thomas", Francis1) was born in Woburn May 19, 1677; married in Boston November 7, 1701, SARAH, daughter of Rev. Thomas Cheever, pastor of the church at Chelsea for 34 years, and granddaughter of Ezekiel Cheever, master of the Boston Latin School; she died in Fram¬ ingham March 2, 1761, aged 75. Thomas Kendall moved to Lexington and thence to Framingham. Children: i. SARAH1, born in 1702 5. ii. THOMAS, born July 30, 1704 iii. ABIGAIL, born 1706 iv. BENJAMIN, born in 1708 v. MARY, born in 1711 vi. JOSHUA, born in 1713 vii. EZEKIEL, born in 1715 viii. ELIZABETH, born in 1717 ix. RUTH, born in 1 720 x. JANE, born in 1722 xi. ELIJAH I . , 1-70,1 ci iruA twins, born in 1/24 xn. ELISHA 4. SAMUEL" KENDALL (Thomas", Francis1) was born in Woburn October 29, 1682; died in Woburn December 13, 1764; married (1) before 1708. ELIZABETH - , who died in Woburn January 10, 1741, aged 54; married (2) in Concord July 22, 1751, MEHITABLE HOSMER, who died August 31, 1755. On October 5, 1732, Samuel received the commission of lieutenant from Governor Belcher. Probably no family had more influence upon the industrial activity of Pequoig and Athol during the town's first half century than did the family of Lieutenant Samuel Kendall. In some way (one genealogist says by purchase for his sons) he became entitled to two of the original sixty-three shares in Pequoig township. However, although he apparently spent con¬ siderable time here, it is doubtful if he was ever an actual resident. It was Samuel Kendall who entered into the first contract with the proprietors to provide them with a grist mill and a saw mill. When the grist mill proved inadequate for the de¬ mands of the growing community he arranged to increase its capacity. In these transactions he was not entirely philan- 612 GENEALOGIES thropic, as large areas of the township were allotted to him in return for his endeavors in its development. Before his death in 1764, Samuel apparently disposed of all his real estate in this vicinity with the exception of the so-called Newton lot or Kendall Farm at the southerly part of the town, which was divided among several of his children in the settlement of his estate. Children by first wife: i. SAMUEL4, born in 1708. He was ordained to the ministry, and in 1731 became pastor of the church at New Salem, where he served for many years, dying there in 1792. ii. JAMES, born in 1710 iii. JOSIAH, born in 1712 iv. EZEKIEL, born in 1715 v. TIMOTHY, born in 1717 vi. ELIZABETH, born in 1719 vii. JONAS, born in 1721 viii. SARAH, born in 1 723 ix. SUSANNAH, born in 1724 x. OBADIAH, born in 1 725 6. xi. JESSE, born in 1727 xii. SETH, born in 1 728 xiii. ABIGAIL, born in 1730 xiv. EPHRAIM, born in 1 732 xv. JERUSHA 5. THOMAS' KENDALL (Thomas", Thomas", Francis1) was born July 30, 1703; married (1) before 1738 MARY, daughter of Major Ephraim and Mary (Stone) Curtis; she died July 12, 1747, at Hopkinton; married (2) March 27, 1751, HANNAH RICE of Framingham. The date of Thomas's death is unknown, but there is a tradition that he died of a wound from his own broadaxe. He served in the French and Indian War. Children by first wife: i. ABNER, born at Hopkinton, March 12, 1738/9 7. ii. JONATHAN, born at Hopkinton January 29, 1742/3 iii. THOMAS, born at Hopkinton April 17, 1745 Children by second wife: iv. ELIZABETH, born in 1752 v. MARTHA, born in 1753 vi. JOHN, born in 1755 vii. HANNAH, born in 1756 viii. NATHAN, born in 1759 6. JESSE1 KENDALL (Samuel", Thomas2, Francis1) was born in 1727; died in Athol April 14, 1797, aged 70; married in Woburn January 5, 1750, ELIZABETH, daughter of Andrew and Mary Evans; she died June 20, 1813, aged 81. Jesse and his wife and most of their children are buried in the old Pleasant Street Cemetery. Jesse Kendall and his brother Seth, both millers by trade, located in the new township and were prominent in its affairs 613 HISTORY OF ATHOL for many years. The saw mill, with its grist mill later added in the Freedom Street area, was before many years transferred to Jesse, and a Kendall biography credits him with the develop¬ ment of the Freedom Street water power by the digging of the canal west of the present Y.M.C.A. building. It is probable that he first lived in the vicinity of the Pequoig House, and that it was the foundations of his house which were uncovered in Main Street in 1876. A notation made by this writer well over sixty years ago credits Jesse with having built the old Pequoig House structure for a home, and “Aunt" Sally Fish likewise told us that in her girlhood the building was a private residence. Eventually, perhaps coincident with his sale of the mills, Jesse Kendall built on the brow of "Pine Hill" the dwell¬ ing now standing at 298 School Street. In 1867 this building was moved from its original site where the Catholic Rectory now stands at 192 School Street by Hon. Charles Field to make way for his new residence, now the rectory. According to the theory of the writer, the first saw mill was located near the present Athol Manufacturing Company plant. This seems to have passed at an early date to Jesse Kendall's son, Joel, who built the house still standing numbered 1220 Main Street. He was succeeded in the ownership of the home and the water power bv his son, Lyman Kendall, who shortly before his death in 1863 sold the water power to Millers River Manufacturing Company. Both this water power and the Joel Kendall residence were on what was originally the Corn Mill Grant, which extended southerly to include the present Athol Common. At least a portion of this passed to Seth Kendall, who lived in the vicinity of this Common, probably at 1169 Chestnut Street. For a time the area west of this house site was the property of John Brooks, son-in-law of Samuel Kendall, Sr. Children (last nine were born in Athol): i. ELIZABETH5, born in Woburn, August 17, 1751; married PELEG STRATTON, November 29, 1769; died July 30, 1831. Children (surname Stratton): 1. Debora, born July 21, 1770; married Samuel Morse, January 29, 1 799. Children (surname Morse): a. Reuben, born October 14, 1799; probably died in infancy. b. Reuben, born September 1 6, 1 800. c. Oliver, born June 11, 1802. d. Samuel, born January 1 0, 1 804; married Ruth Drury, April 12, 1827; had one child, George Henry, born June 29, 1 830 in New York State. 614 GENEALOGIES e. Sarah, born November 10, 1805. f. Alvira, born February 5, 1 808. g. Jesse, born May 3, 1 809. 2. William, born March 14, 1773. 3. Abel, born April 16, 1775; married Betsy Batchelor of Fitchburg, int. August 22, 1801. 4. Elizabeth, born September 13, 1778; married Wil¬ liam Townsend, February 7, 1805; died March 29, 1822. Children (surname Townsend): a. William, born January 27, 1806; died January 3, 1832. b. Elizabeth, born February 9, 1907; married Edward Drury, March 1 7, 1 835. Child (surname Drury): (1) George Winthrop, born October 14, 1839; died August 25, 1918; mar¬ ried Ellen E. French, May 9, 1861; she died August 11,1 923. Children: (a) Edward Spencer, born Septem¬ ber 29, 1864; married Stella A. Barrus, February 5, 1 892. Children: (1) Irene, born February 21, 1895; married Frank Premo, Febru¬ ary 21, 1916; chil¬ dren, Richard, born December 25, 1918, married Virginia . ; Maxine, born Febru¬ ary 14, 1921, Duane, born October 5, 1 923. (2) Gertrude A., born De¬ cember 1 , 1 896; un¬ married. (3) Edith M., born Octo¬ ber 1 8, 1 900, mar¬ ried Earl A. Spooner, resides in Orange, has an adopted son, Alan Clark Spooner of Orange. (4) Jeane, born Novem¬ ber 23, 1 905, mar¬ ried Roy M. Peckham, February 21, 1934, two children, Sandra, born August 30, 1936 and Sue, born Sep¬ tember 22, 1 943. (b) Albert, born . ; now de¬ ceased; married Hattie Russell; has one daughter, Alberta, a school teacher in Reading. 615 HISTORY OF ATHOL (c) Alice, born November 27, 1870; married William H. Mills, December 24, 1 895; has son, Leon V., married Elizabeth M. Hume, August 2, 1926; died June 3, 1939; one daughter, Marilyn Eliza¬ beth, born April 1 5, 1 932; married Clyde Willey, July 1 1 , 1 950, no issue. (d) Mabel, born August 2, 1 873; married George S. Donley, June 8, 1893; died Nov. 10, 1953; one child, Carl George, born September 6, 1 895; mar¬ ried Olive R. Hough, Septem¬ ber 29, 1 924, one child, Geraldine, born July 2, 1 925, married Martin E. Wannberg, August 29, 1 947, no issue. (e) Emma, born June 8, 1 880; married December 22, 1 898, Charles E. Peppard; three chil¬ dren: (1) Georgianna, born August 6, 1 899, married George Albert Tay; died in 1948, no issue; (2) Mabel, born September 6, 1901, mar¬ ried William F. Cass (see Fish Genealogy); (3) John Ray¬ mond, born October 6, 1 904, married Blanche Madeline Ball, March 1 6, 1 923, two chil¬ dren: (a) Lorainne, born June 20, 1 924, married Donald G. Bosquette, September 23, 1942, two children, Jeane, born August 1 9, 1 946 and Frederick Marco, born Sep¬ tember 29, 1 949; (b) Wayne Edward, born June 1 5, 1 930, married Nancy Ellen Hayward, no issue, lives in Texas. 616 GENEALOGIES 8. c. David Townsend, born June 18, 1809. d. James, born November 25, 1813; married Lydia H. Davis of South Orange, September 25, 1839; one son, Harlan Paige, born May 26, 1845, served in Co. E. 53rd Mass. Inft. Civil War, died ( - ); unmarried. e. Harriet, born February 13, 1816; married John Smith Drury, April 16, 1836. f. Benjamin, born April 15, 1818; died April 12, 1819. g. Thomas, born February 22, 1 820; died Au¬ gust 1 8, 1 825. h. Mary, born March 29, 1 822; married J. Wil¬ liams Goddard, November 9, 1 845; daughter, Mary Eliza, born May 17, 1852; married Albert G. Spear; died December 17, 1900; no issue. 5. Peleg Stratton, born February 10, 1781; married Lois - . Children (surname Stratton): a. Thomas, born September 15, 1818. b. Frederick Alonzo, born September 1, 1821. c. David Parks, bap. October 18, 1819. d. Addison Dwight, born June 30, 1823. 6. Jesse, born January 1, 1783; died September 13, 1 787 7. David, born June 26, 1786; married Sally Wards- worth of Grafton, May 5, 1810. Child: a. Marietta, bap. April 13, 1825. 8. Jesse, born January 1, 1789. 9. Andrew, born November 13, 1791; married Lois Ward, October 2, 1817; died May 8, 1824. 10. James, born March 13, 1795; married (1) Susanna Ward of New Salem, int. February 10, 1818. Mar¬ ried (2) Sally Ward of Orange, int. September 8, 1827. Children: a. James Edward, born July 23, 1819; died October 18, 1841. b. Harriet, born June 30, 1 822; married Edward F. Ward of Orange, May 24, 1 842. Child by second wife: c. Sally, bap. March 4, 1829; married Levi G. Fessenden of Fitchburg, October 22, 1 849. ii. MARY KENDALL, born in Woburn, November 26, 1753. iii. JESSE, born in Medford, February 11, 1756. iv. HANNAH, born in Athol, December 18, 1757. v. OLIVE, born March 31, 1760; married ELEAZER GRAVES, Jr., March 13, 1787, in Royalston. 617 HISTORY OF ATHOL 3. 4. 5. 6. Children (surname Graves): Sally, born August 6, 1787. Elijah, born October 17, 1789; died January 1, 1804. Nancy, born December 1 6, 1 793; died September 4, 1804. Laura, born March 19, 1796. Jesse, born April 12, 1798; died February 3, 1801. Lois, born July 12, 1800; died August 30, 1804. vi. JOEL, born March 11, 1762; married SALLY RAYMOND in Royalston, November 5, 1787. Child: 1. Lyman, born September 14, 1788; married Hannah L. Kelton, October 24, 1 824. Children: a. Francis Evans, born August 27, 1 825; died October 24, 1 825. b. Francis Henry, born September 26, 1 826. c. Mary Ann, born December 3, 1 830. d. Maria S., born November 21, 1832; died July 7, 1835. e. George Lucas, born June 24, 1 836. (1) Mary, born Sept. 19, 1790; mar¬ ried Enos Holbrook of Keene, N. H., March 10, 1822. (2) Anna, born August 16, 1794; died February 1 , 1813. (3) Sally, born March 9, 1797. (4) Joel, born July 1, 1801. (5) Francis Evens, born January 11,1 804; died January 17, 1822. (6) Nancy, born August 20, 1807, mar¬ ried Clark Thompson, August 25, 1 840, one child: (a) Eliza Antoinette Thompson, born April 6, 1 843. vii. SAMUEL, born January 20, 1 764; married MOLLY TAYLOR, May 1, 1788; daughter, Lucy, bap. August 1 1, 1799. viii. ANDREW, born April 17, 1766. ix. DAVID, born May 20, 1768. x. CALVIN, born July 15, 1770; married ABIGAIL BACH- ELER in Royalston, June 27, 1793. She died February 2, 1845. Children: 1. Meribah, born March 25, 1794. 2. Thomas, born April 29, 1796; died June 24, 1824. 3. Anstis, born December 25, 1798. 4. Calvin, born February 1 9, 1 803; married Lydia L. Wetherell of Swanzey, N. H.; int. April 23, 1831. Children: a. Fanny M., born July 2, 1832. b. Abigail, P., born July 5, 1 833. c. Mary, born March 23, 1835. d. Lucius W., born December 25, 1 839. e. Angeline, born January 12, 1844. f A daughter, born January 12, 1845. 618 GENEALOGIES xi. LOIS, born September 11, 1772; married FREEBORN RAYMOND, July 16, 1789; died June 6, 1800. xii. ANNA, born May 4, 1775; married JOEL MORTON, June 25, 1800, and died March 2, 1828. Children (surname Morton): 1. Alice, born July 28, 1801; married Bela W. Putnam of Greenwich, December 5, 1 830. Children (surname Putnam): a. Bela Addison, born December 26, 1 820, (killed by a kick from a horse, no date). 7. JONATHAN' KENDALL (Thomas', Thomas3, Thomas2, Francis'), was born in Hopkinton January 29, 1742/3; married January 23, 1765, ANNA OLIVER. He was a soldier in the Revolution. About 1760 he came to Athol, settling on Chest¬ nut Hill on the place now (1953) owned by Mr. and Mrs. Ros¬ well R. Hornbeck. This was the first farm north of Chestnut Hill Cemetery, that burial place having been donated by Jonathan Kendall to the people of Athol. i. JANE OLIVER'5, born November 20, 1766; married Octo¬ ber 20, 1783, EDWARD RAYMOND, Jr. Children (surname Raymond): 1. ANNA, born February 19, 1784; probably the Anna who married December 1 7, 1 807, Amos Carruth, and had four children between 1808 and 1815. 2. ABIGAIL, born August 6, 1785; married (1) Sep¬ tember 14, 1805, Luther Smith; married (2) Silas Stowe of Phill ipston; had ten children by first hus¬ band, the Charles L. Fay descendants and the John C. Hill issue being living descendants. 3. BETSEY, born August 1, 1788. 4. LUCINDA, born September, 1790; married De¬ cember 22, 1813, John Twichell of New Salem. 5. PATTY, born September 1, 1792. 6. SALLEY, born July 17, 1795. 7. LOIS, born April 19, 1797. 8. KENDALL, born October 15, 1799. 9. EDWARD, born March 17, 1805. 10. ELIZABETH, baptized August 5, 1810; possibly she married Silas Stowe, Jr., of Gerry, who later married her sister, Abigail. ii. LUCINDA, born December 25, 1769. 9. JOHN" KENDALL (Jonathan’, Thomas*, Thomas3, Thom¬ as2, Francis'), married in 1796, SUSAN SMITH; he succeeded his father on the home farm. He attained the title of Captain in the militia. Children: i. JONATHAN7, born February 14, 1797; married - ; resided in Orange; had one son, ARAL, who died, leaving no issue. ii. STEPHEN, born February 16, 1799; died October 31, 1799. 619 HISTORY OF ATHOL 10. 11. iii vVIMAN SMITH, born December 24, 1 800; journeyed to the South, returned to Athol, and eventually migrated to Vermont. iv. ANNIE, born October 7, 1803; married November 20, 1825, JOSHUA YOUNG; died February 2, 1827. v. JOAB, born December 22, 1 805; married September 26, 1830, LOUISA YOUNG. He acquired the Elder Whitman Jacobs farm south of his father's place, and carried it on for some years; he was a deacon of the Evangelical Church. He died December 14, 1884. Children: 1 . Ira Young8, born December 20, 1 830; married Ettie Thomas, daughter of Zebina Thomas; died August 6, 1914, honored and respected by the entire com¬ munity. Succeeding his father, he was for many years deacon of the Evangelical Congregational Church; was Selectman for several years, and represented this district in the General Court in 1881; had two children who died young. 2. Mary H., born February 12, 1834; married Reuben Garfield; died September 1 7, 1 877; no children. vi. LYDIA KENDALL, born August 10, 1808; married EZE¬ KIEL G. DAVIS, October 4, 1827. Children (surname Davis): 1 . Azor Sadock, born September 26, 1 830; married Elizabeth Morse (who was born in Hubbardston), April 7, 1 853. Child: a. Florence, born November 1 9, 1 855; married Newell S. Beebe, November 18, 1878; died October 12, 1933; no issue. 2. Eliza Rogers, born December 31, 1832; married Horace Witt of Dana, February 1 5, 1 853. 3. Ellen Maria, born March 1 8, 1 835; married Charles Oliver, April 5, 1 854. 4. Fanny Zebia, born March 7, 1 837; married Amos F. King, February 1 9, 1 856. 5. Jenett Josephine, born January 29, 1841; married Charles Fisher, September 1 , 1 858. 6. - - — , born January 1 0, 1 842; died same day. 7. Lydia E., born August 29, 1 849. vii. OZI, born September 13, 1810. viii. JOHN, born October 6, 1812. ix. MARIA, born July 9, 1816; married August 22, 1839, RUSSELL SMITH, once a scythe manufacturer in Athol. Children (surname Smith): 1 . Maria L., born September 1 3, 1 846; married Frank Fish Morse and died without issue. 2. A daughter born April 27, 1 849; died young. 3. Hattie E., born August 1 1, 1859; married December 25, 1 879, Henry E. Moore. Child (surname Moore): a. Harold R., born November 9, 1883. x. SUSAN, born December, 1819; died February 2, 1822. 10. OZI7 KENDALL (John0, Jonathan7’, Thomas4, Thomas3, Thomas2, Francis1), born September 13, 1810; married FANNY 620 GENEALOGIES AINSWORTH; died November 14, 1884. He learned the shoemaker's trade in Worcester and later in Templeton of Jonathan Bowker. Returning to Athol, he began business for himself in 1834, continuing for more than 50 years. His place of business was at 280 Main Street until 1874, when he built the brick building at 25 Exchange Street for his factory. In the latter years of his life his son, George N. Kendall, his nephew, Ira Y. Kendall, and George S. Pond were in business with him. Children: i. GEORGE N.8, born November 11, 1835; died without issue March 4, 1 908. ii. HELEN, born July 10, 1841; married a Methodist minister, Rev. ALONZO SANDERSON, October 5, 1864. Child (surname Sanderson): 1. Howard Kendall, married - . He was mayor of the city of Lynn, was postmaster there for many years, and was the author of an excellent history of that city. He had one son, Kendall Ainsworth, who previous to 1 953 represented an Essex County dis¬ trict in the Massachusetts Legislature. 11. JOHN7 KENDALL (John0, Jonathan5, Thomas4, Thomas3, Thomas”, Francis’), born October 6, 1812; died February 27, 1901; married (1) November 30, 1836, CYNTHIA GARFIELD. She died March 12, 1877. He married (2) ALMIRA (RICH¬ ARDSON) GOODELL. He remained on the home farm during his entire life. He served the town as Selectman and was active in many other ways. He was one of the Committee of Arrange¬ ments for the hundredth anniversary of the old First Church, of which he was a faithful adherent, and was an interested at¬ tendant at its 150th anniversary. Children: i. HENRY8, born November 6, 1 837; died September 6, 1908; married (1) September 2, 1860, EMILY BARBER, adopted daughter of Nathaniel Richardson; married (2) November 17, 1881, VICTORIA MclNTOSH, who died August 25, 1918. Child by first wife: 1. JOHN R.°, removed to Framingham; died without issue. 12. ii. SUSAN. 12. SUSAN" KENDALL (John7, John”, Jonathan5, Thomas4, Thomas3, Thomas3, Francis'), born February 24, 1840; died February 10. 1897; married November 21, 1861, SIMEON BRUCE NEWTON, born in Phillipston June 9, 1835; died April 7, 1918. Children (surname Newton): i. MARTHA DRURY, born SeDtember 27. 1 863; married September 18, 1887, GEORGE WARREN SMITH, born born August 27, 1 865, at Phillipston. 621 HISTORY OF ATHOL Child (surname Smith): 1. Clare Elizabeth, born May 28, 1892; a teacher in Chicopee Falls; her legal residence is at 1 Cooke Place, Athol. ii. JOHN KENDALL, born at Phillipston, January 10, 1866; married at Greenfield, August 28, 1 885, GERTRUDE HATHAWAY of Petersham. Children: 1 . Ward Hathaway, born January 24, 1 887; married Vesta L. Pike. Children: a. Ward Hathaway, born April 20, 1916; mar¬ ried May 1 8, 1 940, Elsie M. Sevelius; chil¬ dren: 1 . Alan Douglas, born September 29, 1941; 2. Julia Louise, born October 2, 1944. 2. Marion G., born April 2, 1 888; died April 1 4, 1 952; married January 23, 1908, Walter A. Briggs. Children (surname Briggs): a. Kendall W., born August 11, 1909; married July 1 1, 1936, Evelyn Rendell; lives in Seattle, Washington. Children: 1 . Howard A., born October 2, 1 937; 2. Lawrence A., born July 7, 1 940; 3. Stuart M., born January 23, 1942. b. Priscilla M., born December 2, 1910; married June 23, 1 935, lives in Groveton, New Hamp¬ shire. Child: 1. Annabelle J., born July 9, 1945. c. Eleanor W., born December 23, 1912; married Francis S. Carpenter; resides in Mobile, Ala¬ bama; no children. d. Clayton W., born April 2, 1916; married February 22, 1 940, Dora Havemaker; chil¬ dren: 1. Thomas J., born August 15, 1943; 2. Kathryn J., born July 3, 1 949. e. Melvin H., born May 8, 1923; married Sep¬ tember 8, 1951, Barbara Peck; no children. iii. ISABELLE W., born October 12, 1867; married July 3, 1884, FRANK WILBUR. Child (surname Wilbur): 1 . Ray Abner, born in 1 898; married, is a retired naval officer, residing in Huntington, California. Child: a. Gladys Anna, married Dewey M. Knode; re¬ sides in Melrose, Mass.; no children. iv. MARIA C., born November 3, 1876; married at Green¬ field, October 21, 1899, HALBERT V. MORSE; both are living (1953) in Athol; no children. The name of this family has disappeared from our present inhabitants, and few who claim descent from this branch are in our township. The Bragg family are descendants, the most active member of the family, E. Kendall Bragg, now deceased, having been the most well-known of them. The writer has been advised that the Kendalls residing in the northerly part of Phillip¬ ston are descendants, but he has never pursued the investigation. The Lee Family John Leigh of Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts, the head of this branch of the Lee family is first named on the 622 GENEALOGIES records of Ipswich in 1640, at which time the hay upon Che- bacco Way, near Labor-in-Vain Creek, was granted to him. He died July 8, 1671, but his age is unknown. Various author¬ ities give it from 73 to 87 years. His will, dated June 12, 1671, and proved September 26, 1671, mentions his two sons, John and Joseph, whom he appointed executors, and his wife Anne. It also mentions one “Sarah Hungerfoot", who lived in the family. His wife Anne died September 28, 1691. Family tra¬ ditions says “he left four daughters, one of whom was a Patch, another a Hunkins, another a Tuttle, and one named Ann lived single," but I can find no trace of them; it is singular that they are not mentioned in his will. The following is from a manuscript of the last Dr. Joseph Lee of Concord: “John Leigh was a younger son of an Ancient & Honorable Family of Boston Street, London. He was a person of good natural and acquired abilities; was well educated by pious parents in the principles of the Christian religion; was a high spirited man and possessed a handsome person. It seems that in the troublesome times of the reign of Charles I the family were adherents of that monarch and that John exhibited a tendency to espouse the opposite cause. To prevent this his friends induced him to come to New England which he reached, it is said, in the year 1635. He settled at Agawano, now Ip¬ swich, and took up land about Heartbreak Hill in the South part of the town. His friends in London furnished him with plenty of necessaries to begin a new plantation." “It is said that h«c two sons agreed to write their name Lee about the year 1677." Children (born at Ipswich): i. JOHN2, born about 1639; married Johannah - . 2. ii. JOSEPH, born in November, 1643. 2. JOSEPH2 LEE, (John1), born in November, 1654; died November 4, 1716, aged 73; married (1) MARY WOOD- HOUSE, oldest daughter of Henry and Eleanor (Hopkinson) Woodhouse (now contracted into Woodis) of Concord; married (2) November 15 1697, MARY (MILES) WRIGLEY, daughter of John M'les and widow of Edmund Wrialey, who died Novem¬ ber 25, 1708; married (3) January 28. 1712-3, Widow MARY FOX. After Josenh Lee's death his wife, Mary, married Daniel Hoar, neohew of Leonard Hoar, at that time President of Har¬ vard College. Joseoh Lee was brought up a husbandman, and lived in Ipswich. In 1691 he moved to Concord, and took possession of the farm of his father-in-law Woodhouse, which was held by his descendants until 1815. Children (born at Ipswich)- i. WOODIS3, born October 1 7, 1 679; died November 28, 1679. 623 HISTORY OF ATHOL ii. JOSEPH, born October 16, 1680. He was ancestor of Dr. Joseph Lee of Concord, Rev. Joseph Lee of Royalston, Hon. Silas Lee, judge of Probate in Wiscasset, Maine, Captain Samuel Lee of Templeton, Thomas D. and Joseph A. Lee, cashiers of the Calais Bank, Calais, Maine, and most of the Lees of Concord, Mass., and Augusta and Calais, Maine. iii. MARY, born July 14, 1682; married JOHN WOOD of Concord. iv. ANN, born May 17, 1684; died 1728, probably un¬ married. v. HENRY, born May 16, 1686. He was ancestor of Abner Lee, one of the proprietors of Athol, Captain Benjamin Lee, General Samuel Lee, and Captain David Lee of Barre, Hon. Gideon Lee, M. C. and Mayor of New York, Hon. William Lee, Consul to Bordeaux, France, and his son, William, in the War Department, General John Lee of Albion, New York, Hon. Artemas Lee of Templeton, and Charles Lee of Barre, lost on the Lexington in 1 940. vi. JOHN, born September 10, 1688; died December 16, 1688. 3. vii. WOODIS, born December 1 8, 1 689. viii. HANNAH, born April 10, 1691; died in May, 1691. 3. WOODIS" LEE (Joseph', John1), born December 18, 1869; died December 13, 1761, aged 72; married August 4, 1715, ELIZABETH WOOD, who died February 26, 1781, aged 88, daughter of Isaac and Mary Wood of Concord. Children: 4. i. WOODIS4, (Woodis3, Joseph", John1), born May 24, 1719. ii. BATHSHEBA, died in infancy. iii. BATHSHEBA, born about 1721; died unmarried in 1791, aged 70. iv. SETH, married MOLLY CONANT; moved to Connecticut; no children. v. ELIZABETH, died unmarried at an advanced age in Con¬ cord. vi. THAMER, died in infancy. 4. WOODIS* LEE (Woodis3, Joseph2, John1), born March 24, 1719; died September 6, 1796, aged 77; married (1) De¬ cember 20, 1744, RUTH WARREN, born March 30, 1723, died December 7, 1745, aged 23, daughter of Captain Daniel Warren of Waltham; married (2) February 4, 1748, MARY WHITE, daughter of Joseph and Hannah White of Lexington. Although a "seakly woman," she brought up ten children. Child by first wife (born at Weston): i. RUTH', born October 25, 1745; married SAMUEL PIERCE, Jr., of Waltham. Children by second wife (first two born at Weston, last eight at Lincoln): ii. MARY, born December 23, 1 748; married BENJAMIN SMITH of Lexington. iii. HANNAH, born December 8, 1751; married TIMOTHY BROUN of Lincoln. 624 GENEALOGIES iv. LUCY, born September 20, 1 754; married Thomas Fes¬ senden of Lexington. v. SARAH, born April 20, 1757; married REDIT JONES of Concord. 5. vi. JONATHAN, born January 26, 1759. vii. ELIZABETH, born October 26, 17 — ; married JOHN HAYWARD of Concord. viii. ISAAC, born April 14, 1764; married LUCY STEARNS of Waltham. ix. NATHAN, born August 19, 1700; married REBECCA PUFFER of Sudbury. x. MITTIE, born September 12, 1769; married WILLIAM WHEELER of Sudbury. xi. WOODIS, born August 1 9, 1 772; married MARY FOSTER of Lincoln. 5. JONATHAN LEE (Woodis1, Woodis", Joseph', John1), born January 26, 1759; died at Athol April 19, 1833, aged 74; married (1) in 1783 SARAH HAYWARD of Concord, who died March 1, 1804; married (2) in 1807 SYBIL BUTTERFIELD of Pepperell. He lived in Sudbury and Marlboro, Mass., New Ipswich, and Hancock, New Hampshire. Children by first wife: i. SALLY0, born in Sudbury April 17, 1784; married IONA DAVID of Hancock, New Hampshire. 6. ii. HENRY, born in Marlboro, June 11, 1786. 7. iii. WILLIAM DEXTER, born in Marlboro, March 6, 1788. iv. DENNIS, born in New Ipswich, N. H., January 15, 1790; went south and was ne/er heard from. v. JONATHAN, born in New Ipswich, February 1 5, 1 792; married and went to New York State. 6. HENRY" LEE (Jonathan5, Woodis', Woodis", Joseph", John1), born in Marlboro June 11, 1786; died in Worcester, July 29, 1845, aged 59; married June 21, 1821, NANCY (FISH) FELTON, daughter of Samuel and Betsey (Kingsbury) Fish of Athol and widow of David Felton of Athol. Henry Lee was Town Treasurer for twenty years. Children: 8. i. JOSEPH7, born June 23, 1822. ii. DENNIS, born September 19, 1823; unmarried. iii. HENRY, born May 28, 1825; died September 12, 1925. iv. NANCY, born August 1 3, 1 826; married November 1 3, 1853, CHARLES H. ORCUTT, born February 10, 1828, son of David and Lucretia (Baldwin) Orcutt of Phill ipston; lived in Springfield. Children (surname Orcutt): 1. HENRY LEE, born December 22, 1854. 2. ALICE LOUISE, born December 21, 1868. 9. v. HENRY, born September 3, 1 828. vi. SAA/UEL, born November 28, 1832; died May 1, 1834. 10. vii. SAMUEL, born February 10, 1834. 7. WILLIAM DEXTER'1 LEE (Jonathan5, Woodis1, Woodis3, Joseph2, John1), born in Marlboro March 6, 1788; married Jan- 625 HISTORY OF ATHOL uary 5, 1812, LYDIA HILL WETHERBY, born April 12, 1792,. daughter of Joseph and Lydia Wetherby of Harvard. Children (all born in Athol): i. WILLIAM DEXTER7, born March 8, 1813; died September 2, 1815. ii. GEORGE HENRY, born October 23, 1914; died December 20, 1 836; unmarried. 11. iii. WILLIAM DEXTER, born August 7, 1816. iv. HARRIET MARIA, born March 25, 1818; died October 15, 1820. v. ANGELINE MARIA, born December 27, 1820; died Au¬ gust 27, 1 856, aged 36; married April 7, 1 842, JOHN M. TWICHELL of Athol. 12. vi. JAMES MONROE, born March 2, 1822. 13. vii. MERRITT LAFAYETTE, born March 22, 1825. 14. viii. CHARLES MILTON, born May 23, 1828. ix. HARRIET CHASTINE, born May 27, 1830; died July 1, 1835. 15. x. JOHN HOWARD, born August 15, 1834. 16. xi. SOLON WETHERBEE, born July 11, 1836. xii. HENRIETTA CHASTINE, born August 17, 1839; died unmarried. 8. JOSEPH7 LEE (Henry0, Jonathan", Woodis4, Woodis3, Joseph2, John1), born June 23, 1822; married (1) June 21, 1851, SARAH ADELL HALL of Marcellus, New York, who died October 27, 1854; married (2) Child by first wife: i. WILSON HORATIO”, born May 3, 1 852; died in Orange, Conn., May 9, 1948; married ORINDA LEWIS, who died in Orange a few years before her husband. Child (adopted): 1. PRUDENCE, died in April, 1949; married John Demerest, who died probably in October, 1 949; no children. 9. HENRY7 LEE (Henry0, Jonathan7', Woodis1, Woodis3, Joseph2, John1), born September 3, 1828; married May 1, 1853, HELEN S. HAMILTON, born in 1833, daughter of John and Amelia Hamilton of Syracuse, New York. Child: i. JESSIE HAMILTON”, born September 23, 1857. 10. SAMUEL7 LEE (Henry", Jonathan7', Woodis1, Woodis3, Joseph2, John1), born February 10, 1834; died in Athol June 30, 1916; married May 1, 1861, HATTIE L. NOURSE, born November 28, 1838, daughter of Timothy and Lucretia (Flint) Nourse of Wallingford, Vermont. He lived in Athol, where he was postmaster for four years and town treasurer for several years; operated a hardware store. Child: i. FREDERICK H\, born Mar. 30, 1 867, died June 14, 1951; twice married; no children. He served for a long time on the school board in Athol. 626 GENEALOGIES 11. WILLIAM DEXTER7 (William Dexter", Jonathan*, Woodis1, Woodis", Joseph2, John'), born August 7, 1816; mar¬ ried June 7, 1841, SARAH H. MUNSELL, born December 8, 1818, daughter of Elisha and Polly (Hurd) Munsell of Win¬ chester, New Hampshire. For some time he was engaged in the manufacture of women's and children's shoes with John S. Lewis at the upper village; he was also in the lumber business in Warwick, was for a number of years associated with Samuel Lee in a general country store known as Lee & Co., and was also an extensive dealer in real estate. He died October 13, 1871. Children: i. GEORGE HENRY8, bom February 23, 1842; died April 25, 1845. ii. CHARLES SEYMOUR, born December 28, 1845; died December 22, 1851. iii. CLARA ANGELINE, born June 17, 1851; died Dec. 17, 1906; married in 1868 OTHELLO A. FAY. See Fay genealogy. Child (surname Fay): 1 . Lulu Dot, married Charles W. Pratt. See Fay gene¬ alogy. iv. SARAH DELIA, born June 30, 1852; died June 3, 1854. v. ANNA, married ELMER MERRIAM. 12. JAMES MONROE7 LEE (William Dexter", Jonathan*, Woodis1, Woodis", Joseph2, John’), born March 2, 1822; died November 10, 1893; married April 4, 1847, RACHEL DEX¬ TER, daughter of Ebenezer W. and Cynthia (Walker) Dexter of Royalston. The only one of the Lee brothers not in the shoe business, James Monroe kept a livery stable and was an ex¬ tensive dealer in horses; he also invested largely in real estate. He was a trustee of the Athol Savings Bank and a member of its investment committee, and also a director of the Athol National Bank, assessor, and road surveyor in Athol. Children: i. WARREN DEXTER8, born April 13, 1849; died June 10, 1924; married December 11, 1875, ETTA J. FROST; no children. He was engaged in several enterprises in and about Athol. 17. ii. MABEL, born May 27, 1860. 13. MERRITT LAFAYETTE7 LEE (William Dexter", Jona¬ than", Woodis1, Woodis3, Joseph2, John1), born March 22, 1825; died October 23, 1904; married May 25, 1852, ELLEN ELIZABETH FESSENDEN, born November 29, 1831, daughter of Arad and Fanny (Davenport) (Yaw) Fessenden of Guilford, Vermont. He was employed for a number of years in the shoe shop of Jones & Baker at the Upper Village, and in 1861 with his brothers established the firm of M. L. Lee & Co., for the 627 HISTORY OF ATHOL manufacture of men's, youths' and boys' hip boots, brogans and plow shoes, this business being carried on for 35 years, until his retirement in 1896. Children: i. WALTER MERRITT8, born January 10, 1 859; married Nov. 21, 1887, Mary P. (Thomas) Gage, mother of Leon Gage. Child: 1. Florence'1, married Victor Bragg of Athol. ii. GEORGE HOWARD, born December 23, 1 860; married Florence E. Ball, December 1 0, 1 889. Children: 1. Priscilla, born May 18, 1901; married July 1, 1922, Nathaniel Hastings Twichell, a selectman of Athol, who served in World War II and is still in military service; had two daughters: Priscilla Ann and Sallee. 2. Elizabeth, married (1) Harold Mott, who died - ; married (2) Ronald A. Waite; had two daughters by first husband: Elizabeth, unmarried; Florence E., who married Herman E. MacDonald, December 31, 1940. 3. MARGARET, married Edward L. Schmidt, November 11, 1945; lives in Athol. iii. WILLIAM D., born June 8, 1868; died April 18, 1935 in Marlboro and was buried in Highland Cemetery in Athol. He began his business career as a shoe manufacturer in the Union Block, later removing to Marlboro, where he carried on business for many years. No children. iv. ELLEN FESSENDEN, born Sept. 13, 1873; died unmarried March 1, 1925. She was for many years a merchant selling ladies' furnishings in Athol, and built a home on Ridge Avenue in which she died. 14. CHARLES MILTON7 LEE (William Dexter0, Jonathan5, Woodis4, Woodis0, Joseph2, John1), born May 23, 1828; died June 29, 1896; married (1) October 29, 1851, AMANDA B. SIMMONS, born October 16, 1827, died in 1870, daughter of John and Martha (Heston) Simmons of Lyme, New Hampshire; married (2) MINNIE HOWE of Post Mills, Vermont, who died August 8, 1912. Children by first wife: i. GEORGE MARSHALL8, born August 29, 1852; died in Boston in 1916. ii. EVERETT DEXTER, born November 10, -853; died in Athol, Sept. 1 877. iii. WELLINGTON STAR, born July 13, 1856; married Nellie Ward; died in Athol September 25, 1918; he left a large estate; his adopted son, Earl Lee, is living in Rockingham, New Hampshire. iv. ANGELINE MARIA, born December 3, 1 857; died July 15, 1884. v. AUBURN WARE, born October 1 8, 1 859; died October 8, 1907; married May 23, 1887, IDA DEONE, stepdaughter of Joseph T. Pero; separated before his death; no children. vi. BAYARD B., born September 14, 1862; died September 2, 1883. 628 GENEALOGIES vii. CARRIE MAE, born May 1, 1866; died January 8, 1845; married CHARLES H. BROWN of Rumney, New Hamp¬ shire. Mr. Brown was an earnest worker in the Athol Bap¬ tist Church, of which his brother, Rev. Horace F. Brown, was pastor, serving for a time as clerk of the church. Children by second wife: viii. MARION, born November 1, 1878; married June 26, 1909, ARTHUR J. BERRY of 180 Main Street, who died in November, 1928; she still resides in Athol. Child (surname Berry): 1. LEE, born in Athol, May 6, 1910; married Mary Elizabeth Walton of Butler, Missouri. He is Assistant Treasurer of the Pullman Company in Chicago. Chil¬ dren, born in Evanston, III.: i. Arthur Walton, born September 4, 1941; ii. Sanford Lee, born January 10, 1948. ix. MINNIE, born July 27, 1884; married 1910 Robert Mc- Wade, Jr., who died January 19, 1938. Children (surname Wade): 1. ROBERT III, born July 16, 1911; unmarried. 2. CHARLES LEE, born May, 1913 is married and has two children. 15. JOHN HOWARD' LEE (William Dexter8, Jonathan', Woodis1, Woodis', Joseph", John1), born August 15, 1834; died in 1908; married (1) January 4, 1858, ABBIE MARIA LAMB, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Hubbard) Lamb of Athol, who died October 31, 1859; married (2) October 9, 1862, SARAH E. EMMONS of Boston, born February 21, 1841; died August, 1895. Children (by second wife): 18. i. CARLTON HOWARD*, born December 7, 1864. 1 9. ii. EVELYN, born October 23, 1 866. iii. BERTHA, born November 1 3, 1 869; died in Royalston, August 24, 1 944; unmarried. iv. JOHN HOWARD, died in infancy. v. ROBERT EMMONS, born March 20, 1878; died Novem¬ ber 27, 1 925; married December 24, 1 903, FLORENCE ARMSTRONG: no children. 16. SOLON WETHERBEE7 LEE (William Dexter", Jonathan5, Woodis4, Woodis’, Joseph", John1), born July 11,1 836; married April 1, 1860, MARTHA A. COVELL, born April 25, 1837, daughter of Ephraim and Sarah (Howes) Covell of Petersham. He worked with his brothers Charles M. and J. Howard Lee, in the shoe manufacturing business until 1883, when he en¬ tered the lumber business. Children: i. ALMIRA COVELL8, born March 21, 1861; died in 1894. ii CORA H., born January 10, 1865; married August 15, 1883, FRANK E. DEXTER. Children (surname Dexter): 1. EDITH LEE, born December 20, 1883; married - Norton; now divorced; lives in Lynn, Mass. 2. ROBERT LEE, born April 16, 1887; married October 9, 1912, Barbara Bates, daughter of George D. and Abbie (Sheldon) Bates. He was graduated from Cornell University, was with Union Twist Drill Co. in 629 HISTORY OF ATHOL Athol, later with Bates Bros. Co., and is Treasurer of the Athol Savings Bank. Child: i. Jane, born De¬ cember 11, 1913; married J. Weston Abar. iii. MARY H., married January 1, 1891, CHRISTOPHER J. KRATT. Children (surname Kratt): 1. BEATRICE, born July 29, 1891; married June 1, 1909, Philip E. Wilder. 2. HILDA C., born December 18, 1897. 3. DOROTHY A., born July 18, 1900. 4. LLOYD L., born July 17, 1908. 5. ARTHUR D., born January 20, 1912. 17. MABEL" LEE (James Monroe7, William Dexter0, Jona¬ than'7, Woodis4, Woodis15, Joseph2, John1), born March 27, 1860; married December 8, 1890, GEORGE S. BREWER, who died August 2, 1940. In later life Mrs. Brewer was actively en¬ gaged with her husband in the Brewer & Carlson Co., Ford dealers, continuing in the business after his death. Child (surname Brewer): i. HELEN LEE, born October 4, 1891; married CARL S. CARLSON, and died June 29, 1918. Children (surname Carlson): 1. CARL M., born March 25, 1914; died in infancy. 2. PHYLLIS LEE, born September 29, 1915; married September 30, 1939, Ernest W. Haskins, Jr. 3. ROBERT LORING, born June 22, 1918; married December 8, 1 945, Geraldine W. MacKnight. Chil¬ dren: i. Robert Loring, born December 2, 1 946; ii. Dexter James, born September 14, 1919; iii. Severn Carl, born October 19, 1951. 18. CARLTON HOWARD" LEE (John Howard7, William Dexter0, Jonathan', Woodis1, Woodis5, Joseph2, John1), born December 7, 1864; died April 17, 1948; married LOTTIE LEATHE, born January 20, 1872; died May 15, 1948. Children: i. GLADYS9, born October 6, 1 893; married February 25, 1913, ARTHUR COOMBS. Children (surname Coombs): 1 . PHOEBE, born May 11, 1914. 2. VIRGINIA, born February 9, 1916. 3. LEE HOWARD, born December 1, 1917. 4. IRVING BELCHER, born March 31, 1920. 5. DAVID BARTLETT, born February 4, 1930. ii. BEATRICE, born October 5, 1894; married February 14, 1917, ALBERT HUNTRESS HAYWARD. Children (surname Hayward): 1. CARLTON LEE, born December 6, 1917. 2. GAIL, born August, 1927; died March, 1930. 3. JUNE, born March, 1931. 19. EVELYN" LEE (John Howard7, William Dexter0, Jon¬ athan, Woodis1, Woodis1 Joseph2, John1), born October 23, 1866; died June 12, 1946; married January 15, 1889, FRANK B. CONVERSE, born March 5, 1857; died November 29, 1936. 630 GENEALOGIES Children (surname Converse): i. FRANK LEE, born May 9, 1890; married June 26, 1916, ALICE L. SIGOURNEY; no children. ii. EVELYN, born October 18, 1891; married September 29, 1917, THEODORE MITCHELL PRUDDEN, born February- 1, 1891. Children (surname Prudden): 1. PETER, born April 10, 1919; married May 27, 1 943, Constance Thurber. Children: i. Joanna, born October 1 9, 1 944; ii. Penelope, born May 6, 1 947; iii. Peter, born July 19, 1948; iv. Deborah, born 1952. 2. CONVERSE, born January 20, 1 922; married June 10, 1948, Ann G. Folsom. Child: Stephen Brooks. 3. JOHN, born October 19, 1925. iii. HOWARD BROOKS, born August 1 7, 1 895; married Sep¬ tember 28, 1921, HELEN KNIGHT. Children: 1. ANN, born November 11, 1922; married October 16, 1952, Chapin Wallour. 2. PENELOPE, born November 24, 1924; married January 24, 1953, Bertrand T. Cross. iv. MADELINE, born July 3, 1897; married September 17, 1921, VICTOR D. VICKERY. Children (surname Vickery): 1. JOAN, born March, 1929. 2. SARAH, born April, 1931. The Lord Family The first member of the Lord family in America was the Widow Katherine Lord, who sailed from England and landed at Ipswich in 1631. With her came., according to traditions three sons, one of whom was ROBERT LORD, died in 1638; married MARY WAITE. He was a freeman in 1636 and a representative in 1638; had eight children, one of whom was THOMAS" LORD, born in Ipswich in 1633; married ALICE RAND, born in 1633/4; died in 1721; settled in Charlestown; had eight children, one of whom was JOSEPH" LORD, born in Charlestown June 30, 1672; died June 6, 1748; married (1) June 3. 1698, ABIGAIL HINCKLEY, who died December 14, 1725, daughter of Thomas Hinckley, the last Governor of the Plymouth Colony before its consoli¬ dation with the Bay Colony; married (2) November 16, 1743, BETHIAH SMITH, twice a widow. Joseph Lord was graduated from Harvard College in 1691, and in 1695 was ordained as a gospel minister by the church at Dorchester, by which he was sent as a missionary to South 631 HISTORY OF ATHOL Carolina. After about 20 years' residence in and near Charles¬ ton, South Carolina, he returned to Massachusetts and was in¬ stalled as pastor of the church at Chatham, holding this position until his death. The Athol Lords are descended from this Joseph Lord. Some of his children did not return from South Carolina, and their descendents are still living there. Joseph and Abigail among whom were 4. i. JOSEPH1 ) ii. ABIGAIL J (Hinckley) Lord had twins, born September 27, eight 1 704 children, 4. JOSEPH1 LORD (Joseph", Thomas2, Robert1), born Sep¬ tember 27, 1704; died December 7, 1788; married April 20, 1728, SARAH RAND, died October 13, 1798. Both are buried in the old cemetery at Westmoreland, New Hampshire. Following his graduation from Harvard College in 1726, Joseph Lord practiced medicine for a time in Sunderland, Mass., being the first resident physician in that town. He was one of the first five settlers of Athol, coming here on Septem¬ ber 17, 1735, and locating on the east side of Pleasant Street just north of Ellinwood Country Club. For more than a score of years he was the leading and dominating individual in this outpost of civilization, being the first doctor, preacher, magis¬ trate, treasurer, tax collector, and surveyor. Not only did he as a physician minister to his neighbors' physical needs but as Proprietors' Clerk he was in charge of the records showing the various allotments of land, and it was he who penned the various petitions and complaints filed with the Great and Gen¬ eral Court. After the organization of the First Church, of which he does not appear ever to have been a member, and the Rev. Mr. Humphrey was settled here, Dr. Lord was for some years the supply pastor in Templeton, journeying there on horseback whenever the call came for his services. In 1758 he summarily left Pequoig, following a disagree¬ ment with the Proprietors, going to Putney, Vermont where he lived for about 30 years, holding high and responsible posi¬ tions. Although in 1772 he desired to retire from public office, he was prevailed upon to continue in limited service, which he did until the Crown of Great Britain was no longer recog¬ nized as having authority. In that momentous upheaval Dr. Lord, like most men who had held positions of honor under the Colonial Government, remained loyal to the King, but no 632 GENEALOGIES records exist of his ever having been molested or persecuted in any way because of his loyalty. Coincident with the close of the War for Independence/ Dr. Lord removed to Westmoreland, New Hampshire, where he died at the age of eighty-four years, his wife surviving him by ten years. Children: i. JOSEPH'', born April 17, 1730; he took title to much of his father's lands in Athol; he served in the Revolution. 5. ii. WILLIAM, born May 3, 1732. iii. MARY, born May 2, 1733; she seems to have returned to Athol in 1 770 as the second wife of Deacon AARON SMITH. 6. iv. THOMAS, born January 1 7, 1 736. 7. v. STEPHEN, born February 17, 1737. vi. SARAH, born July 5, 1740; married Judge THOMAS CHANDLER of Vermont. vii. NATHANIEL, born June 18, 1747. viii. MARIAM, born November 24, 1 752. 5. WILLIAM’’ LORD (Joseph1, Joseph1, Thomas2, Robert1), born May 3, 1732; died - ; married September 22, 1760, MARY PRESTON. Children: 8. i. WILLIAM11, baptized August 2, 1761. ii. SARAH, born December 30, 1762; died January 25, 1849; married at Orange, October 14, 1787, DANiEL HARRINGTON. iii. HANNAH, baptized August 9, 1765; died August 21, 1765. 9. iv. PRESTON, baptized May 3, 1767. v. REUBEN, baptized April 4, 1773. 6. THOMAS' LORD (Joseph4, Joseph3, Thomas2, Robert1), born January 17, 1736; died December 3, 1810; married Nov¬ ember 6, 1760, LEONARD SMITH, born April 3, 1744; died in 1821, daughter of Ephraim and Martha (Scott) Smith. Ephraim Smith was formerly of Hadley, Mass., and an original Proprietor of Pequoig. Thomas Lord had service in the Seven Years' War; was a private in Captain John Fry's Company in the Expedition of 1758 at Lake George, and in 1759 during the invasion of Canada. He was one of the Minute Men from Athol who marched to Lexington, April 19, 1775 being sergeant of the company. In 1776 he is rated as a Lieutenant, and when the Bennington or Burgoyne Alarm came in 1777 he raised an Athol Company and hastened over the Berkshire Hills to the scene of combat, being credited with service as the army pro¬ ceeded southward after the triumph of Saratoga. Returning . to Athol, he was most active as a recruiting officer, at times 633 HISTORY OF ATHOL giving his personal note to meet recruiting expense and sol¬ diers' pay. Thomas Lord does not seem to have been active in the diffi¬ culties incident to the division of the town and the establish¬ ment of the District of Orange, although his farm at the north end of Brickyard Road was adjacent to the line of the new municipality. Subsequently he meekly requested to be set off into the new district, but his request was refused. Captain Lord died December 3, 1810, and the following September his widow married Stephen Stratton, whose wife had died the preceding November, and lived the remainder of her days at his home off South Athol Road. Both Captain Lord and his wife are buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, where in 1886 their grandson. Ethan Lord, erected a substantial monu¬ ment marking their last resting place. He was a slave-owner for a time. Children: 10. i. ASAC, born October 1, 1761. 11. ii. JOSEPH, born October 28, 1763. iii. RHODA, born March 1, 1766; died November 27, 1798; married January 28, 1798, JOSHUA MYRICK. Child (surname Myrick): 1. Rhoda, born April 12, 1798. iv. ABEL, born Julv 9, 1769; died July 26, 1770. v. ABIGAIL SCOTT, born July 7, 1772; married May 27, 1788, ABIJAH ELLIS of Orange. vi. ABEL, born March 12, 1774; died October 3, 1799. 12. vii. THOMAS, born January 17, 1780. 13. viii. JOTHAM. born June 4, 1783. ix. LEONARD, born October 21, 1784; married January 6, 1 803, ASAPH OLIVER, son of Aaron and Lucy, born June 1, 1782. Thev removed to Chateaugay, N. Y. after a short residence in Stratton, Vermont. Children of which we have record are (all surnamed Oliver): 1. ABEL, born August 7, 1803. 2. LYONDER, born April 13. 1805. 3. ASAPH, born December 29, 1 806. 4. GARDINER A., born January - , 1809. 5. THOMAS L., born - . Asaph Oliver above named came into this territory as a civil engineer and worked on the layout of the Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad 1 845-48. 14. x. GARDINER, born April 3, 1788. 15. xi. ABSALOM, born June 3, 1790. 7. STEPHEN LORD (Joseph4, Joseph1, Thomas2, Robert1), born February 17, 1737; married April 1, 1760, MARY MOR¬ TON. 634 GENEALOGIES Children: i. STEPHEN", born June 15, 1760; died January 26, 1764. ii. ICHABOD, born November 27, 1762. lii. SAMUEL, born February 9, 1767. iv. BENJAMIN, born April 14, 1769. v. JOHN, born April 19, 1771; died August 22, 1774. vi. JOSHUA, born June 18, 1775. 8. WILLIAM0 LORD (William3, Joseph4, Joseph3, Thomas2, Robert1), baptized August 6, 1761; died November 22, 1838, married (intentions) November 6, 1785, CLARINA (CLARISA) CADY. Children: i. SAMUEL7, born September 21, 1786. ii. CLARINA, born September 14, 1788; married (intentions September 17, 1815) THOMAS SOUTHWORTH. 16. iii. CYRRELL, born June 26, 1791. iv. PERSES, born July 23, 1793. v. BETSEY, born June 15, 1797. vi. ALVIRA, born February 7, 1 800. vii. JUSTINE, born October 28, 1802. viii. AZUBAH, born October 4, 1 805. 17. ix. WILLIAM, born April 22, 1808. 9. PRESTON' LORD (William , Joseph1, Joseph3, Thomas2, Robert1), baptized May 3, 1767; married August 2, 1789, REST - . Children: i. RAND7, born March 11, 1790. ii. NABBY, born December 27, 1791. 18. iii. LEVI, born September 24, 1793. iv. MILLY, born June 19, 1795. v. LOUISA, born March 27, 1797. vi. RESTY, born February 9, 1799. vii. PRESSEN, born December 30, 1 800; died January 20, 1830. viii. EUNICE, born June 20, 1803. ix. EUNICE, born January 28, 1805. x. WILLIAM CHANDLER, born June 17, 1807. 10. ASA' LORD (Thomas , Joseph1, Joseph3, Thomas2, Rob¬ ert1), born October 1, 1761; died in Orange, November 20, 1849; married August 25, 1785, LYDIA HUMPHREY, who died September 13, 1828. Like his father, Asa was a soldier in the Revolution. Children: i. LOIS7, born January 27, 1786; married (intentions De¬ cember 16, 1808) STEPHEN RANDALL of New Hunting- ton, Chittenden County, Vermont. Child (surname Randall): 1 . ANDREW J., who removed to East Kendall, New York, and had four children: i. Louisa L., married - Conkling; ii. Harrison L.; iii. Stephen W.; ail lived in East Kendall; iv. Augusta J., married - Northrop, lived in Reading, Michigan. 635 HISTORY OF ATHOL ii. LYMAN, born August 9, 1787; married (intentions March 28, 1814) CLARISSA TUTTLE. Child: 1 CLARISSA L., married - CASWELL; removed to Parkersburg, West Virginia. iii. LOUISA, born March 1, 1802; died unmarried November 9 1 887 19. iv. LORENZO, born March 1, 1802. 11. JOSEPH'1 LORD (Thomas'', Joseph', Joseph", Thomas2, Robert1), born October 28.. 1 763; died in Orange, July 1 , 1 832; married (1) ESTHER JOHNSON, who died September 21, 1807; married (2) September 15, 1805, UNITY W. RUGGLES, born March 9, 1780; died February 10, 1840. Children by first wife: 20. i. LUTHER7, born December 9, 1788. ii. VASHNEY, born May 19, 1791. Children by second wife: iii. ESTHER, born August 15, 1809. iv. PERSIS, born Auaust 15, 1813; married (1) April 13, 1837. MOSES DEXTER, born January 26 1811; died December 22, 1 846, son of Benjamin and Betsey (Legg) Dexter. Children (surname Dexter): 1. JOSEPH LORD, born January 7, 1 838; died February 28. 1902; married October 7, 1858, SARAH J. WOODS. Children: a. FRANK E., born December 25, 1859; married August 15, 1883, CORA H. LEE, daughter of Solon W. Lee, who died August 15, 1888. Children: i. Edith L., born December 20, 1 883; married - Norton; now divorced and living in Lynn, Mass. ii. Robert Lee, born April 1 6, 1 887; graduated from Cornell; married October 9, 1912, Barbara Bates, daughter of George D. and Abbie (Sheldon) Bates; had a daughter, Jane, who married J. Weston Abar. b. FRED ABBOTT, born October 1 7, 1 862; died August 26, 1921; married February 26, 1 884. He was an industrialist and leading citizen of Oranqe, president of the Orange National Bank. Child: i. Bayard Putnam, born in Orange April 14, 1884; died in Miami, Florida, February 6, 1941; married July 22, 1914; had one son, Frederick A., born No¬ vember 12, 1914; married November 27, 1937, Ruth Caroline Anderson. 2. REMEMBER, born December 11, 1841; married Louisa Sheldon, September 29, 1 868. 12. THOMAS'1 LORD (Thomas", Joseph', Joseph1', Thomas2, Robert1), born January 17, 1780; married (intentions Septem¬ ber 21, 1800) DEZIER WARD of Orange. He was a tavern keeper in Athol; in 1811 swapped with Zachariah Field for his 636 GENEALOGIES farm in Northfield. He lived and died on Northfield Street. Thomas and Dezier Ward had at least four children and prob¬ ably others; Mrs. Asa Albee Ward was their granddaughter, and her son. Will Ward, is buried in Silver Lake Cemetery, Athol. Children: i. AARON7, born June 18, 1801. ii. NABBY, born July 9, 1 803; married (intentions March 21, 1817) STEPHEN WARD. iii. THOMAS CHANDLER, born March 1, 1805. iv. FRANKLIN, born March 1, 1808. 13. JOTHAM" LORD (Thomas5, Joseph4, Joseph', Thomas', Robert1), born June 4, 1783; married April 24, 1805, JULIA ALLEN of Orange, born June 23, 1784. Children: i. HIRAM7, born October 6, 1806; died of consumption; he was a clarinetist. 21. ii. ETHAN, born August 9, 1808. iii. JAMES T., born November 3, 1810, died January, 1811. iv. ABSALOM, born January 1, 1813; married (1) - CHENEY; married (2) - , of Holden, Mass.; had two children by second wife, one of whom was killed in Worcester and the other at Clinton Depot. Ira operated a livery stable in Phillipston, later removing to Jonesville, where he died. Child: 1. ALLENS. 22. vi. EMORY, born in New Salem, July 16, 1818. vii. JAMES ALLEN, born September - ; married December 7, 1 848, Rosella Young, daughter of- Reuben and Me- hitable (Marsh) Young who was born in Athol November 1, 1817; died in Templeton, July 20, 1868; he died February 9, 1871. One child: Rhoda Lord, born - ; married Charles Stoddard of Gardner, June 24, 1879. viii. JOTHAM, born August 23, 1 823; died in 1 892; married MARTHA A. LYMAN. Children: 1. ALICE SIMONETTP, born December 9, 1850. 2. WILLIAM ALLEN, born December 18, 1865; died April 11, 1935. 3. Daughter, born March 6, 1 868. 4. ALBERT LYMAN, born - ; died October 14, 1948. (All died without issue). 14. GARDINER" LORD, born April 3, 1788; died November 24, 1869; married (1) March 4, 1813, NANCY YOUNG, daughter of Samuel Young of Chestnut Hill, who died Jan¬ uary 14, 1814; married (2) March 2, 1815, SALLY SMITH, born September 10, 1789, a native of Truro, Mass., whose father had lately removed to Phillipston, then Gerry; she died November 16, 1871. Nathaniel Young, brother of Nancy (Young) Lord, was engaged to Sally Smith, but died before mar- 637 HISTORY OF ATHOL rying her; Sally (Smith) Lord named her first son Nathaniel Young, after her former fiance. Being one of a large family whose father's means were limited, Gardiner was obliged to earn his own living, working as a farm hand and hostler until his first marriage, in 1813; at that time he went to his wife's home to live, continuing on the farm until his death. Child by first wife: i. NANCY7, born January 14, 1814; died August 14, 1833; unmarried. Children by second wife: 23. ii. ABIGAIL, born November 6, 1816. iii. NATHANIEL YOUNG, born November 5, 1820; died April 30, 1876; married (1) February 11, 1847, SARAH MILLER of Phillipston, who died September 16, 1854; married (2) September 11, 1855 his cousin, ELVIRA R. (BRIGHAM) GOODNOW of Whitingham, Vermont; no children. In early life he assumed the care of his father's place, which he occupied until his death. He was one of the committee in charge of laying out Silver Lake Ceme¬ tery, and was one of the first to be buried there. iv. SARAH SMITH, born July 30, 1 822; died August 1 8, 1 906; unmarried. v. GARDINER, born February 26, 1824; died November 1, 1 899; married March 1 8, 1 868, MARY BARKER of Oswego, New York, born August 6, 1 834. In early life he learned the shoemaker's trade, and was for several years identified with the firm of F.G. & C.L. Lord & Co., boot manufacturers. He was Deputy Sheriff for 30 years, and was one of the Selectmen of Athol in 1864, 1889, and 1 890, and also served for several years as Overseer of the Poor. Child: 1. WILLIAM G.8, born September 7, 1871. 24. vi. FRANKLIN G., born October 4, 1 827. vii. CHARLES LEONARD, born December 26, 1 832; died May 14, 1892; married (1) September 23, 1860; LOTTIE A. WIGHT, born 1 840, died 1 872; married (2) April 1 8, 1876, ELDORA BURNETT of Holden, Mass., born in 1 844; died August 2, 1 926. He learned the shoemaker's trade, and was engaged with his brothers in the manufac¬ ture of boots. For a few years he carried on a crockery and furniture business on Exchange Street, finally selling out due to failing health. Children by first wife: 1. ARTHUR8, born in 1861; died in 1862. 2. MILTON KIRKE, born October 20, 1867; died September 21, 1889. 15. ABSALOM" LORD (Thomas’', Joseph1, Joseph3, Thomas2, Robert1), born June 30, 1790; died May 16, 1846; married (intentions March 15, 1816) CLARISSA HODGKINS of Pel¬ ham. They lived on South Athol Road near Sanger Brook. 638 GENEALOGIES Children: i. CHESTER7, bom November 2, 1817. ii. ABEL, bom May 31, 1819; died in 1880; married May 25, 1842, ADALINE FAY, born in 1811, daughter of Josiah Fay. Children: 1. ESTHER FATIMA", born November 3, 1844; mar¬ red George M. Amsden. Children (surname Amsden): a. Lillian, born Sept. 19, 1869; married Webster A. Waite, Nov. 15, 1912; died March 14, 1932. b. Warren E., born Nov. 20, 1871; died in N.Y. State, Jan. 1 929. c. Frank J., born Aug. 26, 1 874; married Mar¬ garet O. McClellan, October 21, 1903; died March 17, 1946. 2. LAURA L., born November 17, 1846; died May 28, 1 909; married - Corbin. iii. MARY, born January 29, 1821. iv. LUCY, born August 18, 1824; died May 23, 1910; mar¬ ried March 18, 1851, ASA NEWELL. Children (surname Newell): 1. CORA 0., born April 10, 1854; died May 6, 1917; married Charles F. Gourlay. Children (surname Gourlay): a. Chester N., born in 1881; died June 24, 1914. b. Frank P., born in 1882; died January 1, 1925. c. Nina J., born in 1886; died June 28, 1912. d. Hazel V., born August 24, 1891 in Man¬ chester, New Hampshire; married Arthur Livermore. v. HIRAM, born November 18, 1829; died January 18, 1830. vi. SARAH, born January 3, 1 832; died May 20, 1 884; mar¬ ried July 1, 1871, FENNO THORPE. vii. JOSEPH, born December 30, 1 833. 16. CYRRELL' LORD (William'1, William', Joseph1, Joseph", Thomas2, Robert1), born June 25, 1791; married March 19, 1833, BETSEY L. BRYANT. Children: 24-A. i. EMERSON", born August 31, 1833. 17. WILLIAM7 LORD (William", William', Joseph1, Joseph", Thomas2, Robert1), born April 22, 1808; married ADELINE WALES. Children: i. ADMIRAL9. ii. FERNALDO LAFAYETTE, born in Orange in 1834; died October 2, 1921; married ABBIE BILLINGS, who died May 25, 1882, aged 51. He enlisted as a private in the Civil War on August 27, 1 862 (residence Athol, painter, age 28); mustered in August 28, 1862; reenlisted January 1, 1 864; was wounded and taken prisoner March 8, 1 865, at South West Creek, North Carolina; was exchanged March 27, 1865, and mustered out June 15, 1865. 639 HISTORY OF ATHOL Children: 1. ABBIE SOPHIA, born 1856; died June 4, 1913. 2. FRANK F.°, born November 6, 1857; died August 10, 1921. 18. LEVI7 LORD (Preston0, William3, Joseph1, Joseph3, Thomas2, Robert1), born September 24, 1793; married NANCY CAMPBELL. Children: i. ELIZABETH J.8, born June 27, 1826; died November 15, 1 908; married December 27, 1 848, LEONARD WARD of Orange, who died December 17, 1877. Children (surname Ward): 1. WILLIAM LEONARD, born January 26, 1852; died September 4, 1918. 2. EDWARD LEVI, born September 18, 1868; died June 11, 1917; married MARY A. POPE, who died June 11, 1941. ii. JOHN HENRY, born October 17, 1835; died March 27, 1916; married HARRIET GODDARD, born 1842, died 1924, daughter of Mason Goddard. Child: 1. HARRIET GRACE9, born Nov. 11, 1871; died July 16, 1951; married (1) CHARLES W. GODDARD, born 1 869, died 1 906; manned (2) Dr. JOSEPH ARTHUR SMITH, July 17, 1945. Child (surname Goddard): a. ERROLL W., married Hazel Hale of Athol, daughter of Burton W. and Flora (Ames) Hale; died in 1953; no children. iii. JAMES W., born in 1 838; died in Brooklyn, New York, in 1 908; buried at Athol; no children. 19. LORENZO7 LORD (Asa", Thomas5, Joseph1, Joseph3, Thomas2, Robert1), born March 1, 1802; died November 12, 1850; married November 9, 1825, OLIVE MOORE, born Feb¬ ruary 6, 1799; died October 31, 1859. Children: LORENZO PHILANDER8, born March 27, 1827. He was one of the many young men who in 1 849 were lured by rumors of abounding wealth in the California gold fields. Shortly after his arrival there, he wrote home from Stock- ton, but was never heard from afterwards. ASA HUMPHREY, born February 24, 1829; lived in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. EMILY MARIA, born December 2, 1830; married - WHITCOMB; resided in Holbrook, Mass. Child (surname Whitcomb): 1. HENRY J., born December 2, 1857. 25. iv. JULIA ANN, born July 10, 1832. v. MARTIN VAN BUREN, born June 28, 1 837; died Febru¬ ary 2, 1876. vi. OLIVE MOORE, born January 1 6, 1 840; died September 3, 1882. ii. iii. 640 GENEALOGIES 20. LUTHER7 LORD (Joseph0, Thomas3, Joseph1, Joseph8, Thomas', Robert1), born December 9, 1788; died September 20, 1844; married SARAH THAYER, born in Douglas, Mass., June 24, 1801. Children: i. LOUENSA R.8 (or LAUSINDA R.), born July 26, 1826; died September 17, 1902; married EMORY WILLIAMS, who died November 30, 1 894, aged 72 years. ii. VASHNI, born August 20, 1828; died October 28, 1854; married BETSEY WHITE, who died February 5, 1904. iii. LUTHER, born November 14, 1830; died in Athol, Octo¬ ber 12, 1925. He was representative for a silk mill in New York. iv. JEROME J., born January 7, 1838, in Orange; died April 25, 1882; married September 2, 1867, in Greenfield, CAROLINE ELIZABETH KNAPP of Petersham, who died August 29, 1921. Child: 1 . PALMER JOSEPH9, born in Petersham December 4, 1882; married (1) in Pepperell, April 26, 1916, Marguerite LaPoer, who died August 29, 1 940; married (2) in Petersham, September 26, 1 942, Edith Mabel (Chism) Knowles; he is now Assistant Postmaster at Petersham. 21. ETHAN LORD (Jotham0, Thomas5, Joseph4, Joseph8,, Thomas", Robert1), born August 9, 1808; died April 1 1, 1889; married September 6, 1836, THANKFUL RICHARDSON of Swanzey, New Hampshire, born January 17, 1813; died October 27, 1891. In his twentieth year he left home and came to the Factory Village to begin life for himself. His loyalty and love for his parents became evident when his father, having lost a number of cattle by disease, was forced to mort¬ gage his little farm. This misfortune weighed heavily on Ethan, and at the end of his first year's service he carried home his entire earnings, one hundred dollars, and gave them to his father to pay off the mortgage. For more than 50 years Ethan Lord carried on a saw mill and grist mill on Freedom Street. At the time of his death in 1889 he owned some of the most desirable property in Athol. He was identified with the old First Church until the founding of the Second Unitarian Church, of which he became an earnest supporter. Children: i. LUCIEN8, born October 11, 1840; died Sept. 24, 1916; married Sept. 30, 1 868 Delia M. Pierce of Royalston who was born Sept. 29, 1844 and died March 6, 1915. Children: 1. EDWIN EVERETT9, born 1869; died 1874. 2. DELIA ELIZABETH, born Feb. 9, 1878; married October 8, 1901 Dr. Carleton E. Fletcher, a dentist in Baldwinsville and died July 20, 1903. No issue. 641 HISTORY OF ATHOL ii. SABRA JULIA, born February 6, 1843; died February 24, 1934; married September 15, 1871, Dr. VERNON O. TAYLOR; lived in Athol, Lowell, and Providence. Child (surname Taylor): 1. LUCIEN E., born June 24, 1872; married twice; no children; resides in Brookline, Mass.; a graduate of Brown University, and long in charge of the Catalog¬ ing Department of the Boston Public Library. iii. ETHAN, born July 11, 1849; died April 8, 1882; un¬ married. iv. MARY AURELIA, born December 1 0, 1 856; married JOHN L. EARLE, who was once a clerk in a dry goods store and later operator of a livery stable. Children (surname Earle): 1. ERNEST L., born August 4, 1886; married April 16, 1918, Bernice I. Brock; is employed at the Water- town Arsenal. Children: a. Elizabeth B., born May 20, 1920. b. Ernest L., Jr., born May 24, 1922. 2. RALPH LUKE, born August 19, 1888; died De¬ cember 22, 1938; married Mae Wilcox; had five children all of whom died without issue except Eleanor Lord Earle, who was born September 8, 1909. 26. v. WALLACE, born November 22, 1 857. 22. EMORY7 LORD (JotharrY’, Thomas', Joseph4, Joseph3, Thomas2, Robert1), born July 16, 1818; died November 17, 1884; married (1) - EDDY of Greenfield; married (2) Sep¬ tember 9, 1840, REBECCA L. SPEAR, born in New Salem; he was a pail-maker. Child by second wife: i. FREDERICK E.8, born - ; married December 21, 1882, EMMA F. STRATTON of Winchendon, born in New Ipswich, New Hampshire. Child: 1. MYRON FRANCIS", born March 21, 1888; married March 19, 1917, HAZEL HUDSON HARRIS, born February 1 0, 1 893. Children: a. ROBERT EMORY10, born January 1, 1918; invalided home from Army in World War II because of stomach ulcer. b. RICHARD BOYNTON, born August 28, 1919; married October 11, 1947, Elizabeth Jane Goodwin, born March 20, 1921. He served three years and two months with the Army Air Force, 29 months in Africa and Italy as PFC, serving as Armorer and later Supply Clerk with 15th Air Force; received nine Bat¬ tle Stars and the Presidential Citation. c. DONALD SPEAR, born June 16, 1923; had three years' service in Navy VI 2 at Harvard and in Army Air Force, 2nd Lt., B26 and B24 pilot; was awaiting flying orders on V J Day. 642 GENEALOGIES 23. ABIGAIL LORD (Gardiner5, Thomas5, Joseph4, Joseph8, Thomas', Robert5), born November 6, 1816; married December 4, 1836, JOHN WOOD, born July 1, 1814, youngest child of John and Zerviah (Woodbury) Wood of Royalston, who died August 28, 1863. He was engaged to Nancy Young Lord, daughter of Gardiner and Nancy (Young) Lord; she died at the age of 19, and he married her half sister, Abigail. He erected the gravestone for Nancy Young Lord. For many years John Wood was Justice of the Peace and was also Superintendent of the Congregational Sunday School, re¬ maining on the home farm until his death. All of his three sons served in the Civil War. Children (surname Wood): i. NANCY LORD, born July 18, 1838; married October 14, 1864, Lieut. BENJAMIN HAMMOND BROWN, who died October 14, 1910. Children (surname Brown): 1. Charles H., born February 3, 1865; died in Win- chendon, July 11, 1 950; married September 25, 1 888, Annie E. Rowe of Boston. In early life he was employed by his distant kinsman, J. W. Good- now of Jamaica Plain; later he was in business for about five years in Worcester, returning to Royal¬ ston, where he was for many years manager of the Raymond Farm on the west road to Fitzwilliam. He was chairman of the Selectmen of Royalston for 42 years, and held many other positions of trust in the town. In 1 949, when forced by ill health to re¬ linquish his responsibilities, he resigned fourteen positions of a public or semi-public nature in Royal¬ ston. Children: a. ALFRED H., born in Worcester in 1 890; mar¬ ried Edith M. Hager, born January 18, 1895. Children: 1. Eleanor M., born March 31, 1919; 2. Jeane B., born October 19, 1922; died October 5, 1 926; 3. Roger H., born March 1 1, 1935. b. IRVING F., born June 19, 1893; died Octo¬ ber 5, 1 946. c. ROSE MILDRED, born June 2, 1895; married' July 10, 1917, Omer F. Landon. Child (sur¬ name Landon): Doris. d. GERTRUDE E., born May 29, 1903; married June 28, 1 927, George L. Miller. Children: (surname Miller): 1. Janet; 2. Richard. e. EDWARD R., born September 4, 1 905; marriecT September 21, 1940, Gertrude E. Newton. Children: 1. Nancy, born February(27, 1944; 2. Richard A., born May 2, 1 949. 2. FRANK H., born November 21, 1866; married (1) March 6, 1895, FLORENCE FORBES RUGGLES of Fitchburg; married (2) - HEYWOOD; no issue; resided in Pasadena, California; died Nov. 11, 1953. 643 HISTORY OF ATHOL 3. WILLIAM L., born May 1, 1868; died in Chelsea, February 28, 1940; married June 4, 1894, SADIE E. SKELLEY of Chelsea; no children. 4. BENJAMIN E., born November 15, 1869; died in Winchendon June 13, 1941; married June 28, 1899, SUSAN JOSEPHINE GEDDES of Winchendon; no children; associated with firm of Demond & Brown Chair Co. of Winchendon. 5. ISABELLE E., born March 2, 1875; married August 17, 1898, Rev. AUGUSTUS M. RICE of Sturbridge; no children. 6. ARTHUR H., born March 9, 1877; died October 4, 1944; married June 14, 1905, FLORENCE MAY RITCHIE of Fitchburg. He was Treasurer of the Fitchburg Savings Bank. His widow remarried and resides in Fitchburg. Child: a. Robert Arthur, born June 23, 1912; died July 28, 1913. HENRY S., born June 30, 1 840; married January 26, 1 864, SARAH C. BEMISS. He enlisted in the Union Army, Co. I, 25th Mass. Regiment, remaining in service for a little over two years when he was discharged November 6, 1863, by order of the Secretary of War. His discharge was granted after the death of his father and brother in order that he might return to care for his blind mother, which he did until her death on March 1, 1905. He died in 1916. Children: 1. MABEL, born July 10, 1865; married August 20, 1900, CARL E. SAULT; died in 1936. Child (surname Sault): a. Elton W., born July 12, 1908; resides in Hilton Village, Virginia. 2. GEORGE S., born in Royalston, May 1 3, 1 869; mar¬ ried September 6, 1899, GRACE E. HUNKINS of Lawrence, Mass. After leaving Mt. Hermon Acad¬ emy, he went to work in the dry goods business as clerk for E Denny & Co. in Athol, and later for about two years with J. D. Holbrook in Athol; he then became associated with H. C. Gates under the company name of Wood, Gates & Co. in Orange. Following two years in business alone in Martinsville, Indiana, he went to Nashua, N. H., where for nearly five years he was with the Chamberlain Syndicate Store of Chamberlain, Patten Co., then going to Claremont, N. H. He died July 4, 1938. Child: a. ALBION ROYAL, born in Orange, Mass., July 31, 1900; married Winifred Wells of Providence, R. I. November 10, 1934; re¬ sides in North Haven, Conn. Children: 1 . George Everett, born in Boston, August 1 9, 1936; 2. Cynthia, born in Boston, October 3, 1938; 3. Jonathan Wells, born in North Haven, December 29, 1941; 4. Glena, born in North Haven, October 1, 1946. 644 GENEALOGIES iii. GEORGE HARRISON, born April 3, 1 842; died in January, 1908; married June 10, 1873, CALISTA STEBBINS MORSE, daughter of Russell and Mary Ann (Stebbins) Morse. He served in the Union Army, Co. E, 53rd Mass. Regiment, and after his return from the war he resided in Winchendon, where he operated a grain store. In the fall of 1884 he went to Tangerine, Florida, where he engaged in the raising of oranges and other fruits. Child: 1. WINIFRED MORSE, born May 1, 1884, in Win¬ chendon; married June 8, 1920, CLARENCE H. ESTEY; resides in Tangerine, Florida. Children (surname Estey): a. ERMA WINIFRED, born February 3, 1922; died December 26, 1 929. b. MARY AMELIA, born March 1 7, 1 926; mar¬ ried July 22, 1 944, George G. Kennedy, Jr. Children (twins), born August 10, 1946, George C. and Byron Estey. iv. JOHN MILTON, born May 7, 1844; died in New Orleans during the Civil War. He enlisted in the Union Army, Co. E, 53rd Massachusetts Regiment. 24. FRANKLIN G.7 LORD (Gardiner", Thomas", Joseph Joseph", Thomas", Robert1), born October 4, 1827; died Jan¬ uary 8, 1918; married July 4, 1851, ELIZA A. FLINT of Athol. Until the age of seventeen he worked on his father's farm, at¬ tending school for eight or nine weeks during the winter, then going to work bottoming boots. At the age of twenty-one he went to Natick, where he worked cutting shoes for George Walcott, who made brogans for the Southern trade, and for two years he had charge of the shop, Returning to Athol, he engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes, first with the late C. C. Bassett, and then with George W. Babbitt, later forming a partnership with his brothers, Gardiner and Charles L. Lord, for the manufacture of boots, continuing from 1863 to 1872. When this firm was dissolved, Mr. Lord engaged in the mercantile business with S. M. Osgood for two years, and later was for 15 years traveling salesman for O. Kendall & Co. From the autumn of 1887 he was in the retail boot and shoe business. For 13 years he was one of the engineers of the Fire Department, also serving on the School Committee. Children: i. GEORGE FRANK8, born December 13, 1855; died in Athol, February 11, 1 928; married in 1 884, HELEN B. CHENERY of Montague, born in 1857, died in 1942; no children. He was a merchant in Athol, and a hotel keeper in Athol, Palmer, and Winchendon. For the last 21 years of his life he was associated with his cousin, William G. Lord, in his real estate and insurance business in Athol. ii. FREDERICK WYATT, born September 22. 1860; died May 7, 1929; married December 2, 1885, ADDIE J. 645 HISTORY OF ATHOL STOWELL. He was graduated from Athol High School in 1 876; was a druggist in Athol for fifty years, was Repre¬ sentative in the Legislature, and for 1 7 years a member of the School Board, serving for 15 years as its chairman. Children; 27. 1. HAROLD STOWELL0, born January 15, 1888. 28. 2. GEORGE FRANK, born August 7, 1897. 24-A. EMERSON8 LORD (Cyrrell7, William6, William6, Joseph1, Joseph3, Thomas2, Robert1), born August 31, 1833; died September 20, 1921; married (1) LYDIA HALE, died August 22, 1876, aged 48 years, 4 months; married (2) ROXY - , who died June 29, 1886; married (3) SARAH FIELD COLE, who died - ; married (4) JENNY - •, who died - ; married (5) - . Children by first wife: i. NANCY9, born August 2, 1860; died April 3, 1920; mar¬ ried WILLIE F. WILLIS. Children (surname Willis): 1 . MAY, married Archie Blondin. Children (surname Blondin): a. Harold, married Dorothy Stull Nash; children: (1) Sandra Lee; (2) Jacqueline. b. Madeline, married Edward Fitzgerald; chil¬ dren (surname Fitzgerald): (1) Richard, died aged 7/i months. 2. GLADYS, married Theodore Bruso. Child (surname Bruso): a. Nancy, married Ernest Hedstrom, Jr.; child, (surname Hedstrom): Donna Lee. 3. - died at birth. ii. FRANK iii. ETTA, born in 1864; died in 1912; married CHESTER ANDREWS. Children (surname Andrews): 1. FRANK, died aged 1 1 years, 1 1 months, 1 1 days. 2. ALBERT, married Tillie Tangway. 3. PERLIE, married Esther French. 4. FLORENCE, married Fred Comins. Children (surname Comins): a. Leone, married Perry Smith; child (surname Smith): Ida, married Stephen Hammond and had a son, Stephen Douglas. b. Helen, married Douglas Weatherhead. c. Lawrence, married Bessie Smith; child, Alvin, married Arlyn Nelson; had one child. 5. ETHEL, married Elmer Cosby. Children (surname Cosby): a. Earl b. Alice c. Earnest d. Elmer iv. CHARLES H., born September 3, 1868; married ISABEL J. CUMMINGS. 646 GENEALOGIES Child: 1 . RALPH; unmarried, v. HATTIE, married GEORGE LYNDE. Children (surname Lynde): 1 . - died in infancy. 2. CHARLIE, married Flora Clifford. Children: a. Mildred Hattie, married (1) Alvin Scott; mar¬ ried (2) Keith Bennett; no children. b. Hazel Louise, married Ernest Crosby; children (surname Crosby): (1) Richard Earle, (2) Raymond Ernest, (3) Sharon Agnes, (4) Sylvia Lee. c. Beulah Emma, married (1) Francis Holland; (2) Harold J. Russell; Children (surname Russell): (1) Joan Clare, (2) James Edward, (3) John Michael. d. Earle Clifford, married (1) Norma Phoenix; (2) Marjorie Babino; children: (1) Charles Earle, (2) Susan Jane, (3) George Edward, (4) Earle. e. Myrtle Frances, married (1) Edward Anoris; child (surname Anoris): Nancy Claire; mar¬ ried (2) Allan Bradford; married (3) Frank L. Nephew; children (surname Nephew): Sandra Lee; Bryan Wayne. vi. ESTELLA MAY, born May 25, 1873; died January 23, 1936; married DANIEL GEORGE ORMSBEE. Children (surname Ormsbee): 1 . - died at birth. 2. GEORGE DANIEL, married Martina Mahoney. Children: a. Mary Constance b. Patricia c. Joan Marie d. Eileen Rose 3. LESLIE EMERSON, married Margaret O'Connell. Children: a. Shirley Elizabeth, married William J. Cahill; children (surname Cahill): (1) Elizabeth Ann, (2) Patricia Ellen, (3) Anne Marie. b. Eleanor May, married John P. Lane; children (surname Lane): (1) Leslie Anne, (2) Mary Martha. c. Kenneth Daniel d. Richard Henry 25. JULIA ANN8 LORD (Lorenzo7, Asa'1, Thomas5, Joseph4, Joseph3, Thomas', Robert1), born July 10, 1832; married WIL¬ LARD HAGER, an undertaker in Athol. Children (surname Hager): i. HATTIE MARIA, married March 12, 1886, FRANK W. REYNOLDS. Children (surname Reynolds): 1 . CARL E., born April 27, 1 887; died February 1 7, 1888. 647 HISTORY OF ATHOL 2. OLIVE MARIA, died September 27, 1946; married, June 20, 1906, EDWIN C. TEMPLE. Children (surname Temple): a. WAYNE ALBERT, born April 30, 1907; died August 2, 1911. b. MILDRED ELLEN, born January 1, 1909; married November 20, 1 925, Alfred D. Gallup. c. HATTIE ELIZABETH, born August 16, 1914; married November 30, 1929, Vernon Hamlet. d. EDWIN CARLETON, born March 25, 1914; married April 15, 1931, Vivian Flossie Evarts. e. ROSCOE REYNOLDS, born September 14, 1919; married August 2, 1947, Dorothy Upham. ii. GEORGE WILLARD, born in Spencer, - 1 863; married Mary V. Foskett, July 16, 1887. Child: 1 . HARRY G., resides in Concord, New Hampshire. 26. WALLACE" LORD (Ethan7, Jotham0, Thomas5, Joseph4, Joseph3, Thomas2, Robert1), born November 22, 1857; died January 12, 1932, married May 12, 1881, Adelaide I. French. After leaving High School he worked for a time with his brother Lucien as a clerk in Athol Post Office but it soon be¬ came apparent, especially after the death of his brother Ethan, Jr. that he was sorely needed by his father in his various activ¬ ities especially in the grist mill, thus he took up his life-long task as Athol's miller. Because of changing economic condi¬ tions his saw mill yard was no longer filled with logs to be sawed and year by year the volume of grist which came to him to be milled grew much less. He demolished the old saw mill building an industrial plant in its place but he continued to operate the grist mill, mostly using western imported corn until within a few years of his decease. His widow still survives apparently in excellent health. Children: i. RUTH L.u, born July 20, 1883; married April 28, 1913, RALPH M. NASON. Children (surname Nason): 1. EDWARD L., born August 13, 1915; married June 29, 1940, Shirley Post. Children: a. Laura Sue, born January 19, 1946; b. Martha Louise, born April 27, 1948. 2. ROBERT HEYWOOD, born October 3, 1917; mar¬ ried July 12, 1952, Mildred Taylor Dill; is employed by a drug concern in New Jersey. 3. MARJORY, born April 17, 1925; unmarried; a secretary. ii. LILLIAN, born October 1, 1885; married September 7, 1912, HERBERT M. JOHNSON, Treasurer of Rodney Hunt Machine Co. and President Orange Co-operative Bank. 648 GENEALOGIES Children (surname Johnson): 1. WALLACE LORD, born August 4, 1913; married, May 12, 1941, Juliet Mercier. Child: Nancy Joy, born February 12, 1949. 2. HERBERT M. JR., born November 18, 1916; mar¬ ried August 18, 1951, Arlene Field; is employed by the L. S. Starrett Co., Athol. 3. RICHARD FRENCH, born March 11, 1926; married May, 1 952, Marilyn I. Shaw. Child: Bruce Alan, born March 13, 1953. iii. MARION ISABEL, born November 11, 1891; married ROBERT HAZARD; divorced; no children; has a position with the Army in Washington, D. C. 27. HAROLD STOWELL0 LORD (Fred Wyatt\ Franklin G.', Gardiner'1, Thomas5, Joseph4, Joseph", Thomas", Robert1), born January 15. 1888; married at Hampton, New York, De¬ cember 29, 1917, MARY ELOISE DURFEE, born May 2, 1890. He was graduated from Athol High School in 1907; received the degree of B.S. from the Massachusetts Institute of Tech¬ nology in 1911; was a Captain in World War I and is now a Major in the U. S. Army Reserve; is executive engineer with Hollingsworth & Whitney, paper manufacturers. Mrs. Lord was graduated from Troy Conference Academy in 1909. Children: i. MARY SOUTHWORTH10, born March 29, 1919; married June 6, 1942, VERNON SELM LINDAHL. She was gradu¬ ated from Cushing Academy in 1 937; Wheelock College, 1941; B. S., Boston University, 1942. Children (surname Lindahl): 1. ANN FLINT, born July 25, 1943. 2. JOHN HOWARD, born May 24, 1945. 3. JUDITH LORD, born May 5, 1947. ii. ANN FLINT, born November 17, 1924; graduated from Lexington High School, Lexington, Mass., June 1 942; Simmons College, June 1 946; is now with the Connecticut Light and Power Company as editor of the employee publication. 28. GEORGE FRANK" LORD (Frank Wyatf, Franklin G.7, Gardiner0, Thomas5, Joseph1, Joseph 3, Thomas2, Robert1), born August 7, 1897; married August 2, 1926. KATRINA WAIN- WRIGHT BITTINGER of Plymouth,' born December 21, 1901. He was graduated from Athol High School in 1916; Dartmouth College, 1917; graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (B.S.) in 1921. During his school life he was in the U. S. service in World War I for a few months, and was later commissioned as a First Lieutenant in the U. S. Army Reserve. He is secretary and treasurer of Wheeler & Taylor, Inc., Great Barrington, Mass. Mrs. Lord was graduated from Plymouth High School in 1919 and from Simmons College (B.S.) in 1923. 649 HISTORY OF ATHOL Children (born in Hartford, Conn.): i. MELISSA10, born December 2, 1 927; married June 1 0, 1950, Dr. FREDERICK DARLINGTON McCANDLESS, born at Princeton, March 28, 1921. She was graduated from Searles High School, Great Barrington, Mass., in 1945; B.S., Mt. Holyoke College, 1949; Columbia Uni¬ versity, 1951, O.T.R. Dr. McCandless was graduated from Cornell University Medical School in 1 945; is instructor in psychiatry at Albany, New York, Medical College. Child (surname McCandless): 1. TRINA, born January, 1953. ii. FREDERICK WYATT, born June 15, 1930; graduated from Searles High School in 1947 and from Dartmouth College in 1951, cum laude. After attending Harvard Business School in 1951-2, he enlisted in the Navy serving some fifteen months attaining the rank of Ensign. He was discharged and re-entered the school where he is now completing his course. The Moore Family Many pioneers from England, Scotland, and Ireland bearing the name of Moore came to England. Among these was John Moore, the immigrant ancestor of many families in Mid¬ dlesex and Worcester Counties and western Massachusetts, who first bought land in Sudbury in 1642, and took the oath of fidelity on July 9, 1645. One of John Moore's descendants, in the sixth generation in America, was DANIEL MOORE, whose family settled in Athol. DANIEL MOORE, born in Warwick, Mass., March 10, 1791; married (1) April 20, 1818, TRANCENA WRIGHT, born in Stoddard, New Hampshire, June 12, 1795, died in Orange, Mass., January 19, 1831; married (2) April 4, 1 832, CZAR I NA GODDARD, born February 28, 1812, died in Tully, Mass., October 23, 1 900. Child (by first wife): i. CHANDLER WRIGHT", born May 11, 1819; married April 9, 1 844, SUSAN KEYES, born in Conway, Mass., June 9, 1819. He was born on the old Harvey Goddard place near Red Stock Farm in Orange, but moved early in boy¬ hood with his parents to the farm on West Hill known as the Sentinel Elm Farm. This farm was in the Moore family for over 125 years, and was long carried on by Chandler W. Moore's youngest son, Frank. When a youth, Chandler W. Moore went out to work, engaging at various times with Samuel Newhall in making brushes, with Henry Lee and Henry Fish in making shoes, and with A. D. Phillips at the Pequoig House. Here his liking for horses was given free scope through caring for the many stage coach horses passing through the town, and in 1 844, three years before the opening of the Ver¬ mont & Massachusetts railroad, he entered on his long career in the livery stable business. The business was started in a shed on the west side of what is now Cass Block, at the corner of Main and Exchange Streets, and in 650 GENEALOGIES 1 848 he purchased the barn then standing in the center of the junction of Main and Exchange Streets and moved it to its present location. Mr. Moore's "Jewell" is a distinct and color-relic of the days of horse-drawn vehicles. Accommodating thirty per¬ sons besides the driver, it had high sides, a rolling dash, side seats, and a step in the back. The runners were bright yellow and the body brown or red, with the name "Jewell" painted in gold letters. This vehicle was used for sleighing parties to North Orange, Petersham Levees, and surrounding towns. The house adjoining the stable was built for Chandler Wright Moore by the late Charles W. Woodward, and at that time these were the only buildings on the street. In 1 923 the house was razed to make room for the present Athol Co-operative Bank. When his sons Henry and Warren arrived at ages to assist in the business, they were continuously with their father. Henry became an express messenger between Athol and Springfield, while for 35 years Warren was in charge of a summer stable at Petersham. The father and sons were in business for 70 years, and during this long period had the reputation of operating one of the largest and best stables in western Massachusetts. After the death of his father in 1 900, Warren continued to operate the business for 1 5 years. At the opening of the old Vermont & Massachusetts Railroad in 1 847, Chandler Wright Moore became the first express agent in Athol, holding this position for 46 years. Children: 1 . - died young. 2. - died young. 3. - died young. 4. DANIEL:i, born in 1847; died in 1905, unmarried; was handicapped at an early age by scarlet fever, but was able to help about the stable; resided in his parents' home. 5. HENRY, born in 1850; died in 1935; married De¬ cember 31, 1880, EMMA J. KEYES of Charlemont, Mass., who died March 16, 1941, at her home 385 Exchange Street, Athol. This house was built by Henry Moore in 1911, and is now owned and oc¬ cupied by their only child, RUBY MAY, who married March 9, 1947, ALBERT EDISON DOWNING. 6. WARREN, born in 1855; died in 1915; married ADELIA C. KEYES of Charlemont, who died March 30, 1 930; no children. 7. FRANK, born in 1857; died in 1937; married SARAH SWAZEY, born in Bethlehem, N. H.; died at Sentinel Elm Farm in 1 896. Child: a. WILLIAM CHANDLER4, died at Sentinel Elm Farm, October 14, 1928; married ETHEL LILIA DYER. Child: 1. MIRIAM ADELE, married at Fitzwilliam, N. H., March 6, 1953, Donald McHaffie. 651 HISTORY OF ATHOL 8. ELLA, born in 1864; died July 15, 1941; married November 19, 1889, JEFFERSON M. DREW, who died September 13, 1922. Children (surname Drew): a. VERA, born July 24, 1 893. b. MARGERY, born November 11, 1895. Both daughters reside at Fleetwood Farm, Athol. The Morse Family Another family having a marked influence upon the life of Athol for over a century is the Morse family, who descended from Samuel Morse, who settled in Dedham in 1737. One of Samuel's descendants was William Morse, one of the early settlers in our town. 1. WILLIAM1 MORSE, born in 1738; died in Athol in 1830. He was one of the early settlers in the Bearsden Hills area, and is listed as a soldier in the Second French War. 2. 3. Child, born in Athol: PAUL2, bap. May 16, 1779; died January 25, 1841; mar¬ ried SALLY RICE of Ashby, and had eight children, two of whom died in infancy. In 1 807 he acquired of James Humphrey, administrator of the estate of Kimball Wood, an area of land at the corner of Main and Pleasant Streets, where he established a tan-yard. Before his death the active control of this business passed to his son, Laban. Children: 1. SUMNER RICE3, born December 8, 1808; married Nancy Stratton, April 25, 1 833. For some years he was a merchant in South Athol, at 1706 Main Street in Athol, and in Wendell. He was particularly active in the Methodist Church at South Athol and at the present Methodist Church in Athol. 2. LABAN 3. GEORGE, born October 21, 1813; married Mary Sophia Proctor, November 6, 1 835; was for some time engaged in the manufacture of boots at the building now numbered 1706 Main Street. 4. JOHN EDWIN, born May 12, 1817; married Eliza¬ beth Stratton and removed from Athol at an early age. 5. CUSHING B. 6. CHARLES W., born July 1 , 1 825; married Hannah Cheney; was employed for many years in the Chickering piano factory in Boston. 2. LABAN1 MORSE (Paul2, William1), born January 30, 1 8 1 2; died January 3 1 , 1890; married April 16, 1838, ESTHER FISH, born January 25, 1812, died September 5, 1896, daughter of Samuel Fish, a pioneer of that family in Athol. Before the death of Paul Morse in 1838, the active control of his tanyard business passed to his son, Laban, who carried 652 GENEALOGIES it on successfully until the disastrous flood of December 18, 1845, swept his mill away. Laban Morse then turned his at¬ tention to the manufacture of cribs and other articles of furniture in a small building in the rear of his home at 32 Pleasant Street. Subsequently he acquired the Amsden factory on Mechanic Street, where, with his sons Leander B. and Frank F. Morse, he carried on the business successfully through the remainder of his life. He was active in the Athol Fire Department, served as a member of the Board of Selectmen, and in 1855 was a member of the Legislature. One of his great public services was his journey to New Bern, North Carolina, during the Civil War to aid in every way possible the soldiers from Athol who were in that conflict. Children: 4. i. HENRY T.4, born January 1 1, 1840. 5. ii. LEANDER B., born March 29, 1842. iii. FRANK F., born November 2, 1848; died April 1, 1936; married MARIA L. SMITH, May 19, 1872; died without issue. 3. CUSHING B.3 MORSE (Paul3, William1), born September 16, 1820; married JULIA E. MUNSELL, November 25, 1847; resided at the corner of Main and Spring Streets. He was en¬ gaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes and in other activities. Children: i. MARY A.4, born January 13, 1852; married CHARLES SANDERSON, March 11, 1869; removed to Amherst; died without issue. ii. WALTER E., born December 24, 1 863; married FLINTINA PECKHAM August 1, 1886; resided in the homestead. Children: 1 . PAUL5, married Frances Sennenfelder; had a daugh¬ ter, Phyllis, who married Carlton F. Hayden, July 24, 1 939, and had one child, Coleen. 2. PHILLIP; married; no children. 3. CLARA, married Charles Bevis, now deceased; re¬ sides in California. Child (surname Bevis): Charlene. 4. RODNEY, died of diphtheria at the age of seven or eight years. 5. CUSHING, shot accidentally when a child. 4. HENRY T.‘ MORSE (Laban3, Paul2, William1), born Jan¬ uary 1 1, 1840; died in Boston April 13, 1930, buried in Athol; married February 5, 1876, HELEN M. SIBLEY, died July 5, 1946. He was a soldier in the Civil War. Child, born in Athol: 6. i. HENRY HOYT5, born June 2, 1877. 5. LEANDER B.1 MORSE (Laban3, Paul2, William1), born March 29, 1842; died in Athol, November 3, 1924; married November 22, 1868, MARTHA E. BROOKS, who died August 653 HISTORY OF ATHOL 12, 1937. He resided in Athol for his entire life and served as a soldier in the Civil War. He and his brothers, Henry T. and Frank F., were accomplished musicians. Child, born in Athol: 7. SUMNER L.G, born June 24, 1871. 6. HENRY HOYT MORSE (Henry T.\ Laban3, Paul2, Wil¬ liam1), born in Athol June 2, 1877; married BARBARA STEB- BINS PARKER. Children: i. PRISCILLA”, born July 21, 1910; married EDWARD BUEHL. Children (surname Buehl): 1. FREDERICK HENRY 2. CAROLYN ii. EDWARD BAKER, born November 28, 1911; married CLAIRE CREELMAN. Children: 1. JANE ISABEL 2. BARBARA CLAIRE 7. SUMNER L.5 MORSE (Leander B.4 Laban3, Paul2, Wil¬ liam1), born in Athol June 24, 1871; married September 11, 1895, ANNA M. AMSDEN of Athol, daughter of Washington H. Amsden. At the age of 15, after a year in High School, Sumner L. Morse went to work in Fay Bros.' general store, and in the following year became associated with his father in the furni¬ ture factory. Being endowed, like his ancestors, with a creative mind, he readily grasped the opportunity which this associa¬ tion afforded, some of his earliest patented inventions being the collapsible baby yard, the "Gem" swinging cradle, a fold¬ ing woven wire bottom crib, and an adjustable window venti¬ lator. Upon the death of his father, Sumner L. Morse became a partner with his uncle, Frank F. Morse, in the firm of L. Morse & Sons, and when, after a short time, the business was incorporated, he became its president. In 1936, after 50 years of business activity, he sold his interest to Robert E. Greenwood, then Mayor of Fitchburg. Retirment, however, was not to his liking, and after a few months of inactivity he established a furniture business in a large barn at the rear of his home, under the name of Sumner L. Morse Mfg. Co., where he is now making unique and novel furniture items. The Oliver Family Another family that came to America directly from the north of Ireland was the Oliver family. Four brothers came to Athol with their families, three of whom removed to other states. 654 GENEALOGIES 1. JOHN OLIVER, died in December, 181 1, at the age of 93; married Mary - . He settled on Lyons Hill . He was one of the four captains from Athol who led the town's military companies during the War of the Revolution. Although it is possible that many men from Athol took part in Shays' Rebel¬ lion, John Oliver is the only person from this town who is recorded as having participated in that incident. He died during the great snow storm of 1811 and his grave is marked in the old Pleasant Street Cemetery. Children: 2. i. AARON2, born September 15, 1748. ii. JEMIMA, born April 7, 1751; married May 27, 1773, JOSIAH FORD. Children (surname Ford): 1 . FULLER, bap. August 2, 1 775. 2. ZERVIA, bap. November 2, 1777. 3. MERCY, bap. November 11, 1779; died October 28, 1780. 4. HANNAH, bap. November 17, 1782. iii. MOSES, born August 9, 1753; married November 30, 1780, LOIS WISWELL HUMPHREY, daughter of Athol's first minister, who died July 1, 1792. Child: 1. CALVIN HUMPHREY3, born August 17, 1781; married March 27, 1805, Dolly Wood of Gardner; resided in Gardner and Stratton, Vermont. Children: a. Moses Warren3; a descendant, Joseph Keith Thornton, lives in Lamont, Pennsylvania. b. Sally. iv. RACHEL, born September 15, 1755; died June 28, 1766. v. HANNAH, born March 2, 1758; married September 12, 1785, GEORGE WEBB FELTON of Petersham. He built a house which is now occupied by the Petersham Country Club. Children (surname Felton): 1. AURELIA, born December 30, 1787. 2. GEORGE, born May 17, 1789; married in 1814, Lydia Baker of Gerry. 3. ELIZABETH, born March 19, 1791; married No¬ vember 10, 1812, Nathaniel Farrar of Scituate. 4. DAVID H., born December 12, 1792. 5. MOSES OLIVER, born March 14, 1794; married - of Philiipston; lived in Shutesbury. 6. ALEXANDER, born April 8, 1795. vi. TIRZAH, born March 29, 1760; married November 19,, 1778, AARON SMITH. Children (surname Smith): 1. ABIGAIL, born September 28, 1779. 2. ACHSAH, born September 2, 1781. 3. TIRZAH, born April 26, 1786. 4. NANCY, born April 12, 1788. 5. SALLY, born October 1 7, 1 790. 6. AARON, born December 24, 1 794. 7. LOIS, born April 5, 1797. 655 HISTORY OF ATHOL vii. MARY, born June 17, 1762; married August 2, 1781, OBADIAH JONES. viii. AMARA, born August 11, 1764 (listed in Athol Vital Records as "Anne Durham"); married in Orange, August 15, 1784, Hezekiah Goddard. ix. JAMES, born December 2, 1766 (listed in Athol Vital Records as "John"). x. RACHEL, born April 15, 1770; married October 10, 1790, BENJAMIN BRIDGES. xi. ELIZABETH, born May 25, 1 773; married (int.) February 18, 1796, PHINEUS ALDEN (or ALLEN) of Jamaica, Vermont. 2. AARON' OLIVER (John1), born September 15, 1748; married January 19, 1774, LUCY SMITH. He resided on Lyons Hill. He was one of the deacons elected at the organiza¬ tion of the First Baptist Church in Athol. Children: i. MERIBAH*, born in 1774; died at Sudbury, Vermont, in 1829; married January 3, 1793, ZEBINA SANDERS of Sudbury, Vermont, who died there March 20, 1813. 3. ii. GEORGE, born April 2, 1776. 4. iii. JAMES, born April 9, 1778. 3. GEORGE3 OLIVER (Aaron2, John1), born April 2, 1776; died January 1 1, 1842; married November 28, 1799, RHODA YOUNG, daughter of Lieutenant Samuel Young. He was known as Squire Oliver. In middle life he returned to Athol and resided until his death on the farm at 670 Brooks Road. Children: i. HEPZIBETH1, born January 7, 1801; died in Nashua, New Hampshire, January 7, 1883; unmarried. ii. CORNELL, born October 13, 1803; died December 26, 1804. iii. SAMUEL CORNWELL, born in Stratton, Vermont, June 6, 1806; died March 31, 1840. A manufacturer in Peter- boro, New Hampshire. 5. iv. GEORGE, born in Stratton, September 4, 1 808. 6. v. NATHANIEL YOUNG, born in Stratton, June 8, 1810. vi. CHARLES, born November 29, 1812; died July 21, 1826. vii. LOIS YOUNG, born July 17, 1815; died four days later. 4. JAMES3 (Aaron", John1), born April 9, 1778; died at 834 Pleasant Street. Athol, May 7, 1829; married September 13, 1801, HANNAH KENDALL, daughter of Jonathan Kendall of Chestnut Hill. He was prominent in the town for many years. In 1804 he built the large house on Vaughan Road lately owned by Mr. Staraitis. For several years he served as Select¬ man, Deputy Sheriff, and Captain of the State Militia, and for two years was Reperesentative in the Legislature. For some twenty years he was the town auctioneer. 656 GENEALOGIES Children: 7. i. JAMES1, born July 1, 1802. ii. AARON, born May 2, 1804; married SUSAN WHIT¬ COMB, December 5, 1830; died August 17, 1831. iii. CINDA, born November 1, 1806; died October 26, 1809. 8. iv. FRANKLIN, born March 24, 1810. v. LUCINDA, born November 9, 1813; died July 20, 1814. 9. vi. THOMAS, born August 29, 1815; married LOIS YOUNG, April 26, 1838. vii. NANCY, born August 16, 1817; died February 22, 1818. 5. GEORGE' OLIVER (George1, Aaron2, John1), born at Strat¬ ton, Vermont, September 4, 1808; married MARY LANE; lived at Swanzey, New Hampshire. i. GEORGE15, died at Syracuse, New York, September 4, 1 909; married — - . Child: 1 . FRANCIS E.°, resided at Detroit, Michigan. ii. FRANK, died young. 6. NATHANIEL YOUNG' OLIVER (George3, Aaron2, John1), born in Stratton, Vermont, June 8, 1810; died in Manchester, New Hampshire, December 4, 1892; married LYDIA NUT¬ TING, 1836. Children: i. SAMUEL HARRISON", born June 8, 1 838; died April 3, 1901; had a son FRED B.°, once a merchant in Athol (Longley & Oliver). He had a son, Claude. ii. LUCIUS CORNWELL, born August 16, 1840; died at Watonga, Oklahoma, in 1 909. iii. JULIA AMANDA, died unmarried, Manchester, N. H. iv. SARAH JANE, born February 21, 1844; married MOR¬ TIMER E. STOWE of Ashburnham. v. ELLEN FRANCES, married - BUCKMINSTER; resided at Vineland, New Jersey. 7. JAMES' OLIVER (James3, Aaron2, John1), born July 1, 1802; married MINERVA FAY. He was a blacksmith, operat¬ ing a shop on Pleasant Street for many years, and for a time a shop on Common Street. For about four years he plied his trade in Orange and for about the same period operated a store in South Athol, then Podunk. In later life he manufactured garden rakes and similar articles. Children: i. HARRIET K.", born November 7, 1828; died December 10, 1911; married December 5, 1850, SAMUEL BISHOP PITTS, who died June 27, 1902. Children (surname Pitts): 1. ELLA, born Auqust 8, 1852; died October 11, 1911; married February 11, 1873, WILLIAM E. DILLON, who died in 1 899. Child (surname Dillon): a. Florence, born June 24, 1 874; married April 30, 1891, George Sweezey. 2. GRACE H., born 1 866; long a merchant at the center; died Feb. 11, 1849.; unmarried. ii. ROSELLA A., born July 27, 1 830; died September 5, 1835. 657 HISTORY OF ATHOL iii. JANE T., born January 20, 1834; died December 1 O', 1911; married June 11, 1861, FOSTER J. BENJAMIN,, died March 1, 1901; no children. 9. iv. JAMES, born June 28, 1 836. v. ROSELLA A., born October 11, 1 839; died March 20, 1915; married Captain RANSOM WARD. They resided on St. Helena Island, off the coast of South Carolina. Both are buried in Beaufort National Cemetery. vi. GEORGE SIDNEY, born April 14, 1843; died September 15, 1843. vii. MINERVA, born August 1 8, 1 846; died in Watertown, Mass., July 6, 1 923; married May 28, 1 867, DELAVAN RICHARDSON, son of Luna B. Richardson of Athol. Child (surname Richardson): 1. KATE, born April 12, 1872; married CHARLES JEWELL BROWN of Brattleboro, Vermont. 8. FRANKLIN1 OLIVER (James'1, Aaron", John1), born March 24, 1810; married EMILY WOODWARD, daughter of Bartholomew Woodward. He lived and died on the farm off South Athol Road just north of Cummings Road. In connection with this farm he operated a saw mill for many years. Children: i. OZI5, born December 1, 1833; resided on the place known as the Brigham Tavern in the westerly part of Templeton. ii. SYLVESTER EATON, born March 20, 1835. iii. OTIS, born July 31, 1836; lived in the vicinity of South Athol; died many years ago without issue. iv. FRANKLIN, born September 13, 1838; died October 14, 1840. v. SALLY E., born February 27, 1841. vi. FRANKLIN, born May 3, 1 843; lived on Riverbend Street. Had one son, Edward R.", a practicing dentist in New York State, who died March 1 7, 1 944. vii. SOLON J., born June 21, 1845; married June 15, 1868, ANGELA M. PUTNAM; died November 8, 1928; resided at North Orange; was a Justice of the Peace. Children: 1. GEORGE S., born in Orange, September 8, 1870; married February 21, 1917, Margaret P. Carter; died February 1 8, 1 922; no children. 2. WALTON F, born in Orange, July 28, 1874; mar¬ ried February 13, 1902, Gertrude S. Dunbar; no children. 3. ARTHUR C., born in Orange, September 21, 1882; married June 17, 1913, Viola M. Hanson; no chil dren. 4. URBAN M., born in Orange, September 12, 1889; married June 30, 1914, Mary M. Perley. Children: a. Charles S., born April 17, 1917; married Jacqueline Jeffcoat, February 14, 1942; one child, Thiery, born June 1 0, 1 944. b. Irwin M., born February 9, 1 925; married Joan Smith, October 17, 1952. 658 GENEALOGIES c. Janet P., born August 4, 1 932; married Clifton Boutell, July 15, 1948; one child, Jeffry, born December 15, 1951. 9. THOMAS K.5 OLIVER (James1, James", Aaron2, John1), born August 29, 1815; married LOIS YOUNG, April 26, 1838. Children: 1. EDNA STONE, born April 1, 1839; married (1) November 28, 1 859, Ephraim Rice; married (2), July 23, 1881, Daniel Hager of New Salem; one child, died in infancy. 2. AARON, born August 17, 1841; died December 26, 1915; unmarried. He served in Co. B., 27th Regiment, Civil War. 3. NANCY JANE, born March 14, 1844; married May 14, 1865, George Wesley Moulton; died January 17, 1915; one child, died in infancy. 4. HANNAH KENDALL, born January 23, 1847; mar¬ ried December 15, 1864, Samuel R. Bissell. Children (surname Bissell): a. Edwin Merriam, born July 27, 1 865; died May 9, 1 944; married Sadie Ashmore. b. Rollo Orrin, born August 29, 1 867; died January 1 3, 1 926; unmarried. c. Gertie Belle, born November 7, 1 873; married November 24, 1 897, Fred R. Hanson of Athoi. She died October 1 , 1 950. No issue. 5. FRED YOUNG, born April 25, 1854; died May 30, 1930; married (1) Lucia C. Stone, December 18, 1877; married (2) Mary E. (Hanlon) Benton, August 31, 1895; married (3) Anastacia (Jones) Freeman, November 28, 1901; married (4) Mabel S. Butter- worth, December 20, 1 907. Children: a. James R., born September 1 8, 1 879. b. George Fred, born November 26, 1881. c. John D., born November 10, 1884. d. Goldie lone, born September 5, 1 888; mar¬ ried Laroy A. Ellinwood, September 8, 1917; died August 29, 1 950. e. Thaddeus S., born June 7, 1 890. f. Carl, born September 3, 1891. 6. WILLIE THOMAS, born September 5, 1 859; mar¬ ried October 8, 1 879; Colleen Bond Chamberlain. He died of Small Pox on April 30, 1902; no issue. 7. FANNY MARIA, born July 24, 1861; died July 27, 1867. vii. NANCY, born August 16, 1817; died February 22, 1818. 10. JAMES" OLIVER (James', James", Aaron2, John1), born June 28, 1836; married January 25, 1876, KATE JOHNSON. He was educated in the Athol schools, being one of the first students to attend Athol High School, where he subsequently served for a period as an assistant. He also taught in schools in North Orange and Phillipston. In 1850 he began the study 659 HISTORY OF ATHOL of medicine with Dr. J. P. Lynde. After completing his medical studies, he enlisted in the 21st Massachusetts Regiment as assistant surgeon, remaining in that capacity and as sergeant until the close of the Civil War. After the war he spent several years in South Carolina, returning to Athol about 1876, where he engaged in the practice of medicine until his old age. He served the town in many capacities, as a member of the School Committee and of the Board of Cemetery Commissioners, taking great interest in the enlargement and beautification of Highland Cemetery. Children: i. JAMES", born September 22, 1 880; died of a brain tumor, June 8, I 904; unmarried. 11. ii. ANNIE J. 11. ANNIE J.° OLIVER (James", James1, James", Aaron2, John1), born April 28, 1878; died May 13, 1931; married HARRY S. KENDRICK. On June 14, 1920, she was appointed organizing regent of Margery Morton Chapter, D. A. R. Children (surname Kendrick) born in Athol: i. KATHRYN SUSAN, born September 1, 1900; married (1) November 3, 1923, WILLIS D. GAGE who died in 1932; married (2) November 1 7, 1 936, ROSS A. ROGERS; re¬ sides in Tucson, Arizona. Child by first husband (surname Gage): 1. MARY ANNE, born December 24, 1924; married in 1945 VERNON CARROLL, who was blinded in World War II. Children (surname Carroll): a. Verne Anne, born 1 946. b. Robert, born 1948. Child by second husband (surname Rogers): 2. SARAH KATHRYN, born in 1936. ii. JAMES OLIVER, born August 27, 1901; married February 12, 1939. VINETTA ELLINWOOD, born in Athol Febru¬ ary 12, 1917; resides in Athol. Child: 1. JAMES OLIVER, born January 17, 1944. iii. KARL STANLEY, born November 28, 1902; married June 24, 1931, CAROLINE CROUCHER, born in Placentia, Newfoundland, July 21, 1903; resides in Athol. Children: 1. JAMES BIRKETT, born April 21, 1932. 2. PETER STANLEY, born January 24. 1939 3. MARY LOUISE, born June 27, 1943. iv. THOMAS, born April 5, 1909; married July 27. 1933, MARTHA BUTLER, born Burin, Newfoundland, May 26, 1912; he is (1953) Chairman of Athol Selectmen. Children: 1. WILLIAM THOMAS, born December 16, 1936. 2. HARRY ALLEN, born October 5, 1946. 3. ROBERT BRUCE, born December 6, 1943; died in February, 1945, at the age of 14 months. v. GEORGE SIDNEY, born August 27, 1951; lived 14 hours. 660 GENEALOGIES The Stockwell Family All of the members of the Stockwell family who were early settlers both here and in Royalston originated in Sutton, and are said to be descended from John Stockwell, who emigrated from Scotland in 1626. Descendants of this pioneer settled in Sutton about 1700, and it is from these that all of the local Stockwell pioneers descended. In 1771 three of this family name, Ephraim, James, and John, were taxed in Athol. These all settled in the area in the southerly part of the town near the Petersham line known to later generations as the ''Stockwell Neighborhood." Ephraim located north of Prospect Hill within the present limits of Phillipston, and was one of the four Captains who served from Athol in the Revolution. His son Josiah was born December 30, 1775. Sylvester Stockwell, son of Josiah and grandson of Ephraim, was an industrialist along Mill Brook west of Pleasant Street and later at the "White Mill" site on Canal Street. Later he conducted the only light teaming business in Athol. His home the last of his life was at 152 Walnut Street. He married on September 4. 1832, Polly Fay, daughter of Josiah and Molly Fay. Two sons were born to them — Sylvester J., born September 3. 1838 and Otis Jones, born September 26, 1844. Sylvester J. Stockwell was for many years Superintendent of the Lee Shoe factory. He resided at 168 Walnut Street in a house which with the one to the east and the one to the west of it were built for a match factory out of the mill built at the "ox bow" some four miles east of the village and was razed soon after the railroad was built. He had three daughters, Lucy A. who lived unmarried to an advanced age. Minnie J. now residing at the homestead, who was long a teacher in Athol Public Schools and Elizabeth who married Charles S. King a mail carrier in Athol Post Of¬ fice. Both are now deceased. Their son Donald K;ng who now lives in West Nyack, New York and has five children; Donna Jean, David, Bruce, Thea, and Arthur. Otis Jones Stockwell married Eliza A. Wheeler, daughter of Gardner Wheeler of Orange. She d:ed in 1926. Otis served some years as a clerk for Sereno E. Fay and later for Thorpe & Sloan. In 1869 he bought the property at 457-471 Main Street, where for many years both he and his wife conducted 66 T HISTORY OF ATHOL retail stores. Upon retiring from business he built a home on Brookside Road in Orange near the Athol line. Fred O. Stockwell, a son of Otis Jones Stockwell, lives at his grandfather's old home at 1 52 Walnut Street. Otis Jones Stockwell had two other sons, Harry L. and Chellis W., and two daughters, Maria and Ethel. Harry L. resided in Meriden, Conn... where he died in October, 1952, leaving a son Stuart. Chellis W., who lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has no children. Maria, who married Joseph H. Simpson, died without issue as did her sister Ethel. Another member of this family, who arrived in Athol some years later than the family pioneers, was Noah Stockwell, Jr., who married Polly Briggs, daughter of Rev. Isaac Briggs. One of Noah Stockwell's sons, Freeland, was a millwright, whose family long ago removed from Athol. Cyrus, another son, lived and died in the family area, and his only son George lived and died on the home place. George's dauqhter, Lena, married Fred S. French, and has a son, Edward S. French, a veteran of World War I and the proprietor of a garage in upper Main Street. Stillman Stockwell. son of Noah, Jr., married Jane Seaver of Templeton, the daughter of a Revolutionary soldier. In her old age Jane Seaver Stockwell was much honored as a Revo¬ lutionary Daughter. None of their descendants are living. Of the daughters of Noah Stockwell, Jr., Mary married Kimball Cole, and res’ded in Laconia, N. H. Sarah married Amos Drury of Wendell, and had one son, Henry Drury, who lived to an advanced age and died without leaving issue. The Sweetser Family 1. SAMUEL SWEETSER, son of Phillip and Sarah R. Sweetser. born in Leominster, Mass., October 16, 1764; mar¬ ried in 1792 Hannah Moore of Cambridge; died in Athol Jan¬ uary 27, 1842. Soon after the close of the Revolution, Samuel Sweetser operated a store in Warwick. After his marriage, in 1792, he came to Athol where he kept a general store as well as the leading tavern. In 1802 he sold the tavern to Thomas Lord and devoted his energies to grazing and cattle raising. He owned vast acres of land in Athol and surrounding towns, regularly sending sizable droves of beef cattle to the Brighton market. After the sale of his tavern, he built a substantial 662 GENEALOGIES mansion at the corner of Main and Kennebunk Streets. This, house was moved back some fifty years ago to 71 Kennebunk Street where it now stands. Samuel Sweetser gave the land for the Fourth Meeting House, now the Women's Club building, donating an acre of land to be used for the public worship of God forever. It is said that he became offended because of some action of the Building Committee., and that he never stepped inside the church door, although he lived within sight of it for some thirteen years. Children: i. MARY, born in 1794; died March 16, 1818; unmarried. ii. ABIGAIL; married JOEL WOOD of Westminster, December 9, 1818. iii. SAMUEL, born October 18, 1798; resided at Athol until his death, April 29, 1 847, serving the latter part of his life as deacon of the Evangelical Church. His daughter, Hannah A., married September 6, 1 847, William B. Washburn, later Governor of Massachusetts and United States Senator. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Washburn has recently left a substantial endowment to the Green¬ field Y. M. C. A. iv. LUKE, born October 28, 1 800; removed to Amherst, where he died in 1 882. v. ABEL, born July 23, 1 802; resided in Worcester, where he was a merchant, later removing to Springfield. vi. MIRANDA, born August 2, 1 804; married James Golds- bury of Warwick, where his family is still well known. vii. MARIA, born August 3, 1 806; married Frederick Jones; removed to Boston in 1 836. viii. JOSEPH ARTEMAS, born February 1 , 1 809; removed to Amherst in 1 835, and thence to New York City. ix. CAROLINE, born January 24, 1814; married Ebenezer L. Barnard and removed to Worcester. It is many years since the Sweetser family has been known in Athol, but for nearly fifty years its members were leaders in our community. The Wheeler Family A family which came into Athol at the very beginning of the industrial prosperity of Washington's administration was that of Zaccheus Wheeler, a Revolutionary soldier, who ac¬ quired land in the Pinedale area as has been fully covered in another place in this book. Given herewith is the genealogy of this family so far as it in any way applies to Athol. This data was furnished me by Professor Hoflan A. Farr of Yale Uni¬ versity, retired. 1. ZACCHEUS'’ WHEELER (Ebenezer1, Ebenezer3, John2, George1), born September 30. 1749; married SILENCE LE- 663 HISTORY OF ATHOL LAND, daughter of Thomas Leland and granddaughter of James Leland of Grafton.. Mass. She was born in Sutton in 1751 and died in Athol in 1829. They came to Athol in Feb¬ ruary, 1790, from Grafton and settled on the north bank of Tully Brook near where Pinedale is now situated. A log cabin was built for this new home, a large tract of land was purchased and a grist mill was erected upon the bank of the brook. The children had to go to school through the forest, finding their way by means of blazes on the tree trunks. Children: i. EMERALD0, born in 1773; married MARY LOMBARD. He was a merchant in New York. ii. ZACCHEUS, born in 1775; died in Sutton in 1778. iii. THOMAS S., born in 1776; married MARTHA RICE; died in New Orleans in 1 832. iv. ZACCHEUS, born in 1779, married BETSY DEXTER, December 5, 1 803; died in Orange in 1 859. v. SILENCE, born in 1781; married JESSE SNOW; died in Greenwich in 1 803. vi. MARGARET, born in 1784; died in Athol, August 11, 1803. vii. SINA, born in 1786; married NATHAN WHITNEY of Royalston May 16, 1802; removed to Pittsfield, Ohio. viii. RACHEL, born in 1788; married CLEMENT BRYANT, Athol, Nov. 27, 1806. ix. JONATHAN, born in 1792; married (1) MARY RAY¬ MOND; married (2) HANNAH (DAVIS) FISHER; married (3) ELIZABETH HASKINS, September 13, 1866; died in 1 872. Children: 1 . MARY, born May 1 7, 1 832; married Hollon Farr; died December 24, 1 925. Children (surname Farr): a. Stella J., born in 1 862. b. Hollon A., born in 1 872. c. Charles E., born in 1 875. x. MERCY, born in 1 795; died in 1 863. xi. ANNA, born in 1797; married SULLIVAN RAYMOND, Royalston, January 25, 1 825. 664 APPENDIX 1 In this story there are used but a few of the spellings of this Indian- named territory. All that have come to my knowledge are given below, with the source of information of most of them. By these appellations Athol was known in all "publick acts and records" until its incorporation in 1762. Mrs. Mary Rowlandson Mrs. Mary Rowlandson Mrs. Mary Rowlandson Marriage record of Jason Babcock in Westboro A Petersham Grant Grant to Capt. Field BACQUAUG BAQUAG BAYQUAGE PACKQUAGE *PAGOIG PAOQUAIGE PAQUAONGE PAQUAONGUE PAGUIOGE * PAGUOIG * PAQUANONGUE *PAQUAONGUA * PAQUAONGE *PAQUIG PAQUOAG PAQUOAIGUE *PAQUOIAG *PAQUOiG *PAQUOIT *PAYQUAGE PAYQUAOG PAYQUEAGE PAYQUOAG PAYUAYAGE * PAYUOIAG PEAQUOAIG PEAQUOEAG PEQUAGE PEQUEAGE PEQUIGE PEQUIOG PEQUIOGE * PEQUOAIG *PEQUOAG * PEQUOIG * PEQUOIAG * PEQUOIAGE PERQUAGE PEYQUAGE POQUAIG *POQUAlOGE POQUIOAG POQUIOG POQUIOGE ‘POQUOAG * POQUOIAG *POQUOIAGE *POQUOIG POQUOIGE PUQUAIG QUOPAIGE Westminster Chap., Lewis' History Worcester County Grant of General Court Grant to Capt. Field Grant to Capt. Field Whitney's History Hyde's History of Winchendon Topographical Map of Templeton Capt. Field, 1 720 Grant to Daniel Epps et al 12-3-34 Grant to Daniel Epps et al 12-3-34 Deed Samuel Kendall to Ezekiel Kendall Deed Samuel Kendall to Ezekiel Kendall Whitney's History Official record of House Lots Rev. James Humphrey Barber's Historical Collection Savage Deed Moses Morton to James Humphrey Dr. Joseph Lord Deed of Jason Babcock * Taken from the Provincial Laws 665 APPENDIX 2 First Proprietors In my designation of the house lot allotted to each individual, I have followed the numbering adopted by the original surveyors, the numbering being followed by the letter "E" indicating the lot to be on the East side of the river (Pleasant Street) or "W" indicating the West side of the river (North Orange Street). A second "E" or "W" indicates the lot to be on the east or west side of the street. Thus Daniel Adams 5 W.W. shows that he drew lot number 5 on the west side of North Orange Street. Adams, Daniel — 5 W.W. Residence Concord. One of the original pro¬ prietors of Templeton. January 17, 1739 he sold all his holdings here to Ebenezer Davis of Nichewaug for sixty three pounds. He probably never lived here. Title confirmed January 10, 1752. Bancroft, Benjamin — 14 W.W. He was subsequently a resident of Peter¬ sham but I do not know his earlier abode. His rights here were sold for unpaid taxes on June 5, 1760. Bowman, Francis — 13 E.W. He designates it as on "Knob Hill" in 1740. Residence Cambridge. Sold all his holdings here on June 26, 1740 to James Stratten of Townsend and adds that his house lot is "now under the improvement of said Stratten." He probably never lived here. Title confirmed January 10, 1752. Bowman, Joseph (called Capt. Bowman) — 4 W.W. Residence Lexington. He was one of the Committee appointed to lay out the township of Naragansett No. 2 (Westminster). Title confirmed to Samuel Kendall on February 22, 1757. (Province Laws XV, page 683). Brown, Joseph — 5 E.W. Residence Lexington. Sold all his holdings here on April 15, 1736 to his son, Daniel Brown. Title confirmed October, 1754. Chandler, Will iam — 6 E.W. Residence Woodstock. I do not know how his lands were disposed of. Title confirmed October, 1754. Child, John — 1 1 E.E. Residence Worcester. I do not know how his lands were disposed of. His title confirmed January 10, 1752. Crouch, Richard — 12 E.W. Residence Hadley, occupation "doctor." Sold his rights here on June 30, 1740 to Obediah Dickinson of Hatfield for fifty-five pounds. Title confirmed October, 1754. Cutting, John — 1 7 E.W. Probably of Waltham. He was one of the original grantees of Naragansett No. 2 (Westminster) as well as of Pequoig. His rights were apparently taken over by his brother (?) Ensign George Cutting and by the latter developed until his death in 1765. Danforth, George — 14 W.E. Residence Rochester. Sold his entire holdings here October 12, 1742 to Pollepus Hammond of Rhode Island for one hundred and sixteen pounds. He probably never lived here. Title con¬ firmed to Jason Babcock on February 22, 1757. (Province Laws XV, page 683). Dickinson, Joshua — 13 W.E. Residence Hatfield. He probably complied in part at least with the requirements of the original grant for his holdings 666 FIRST PROPRIETORS do not appear to have been forfeited. In 1754 he describes himself as of Hatfield in a deed to Martin Morton of his thirty acre lot No. 60 in Pequoig, situate "at a place called Horse Hill," which was evidently near the present North Orange School House. Title of Joshua Dickinson confirmed October, 1754. (Province Laws XV, page 280). Dickinson, Moses — 9 W.E. Residence Hatfield. His rights were evidently sufficiently worked so as not to be considered subject to forfeiture, but whether he occupied them himself I do not know. June 9, 1760 he sold his holdings here to John Parmenter of Framingham. More time given to comply with terms of grant on February 22, 1757. (Province Laws XV, page 683). Dulharty, Charles — 13 W.W. Sold his holdings to Ezra Sawyer. (Province Laws XV, page 683). (Lot 13 sold by John Grout — See John Grout). Epps, Daniel, Sr. — 9 E.E. Residence Salem. No trace — one of the original grantees of New Salem. Title of Samuel Epps confirmed October, 1756. (Province Laws XV, page 260). Epps, Daniel, Jr. — 1 1 E.W. Residence Salem. Probably never located here. June 14, 1743 he sold his entire rights to Moses Morton of Hatfield who sold the house lot to Rev. James Humphrey, August 23, 1750, two weeks after he accepted the call to the pastorate. Title confirmed October, 1754. Fay, James — 8 W.W. Residence Westborough. October 7, 1735 he sold his entire holdings to Samuel Robinson of Grafton. More time given to comply with terms of grant February 22, 1757. (Province Laws XV, page 683). Fay, Stephen — 16 W.E. Residence Westborough. May 20, 1736 he sold his rights to Amariah Lyon of Shrewsbury. Title confirmed October, 1754. Field, Zachariah — 18 E.W. Kesiaence Northfield. The original purchaser of these lands from the Indians. Although somewhat identified with our early history I do not think he ever lived here nor do I know how he disposed of his holdings here. His title confirmed by the General Court on January 10, 1752. Fiske, Daniel — 1 W.E. Residence Sturbridge, occupation "Schoolmaster." In 1753 his residence was Petersham. Title confirmed in October, 1754. (Province Laws XV, page 260). Sold to Robert Marble. (Province Laws XV, page 683). Fiske, Isaac — 5 E.E. Residence Framingham, occupation "weaver." April 8, 1737 he sold all his rights here to Robert Marble of Marlborough. Goddard, Ebenezer — 4 E.W. Residence 'Framingham. April 18, 1739 he sold all his rights here to Joseph Harrington of Weston for one hundred thirty-four pounds, ten shillings. Title confirmed January 10, 1752. Goddard, Edward — 13 E.E. Residence Shrewsbury. I think he occupied his lands for a time but eventually returned to Shrewsbury. He sold his house lot to Ebenezer Graves on April 11, 1751. Title confirmed October, 1754. Graves, Nathaniel — 12 E.E. Residence probably Hatfield. He joined the pioneers here probably early in 1736 and resided here until his death on August 31, 1796. His title confirmed on January 10, 1752. 667 HISTORY OF ATHOL 'Grout, John — 12 W.E. Residence Lunenburg. October 20, 1740 he sold this lot and also lot No. 13 "on the west side of the river" with the two additional lots adjoining to Benjamin Townsend. I assume that the lot No. 13 was the Charles Dulharty lot. Title confirmed February 22, 1757. Hagan, William (Higgins ?) — 8 E.E. February 3, 1734-5 (this was before the first settlement here) Hagan of Medway sold his entire share to Robert Young of Holliston, weaver. Title confirmed October, 1754. Hammond, Israel — 15 W.E. Residence Rochester, occupation "blacksmith." Probably never removed here. February 25, 1737 he sold his rights to Thomas Hunter of Lambstown (Hardwick). More time given to comply with terms of grant February 22, 1757. (Province Laws XV, page 683). Hapgood, Thomas — 1 6 E.W. Residence Shrewsbury. Probably never resided here. March 29, 1743 he sold his holdings here to Nathan Waite of Poquiog. Harrington, Joseph — 3 E.W. Residence Weston. He bought Ebenezer God¬ dard's right. His title confirmed January 10, 1752. Headley (or Headle), John — - 2 E.W. Residence Weston. Probably never improved his lands. December 12, 1742 he sold his holdings to Joseph Wheeler of Westborough. More time given to comply with terms of grant February 22, 1757. (Province Laws XV, page 683). Holden, James — 11 W.E. Residence Sutton. He died about 1742. On May 12, 1743 his widow, Susannah Holden, exrx., and Zacheus Hall, exr., conveyed to Benjamin Townsend of Lancaster Lot No. 1 1 W.E. "with all its appurtenances." This deed was given by authority of a power granted them by the Great and General Court of Massachusetts Bay authorizing them to convey certain lands for which said Holden had given his obligation but had died before the same were executed. Title confirmed January 10, 1752. Jones, James — 4 W.E. Residence Weston. He sold his house lot to John Smeed October 3, 1742. Title confirmed January 10, 1752. Kellogg, James — 7 W.E. Residence Hadley. April 4, 1738 he sold his holdings to Aaron Smith of Hatfield. Title confirmed January 10, 1752. Kendall, Samuel — 6 W.E. and 2 E.E. Residence Woburn. One of the original proprietors of the town, and one of a large family whose occu¬ pation had been carpenters and millers. In May, 1737 the Pequoig Proprietors entered into an agreement with Mr. Kendall "to grind ye grist for all ye proprietors." As an inducement he was granted title to fifty acres of land, practically comprising the present lower village of Athol. Kenney (McKenney ?), James — 9 W.W. On June 21, 1749 he, then of Windsor, Connecticut, sold his whole share to John Pebbles of Brimfield. Lee, Abner — 1 E.W. Residence Worcester. He evidently removed here for a time and assisted in the early development of the township. He was a surveyor and did much pioneer work in this region. Title confirmed January 10, 1752. In 1754 he was a resident here when he sold the James Jones lot No. 4 W.E. See also petition for protection December 1, 1754 signed by him. 668 FIRST PROPRIETORS Longley, John — 4 E.E. Residence Groton. February 8, 1748 he sold his house lot "with a dwelling house thereon" to Joseph Longley of Groton so it would appear that he improved at last a portion of his land and probably resided here for a time. Title of house and ten acre lot confirmed to Robert Marble and balance to his sons on February 22, 1757. (Province Laws XV, page 683). Lord, Joseph — 3 E.E. Residence Sunderland. Born in Charlestown on September 27, 1704, graduated from Harvard College in 1726. He was a pioneer here, remaining about twenty years and then, because of trouble with his associates, removed to Putney, Vermont, where he died December 7, 1788. His title to his lands confirmed January 10, 1752. Marble, Jonathan — 1 1 W.W. Probably of Marlboro. I find no evidence that he ever resided here. He was for a time at least a resident of Nichewaug (Petersham). Sold his holdings to Samuel Kendall. (Province Laws XV, page 683). Morton, Jonathan — 2 W.W. Residence Hatfield. Probably son of Richard (1), the immigrant, and if so an uncle of Lieut. Richard Morton. I do not know that he ever resided here, nor do I know how his holdings were disposed of. Title confirmed October, 1754. (Province Laws XV, page 280). Morton, Richard — 9 E.W. Residence Hatfield where he was born October 1, 1704. He was one of the five pioneers who came here in 1735 and here he continued to reside until his death January 1, 1772. His title confirmed January 10, 1752. Morton, Samuel — 1 W.W. Residence Hatfield, where he was born Septem¬ ber 8, 1709, a brother of Lieut. Richard Morton. He came here as a pioneer in 1735 and soon erected a home on the side hill overlooking the meadows at the spot now numbered 487 South Main Street. Here he died January 3, 1794, His title was confirmed January 10, 1752. Nutt, Abraham — 2 W.E. Residence unknown. He came here early in our history and appears to have remained here the rest of his days. In the 1790 census he is listed with a family of four then living on Lyons Hill. His title confirmed January 10, 1752. Oliver, William — 10 E.E. Title confirmed January 10, 1752. Page, Jonothan — 14 E.W. Residence Groton. I do not think he ever lived here. (Province Laws XV, page 683 — House lot to one Stratten; resi¬ due confirmed to his sons February 22, 1757). Smeed, John — 5 W.E. Born in Deerfield, Mass, in 1702. One of the 1735 pioneers and active here for some eleven years. He married Mary, daughter of Joseph Allis of Hatfield, Mass, on September 26, 1723. He was shot by Indians in October, 1746 while abroad on business and his family left the settlement. His title confirmed January 10, 1752. Smith, Ephraim — 3 W.W. Residence Sunderland where he was born on March 24, 1711. He was a pioneer here coming in 1735 and contin¬ uing his residence here until his death on October 1 1, 1793. He located at the Brickyard where his descendants continued to reside until about 1876. His title to his land was confirmed January 10, 1752. Smith, Joseph — 6 E.E. Residence Hatfield. Probably a relative of Ephraim and Aaron Smith. He sold his entire rights here to Moses Graves of 669 HISTORY OF ATHOL Hatfield on September 1, 1736. (Province Laws XV, page 683 says- house and ten acre lot to Nath'l Graves, balance to J. Murray). Tenney, Samuel — 8 W.E. Residence Littleton. This name does not apear in the early records, but I assume he must have had some connection with the settlement for upwards of twenty years as in 1758 he sold twenty-seven acres of his holdings on "Tenny Hill, so called" to Joseph Buckman. He sold his house lot to Joseph Burbun of Woburn on December 14, 1744, (Province Laws XV, page 683 says house lot to Aaron Smith, balance to J. Murray). Townsend, Benjamin — 10 W.E. Residence Lancaster. Bought James Holden's Lot No. 11 W.E. "with all its appurtenances" on May 12, 1743. Townsend evidently died not long after this for very early his lands are referred to as belonging to "Benjamin Townsend's Heirs." Twichell, Benoni — 10 E.W. Residence Oxford. He sold his house lot here July 16, 1740 to his son, Jeremiah Twichell. I have no record that Jeremiah ever lived in Pequoig but others of his family came very early in our history and stayed the remainder of their lives. Title confirmed October, 1754. Waite, Gad — 3 W.E. Residence Hadley or Hatfield. He came to Pequoig in 1736 or '37 and resided here a single man until his accidental death. Title confirmed October, 1754. Waite, Nathan — 15 E.W. Residence Hadley. He probably never resided here. His title was confirmed January 10, 1752. He sold his house lot to Jonathan Cowles of Hadley on November 12, 1753. Wallingford, Ezekiel — 10 W.W. Residence Lancaster. He came here about 1736 and remained until his death on August 17, 1746. His widow subsequently married Ebenezer Harris of Lancaster. His title was con¬ firmed January 10, 1752. Albee Smith's mother wrote that this farm was purchased by Capt. Ichabod Dexter. Wallis, John — 7 EE. Residence Townsend. October 24, 1738 one Seth Kibby sold to Robert Young of Medway the entire share of John Wallis (Wallace). Title confirmed October, 1754. Ward, Richard — 6 W.W. Residence Worcester. No trace. More time given to comply with terms of grant February 22, 1757. (Province Laws XV, page 683). Wheeler, Richard — 12 W.W. Residence Concord (?). On March 12, 1738 he, then of Worcester, sold his share to John Grout. Willard, Samuel — 7 E.W. Residence Lancaster. I have no proof that he ever came here. He sold his holdings to George Cutting of Worcester in 1750, and on this lot soon after, Cutting opened the first tavern in town. Title confirmed October, 1754. Wood, John — 1 E.E. Residence Littleton. He removed here before 1740 but returned to Stowe when Indian depredations became imminent. On August 10, 1742 he gave his full share to his son, Jeremiah Wood. Title confirmed January 1, 1752. May 14, 1788 Jeremiah Wood conveyed 67 acres to his son Kimball Wood, excepting one acre sold for a burying place. Kimball Wood and possibly his father, Jeremiah, lived at about 1729 Main Street which is within the present limits of the Gerry Shop. Kimball Wood died Sept. 22, 1805 and on Sept. 27, 670 FIRST PROPRIETORS 1806 his administrator, James Humphreys, conveyed 1 acre and 86 rods to Paul Morse. ■Wright, Nehemiah — 7 W.W. Residence Northfield. He sold his holdings here April 27, 1744 to Samuel Dexter of Paquiog. More time given to comply with terms of grant on February 22, 1757. (Province Laws XV, page 683). 671 APPENDIX 3 Athol Innholders Licensed by Worcester County Officials (R — Retailer license) 1743 — John Smead of Poquoig 1746 — Jason Babcock 1747 — Jason Babcock 1750 — Robert Marble 1 754 — George Cutting 1755 — George Cutting 1 756 — George Cutting — R. 1758 — George Cutting Richard Morton 1760 — Ichabod Dexter George Cutting Richard Morton 1761 — George Cutting Ichabod Dexter Richard Morton 1762 — George Cutting Ichabod Dexter 1763 — George Cutting Ichabod Dexter 1764 — George Cutting Ichabod Dexter 1765 — George Cutting, (died Dec. 29, 1765) Ichabod Dexter 1766 — Ichabod Dexter Abner Graves 1 767 — Abner Graves 1 768 — Abner Graves 1 769 — Abner Graves 1 770 — Abner Graves 1771 — Beriah Ward of Petersham June (he having purchased Abner Graves' Tavern) Note: Worcester County Deeds, book 63, page 549. David Goddard to Beriah Ward, House lots numbered 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 East West. The same that Goddard bought of Eleazer and Judith Graves at a public vendue on June last and is the farm George Cut¬ ting died, seized, and pos¬ sessed of, dated September 24, 1770. Eleazer Graves married Judith Cutting October 29, 1767. Died, October 23, 1 773. 1771— Beriah Ward Sept. Abner Graves Joseph Lawrence (?) R. 1 772 — Beriah Ward Abner Graves 1773 — Beriah Ward Abner Graves — R. David Fiske — S. Royalston 1 774 — No record 1775 — No record 1776 — No record 1777 — "Athol none" 1778 — Daniel Lamson — R. Alpheus Ward — Note: Al- pheus Ward married Molley Raymond, March 7, 1782. Here in 1790; ancestor of Freeborn R. Fay and William L. Ward. 1779 — Daniel Lamson Oliver Holman Moses Goddard — R. 1779 — Sherebiah Baker Alpheus Ward 1780 — Daniel Lamson Sherebiah Baker Bartholemew French Alpheus Ward Oliver Holman — R. Moses Goddard — R. Simeon Haven — R. 1781 — Oliver Holman Asa Smith John Haven Daniel Lamson Simeon Haven — R. Alpheus Ward Moses Goddard 1/82 — Asa Smith Alpheus Ward Abner Graves 1783— Alpheus Ward 672 LICENSED INNHOLDERS Asa Smith John Haven, Jr. Abner Graves 1784 — Asa Smith John Haven, Jr. Alpheus Ward Abner Graves Jesse Kendall Samuel Hasey — R. 1785 — Asa Smith Jesse Kendall 1 785 — Abner Graves Isaac Nichols Alpheus Ward Samuel Hasey — R. 1786 — Court prevented from sitting by an armed force. 1787 — Asa Smith March Abner Graves Jesse Kendall 1787 — Asa Smith Sept. Abner Graves Jesse Kendall Ebenezer Newell, Esq. Jonothan Kendall — R. Daniel Ellinwood 1 788 — Ebenezer Newell Jonothan Kendall — R. James Humphreys, Jr. — R. 1 789 — Ebenezer Newell James Humphreys, Jr. — R. Daniel Ellinwood — R. 1790 — James Humphreys, Jr. Abner Graves Ebenezer Newell 1791 — Ebenezer Newell James Humphreys, Jr. — R. William Crosby Joel Kendall — R. Jonothan Kendall 1792 — Note: The Court convened in September with Hiram Newhall, one of the fourteen Justices of the Peace pres¬ ent, adjourned to September 21, then to October 2, then to October 1 6, then to October 30, and then with¬ out having transacted prac¬ tically any business. 1793 — Samuel Sweetzer William Crosby James Humphrey — R. Ebenezer Newell 1794 — Samuel Sweetzer William Crosby James Humphrey — R. Ebenezer Newell 1795 — Samuel Sweetzer William Crosby James Humphrey — R. Abner Graves 1796— — Hezekiah Cheney William Crosby James Humphrey — R. Samuel Sweetzer Abner Graves 1797 — John Dodds (in Holden in 1790) Samuel Sweetzer William Crosby Abner Graves James Humphrey Israel Reed (in Littleton or Woburn in 1790) 1798 — Samuel Sweetzer Abner Graves William Crosby James Humphrey — R. 1799 — James Humphrey Samuel Sweetzer — no retailers Abner Graves 1800 — James Humphrey Samuel Sweetzer Abner Graves William Crosby Joseph Paine 1801 — James Humphrey Samuel Sweetzer Abner Graves Joseph Paine William Crosby 1802 — James Humphrey Samuel Sweetzer Abner Graves Joseph Paine Gad Pierce, Jr. 1803 — James Humphrey Samuel Sweetzer Abner Graves William Crosby Joseph Paine 1804 — James Humphrey — R, Samuel Sweetzer — R. Abner Graves William Crosby Joseph Paine Calvin Kendall — R. 673 HISTORY OF ATHOL Samuel Rice — R. Solomon Strong (June) — R. 1805 — James Humphrey Abner Graves William Crosby Thomas Lord, Jr. Calvin Kendall — R. Samuel Rice — R. Samuel Sweetzer — R. 1806 — James Humphrey Abner Graves William Crosby Thomas Lord, Jr. Calvin Kendall Samuel Rice Samuel Sweetzer John Adams 1807 — James Humphrey Abner Graves Thomas Lord, Jr. Abial Parmenter, Jr. Calvin Kendall Samuel Rice 1808 — Thomas Lord, Jr. James Humphrey Abner Graves Samuel Houghton — R. Samuel Sweetzer — R. 1809 — Thomas Lord, Jr. James Humphrey Abner Graves Jeremiah Morton — R. Samuel Sweetzer — R. 1 8 1 0 — Thomas Lord, J r. James Humphrey Jeremiah Morton Samuel Sweetzer — R. Theodore Jones — R. 181 1 — Theodore Jones — licensed as a retailer. No Innholders named. 1812 — James Humphrey March Zachariah Field 1812 — James Humphrey Sept. Zachariah Field Jonothan Orcutt Theodore Jones — R. James Oliver — R. 1813 — James Humphrey Zachariah Field Asa Spooner Theodore Jones — R. James Oliver — R. 1814 — James Humphrey Zachariah Field Jonothan Orcutt Theodore Jones — R. James Oliver — R. Aaron Brigham — R. 1 8 1 5 — James Humphrey Zachariah Field Jonothan Orcutt Theodore Jones — R. Aaron Brigham — R. 1 8 1 6 — Nathan Nixon (Nickerson?) Henry Lee James Humphrey Zachariah Field 1 8 1 7 — James Humphrey Zachariah Field Jonothan Orcutt Nathan Nickerson Henry Lee 1 8 1 8 — James Humphrey Zachariah Field Jonothan Orcutt Nathan Nickerson Henry Lee Theodore Jones — R. 1 8 1 9 — James Humphrey Zachariah Field Jonothan Orcutt Theodore Jones — R. Nathan Nickerson— R. Henry Lee — R. 1820 — James Humphrey Zachariah Field Jonothan Orcutt Theodore Jones — R. Nathan Nickerson — R. Henry Lee — R. 1821 — James Humphrey Zachariah Field Jonothan Orcutt Theodore Jones Nathan Nickerson — I. Henry Lee — R. Nathan Nickerson — R. 1 822 — James Humphrey Zachariah Field Jonothan Orcutt Theodore Jones Nathan Nickerson — I. Henry Lee — R. Nathan Nickerson — R. 1823 — -James Humphrey Zachariah Field Theodore Jones 674 LICENSED INNHOLDERS Nathan Nickerson — I. Henry Lee — R. Nathan Nickerson — R. (Jonothan Orcutt was omit¬ ted but licensed in March, 1824. 1824 — James Humphrey Zachariah Field Jonothan Orcutt Theodore Jones Nathan Nickerson Henry Lee — R. Nathan Nickerson — R. 1825 — James Humphrey Zachariah Field Jonothan Orcutt Theodore Jones Nathan Nickerson Ira Ellis — I. Amos Cheney — R. Nathan Nickerson — R. Ira Ellis— R. 1 826 — James Humphrey Jonothan Orcutt Nathan Nickerson Justus Preston Amos Cheney — R. Nathan Nickerson — R. Theodore Jones — R. James Humphrey — R. 1827 — James Humphries Jonothan Orcutt Nathan Nickerson Justus Preston Amos Cheney — R. Nathan Nickerson — R. Theodore Jones — R. James Humphries — R. 1 828 — Jonothan Orcutt Joseph Young Amos Cheney — R. Nathan Nickerson — R. Theodore Jones — R. James Humphries — R. 1 829 — Jonothan Orcutt Joseph Young Amos Cheney — R. Nathan Nickerson — R. Theodore Jones — R. James Humphries — R. 1830 — Joseph Young Samuel Newhall Nathan Nickerson — R. Theodore Jones — R. James Humphries, Jr. — R. Charles Humphries — R. 1831 — Joseph Young Sept. Theodore Jones — R. (The Selectmen had refused' to approbate them but the County Commissioners granted the licenses. 1831 — Samuel Newhall Nov. Nathan Nickerson, Jr. — R. Again the Selectmen had re¬ fused to approve, but the County Commissioners granted the licenses. Note: The Selectmen of Athol for 1831 were James Young, Eliphalet Thorpe, and Josiah Fay. 1832 — Sumner R. Morse — R. June Sept. Joseph Young Samuel Newhall Theodore Jones — R. Nathan Nickerson, Jr. — R. 1833 — Henry Fish March Chester Pomroy Nathan Nickerson, Jr. Sumner R. Morse Theodore Jones "does not take" 1 834 — Chester Pomroy March Sewell Thompson Nathan Nickerson, Jr. — R. Sumner R. Morse — R. 1835 — Chester Pomroy March Sewell Thompson Nathan Nickerson, Jr. — R. John R. Whipple — R. Abraham Oakes — R. 1836 — Sewell Thompson March Abner Young — R. John R. Whipple — R. Nathan Nickerson, Jr. — R. 1 837 — Joseph Young March Henry Fish Nathan Nickerson, Jr. — R. Theodore Jones — R. 1838 — Henry Fish March Thomas C. Lord Theodore Jones — R. 675 HISTORY OF ATHOL Nathan Nickerson, Jr. — R. 1 839 — Thomas C. Lord March Henry Fish June William H. Williams (as a practicing physician and apothecary) 1840 — John Allen Henry Fish Samuel S. Brown — R. 1 841 — John Allen March Henry Fish William H. Williams — R. June Samuel S. Brown — R. 1842 — John Allen Alonzo D. Phillips 1843 — Dr. George Hoyt — R. Alonzo D. Phillips John Brooks 1 844 — No record 1 845 — No record 1 846 — John S. Lewis — R. “at his shop near the east side of the Common." 1 847 — John Brooks Alonzo D. Phillips Hiram Barton 1850 — John Brooks March Charles Holland Stillman Simonds — R. June Milton Baker “Alvin Holton (Houghton) refused" 1851 — John Brooks March Sylvanus E. Twichell “without authority to sell alcoholic liquors" 1852 — Sylvanus Twichell Loring Jacobs 1 853 — Sylvanus Twichell Loring Jacobs 1 854 — Sylvanus Twichell 1 855 — Sylvanus Twichell 1 856 — Slyvanus Twichell 1857 — Sylvanus E. Twichell 1858 — S. E. Twichell Jesse Brown 1859 — S. E. Twichell Jesse Brown 1860— S. E. Twichell Jesse Brown 1861— S. E. Twichell Jesse Brown 1862— S. E. Twichell Jesse Brown 1848 — (A. D. Phillips “not granted") John Brooks Hiram Barton Stillman Simonds — R. “in brick building on west side of highway near center of said town" 1849 — "A. D. Phillips not granted it appearing to the Court that the public necessity did not require it" 1863 — S. E. Twichell Jesse Brown 1 864 — John D. Smith and Sullivan Moore George D. Utley Licenses including 1864 were granted by the County Officials but subsequent to that date have been granted by the town and there are no records available. 676 APPENDIX 4 Tax List- —1771 Stored away in the archives at the Statj House in Boston the author long ago discovered a town valuation of Athol for the year 1771. Space does not permit duplicating that list here in full but we give below the names of the local tax payers for that year with annotations as to their residence within the then limits of our township so far as the author feels reasonably sure of the location. Jotham Death William Lord — near Gale Brooks School there were two of that name in town, "Bill Blackhead" and Bill Whitehead". The form¬ er lived as noted while the later lived on a road now but little used east of Little Tully Mt. Benjamin Woods Ephraim Cady Ephraim Cady, Jr. David Goddard John Foord Josiah Foord Joseph Lawrance Benjamin Warren Uriah Rice Aaron Smith — Brooks Road Asa Smith — Moore Hill Roa Samuel Dexter — Ruggles Farm Now Orange Icabod Dexter — Moore Hill Road Benjamin Dexter — Now Orange Joseph Dexter — Now Orange Nathaniel Babbit — Now Orange Rufus Taylor — Now Orange Thomas Lord — Brickyard Road Caleb Smith — Brickyard Road Edward Huikkens William Stratton — 1380 South Main Street Samuel Morton — 487 South Main Abner Morton — near South Main Joshua Morton — near South Main Samuel Morton, Jr. — near 487 South Main Jesse Kendall — near Pequoig House Eliphlet Moor — Crescent Street area John Haven — Royalston Road These eleven all in present Orange territory Moses Hill — Townsend Road Simon Haven — Royalston Road Jonathan Kendall — Royalston Road John Drury — Royalston Road James Goddard- — Royalston Road David Goddard, 2nd — Royalston Road Edward Goddard — Royalston Road John Hill George Kilton — corner Chestnut West and Fairview Samuel Young — Royalston Road David Fisk Jonathan Fisk Silas Marble — 108 Templeton Road Josiah Goddard — Royalston Road Noah Morton — South Athol Road cor. Partridgeville Road John Fairbank — Partridgeville Road Jonathan Fairbank — Partridgeville Road Joseph Bucknum — Bearsden Noah Bigelow Thomas Fairbank — White Pond Road Amos Bucknum — Bearsden William Morse — near Center John Stone Kimball Wood — near corner Main and Pleasant Jonathan Wood — near corner Main and Pleasant Jonathan Kilton — Chestnut, near Sanders James Lucas Robert Marble Moses Marble Abner Graves — Pleasant Street Benjamin Morton John Robinson Beriah Ward — about 751 Pleasant James Lombard — 1283 Silver Lake Abijah Tainter Jonathan Woodward — Bearsden Seth Kendall — Chestnut Street 677 HISTORY OF ATHOL Solomon Moor James Stratton, Jr. Robert Young — about 648 Pleasant William Young — Probably Pleasant Richard Morton — 1247 Pleasant Jeremiah Morton — So. Athol Rd. William Oliver, Jr. Nathaniel Graves Nathaniel Graves, Jr. Peleg Stratton Eleazer Graves Elijah Graves Samuel Humfrey James Stratton William Oliver — Lyons Hill Robert Oliver — Lyons Hills Ebenezer Hartshorn— 1 928 Pleasant Joseph Crosbee — Lyons Hill William Bigelow — New Sherborn Road Aaron Marble Martin Morton Stephen Stratton — -Stratton Road Solomon Fay — Conant and Riceville Roads Joseph Fay — Chase Road Seth Twichell — Lyons Hill Enos Twichell — Lyons Hill Timothy Kendall John Oliver — Lyons Hill James Oliver — Lyons Hill Abraham Nutt — Lyons Hill Aaron Oliver — Lyons Hill Ephraim Stockwell — now Phillipston John Stockwell — Petersham Road John Ballard — near 559 Petersham Road Freeborn Raymond — near 559 Petersham Road Moses Ball — Templeton Road Joseph Bucknum, Jr. — off Bearsden Road John Sanders Benjamin Sanders Edward T rotter William Kimpland Israel Sprague — now Phillipston Joseph Morse — now Phillipston Benjamin Preson — now Phillipston Joseph Comming — now Phillipston Simon Goddard — now Phillipston Jonathan Train — now Phillipston William Lewis- — Bearsden Road (?) Luke Rice Ebenezer Dunton — now Phillipston Ezra Hudson — now Phillipston Jotham Bigelow — now Phillipston William Bates — now Phillipston Ebenezer Knights — now Phillipston Edward Raymond James Stockwell Moses Parker David Train — now Phillipston Daniel Lamson Abner Smith Ebenezer Bullard John Coleman Athol Census — 1790 Brooks, Johana Bigelow, William — New Sherborn Ball, Moses — Templeton Road Blanchard, Moses Burbank, Thomas Blanchord, Benjamin — South Royalston Ball, Moses — Templeton Road Ballard, John — 559 Petersham Road Ballard, Joshua — 559 Petersham Road Bridge, Elizabeth Crosby, William — 834 Pleasant St. Capron, Eaphraim Clark, Benjamin Church, Paul — Chestnut Hill Avenue Crosby, Joseph — Lyons Hill Crosby, Stephen Dike, John — Dike Road Drury, Experiance — East Hill Drury, John — Chestnut Hill Diah, Shebney — Dyer Road Elenwood, Daniel — Pleasant Street Easterbrook, Joseph — 2094 Main St. Firbanks. John — Partridgeville Fay, Joseph — Chase Rd. Graves, Apner — -108 Templeton Road Foster, John — Lyons Hill Felton, Daniel Furbanks, John — Partridgeville Area Fisk, Jonathan Fay, Joseph — South Athol Section Flagg, John Fay, Solomon — Riceville Road Fairbanks, Thomas — Partridgeville Section Fairbanks, Benjamin — Partridgeville Section Graves, Eliazer Graves, Eliazer, Junior 678 TAX LIST — 1771 Goddard, James — Chestnut Hill Goddard, Edward — Chestnut Hill Goddard, Edward, Jr. — Chestnut Hill Graves, Abner — 1 08 Templeton Road Goodale, Solomon — Chestnut Hill Goodale, Jacob Goddard, Ebenezer Goddard, Josiah — Chestnut Hill Graves, Nathaniel Hersey, Samuel Holman, Edward Holman, John Haven, John — Chestnut Hill Hill, Moses — Townsend Road Hale, Samuel — South Royalston Hadley, Josiah Hadley, John Humphry, John — Pleasant Street Humphry, Royal — Pleasant Street Humphry, James — 989 Pleasant Street Jones, Amos — South Royalston Jacobs, John — Chestnut Hill Jacobs, Whitman — Chestnut Hill Kendal, Deborah — 989 Chestnut St. Knight, Ebenezer Kendal, Jesse — Freedom Street Knight, Isaac Kelpton, George — Fairview Kelpton, Jonathan — Fairview Kendal, Joel — Freedom St. Kalton, Jonathan — Chase Road Kendal, Jonathan — Chestnut Hill Kelton, James — Chase Road Lewis, William, Jr. — Bearsden Road Lord, Thomas — Brickyard Road Lewis, William — Bearsden Road Lewis, Thomas — South Royalston Lumbard, James — 1 283 Silver Lake Lucas, James Lewis, William — Bearsden Road Morse, William Mendall, Paul — off Bearsden Road Morton, Joshua — 489 South Main Street Morton, Reuben Morton, Noah — South Athol Road Morton, Thomas Moor, Eliphealet — Townsend Road Moor, Josiah — Townsend Road Morton, Samuel — 489 South Main Street Morton, Ellis Marble, Moses Newall, Ebenezer — South Royalston Newall, Hiram — Mt. Pleasant Nutt, Abraham — Lyons Hill Oliver, Hannah — Lyons Hill Oliver, John — Lyons Hill Oliver, Anna — Lyons Hill Oliver, Moses — Lyons Hill Oliver, Aaron — Lyons Hill Peirce, Joseph — Templeton Road Pain, Joseph — Old Keene Road Pain, Barnebas Patterson, Andrew Richardson, Amos Richardson, Isaiah Richardson, Luke Rich, David — So. Royalston Raymond, Freeborn Raymond, Freeborn, Jr. Raymond, Edward — Chestnut Hill Stratton, Ebenezer Stratton, Peleg Stratton, Stephen — Stratton Road Stratton, James — Corner Brickyard Road Stratton, Thomas Stratton, Elias Smith, Caleb — Brickyard Road Sharwin, Sylvanus — South Royalston Smith, Asa — Moore Hill Road Smith, Aaron — Brooks Road Smith, Aaron, Jr. — Brooks Road Statton, William — South Main Street Stockwell, John — 2123 Petersham Road Statton, Jonathan — New Sherborn Road Stevens, Jacob Starron, Alpheses Twichell, Jeremiah Twichell, Josiah Twichell, Seth — Lyons Hill Twichell, Abner Twichell, Seth, Jr. — Gulf Road Townsend, Elizabeth Talbert, George — Gulf Road Taylor, Submit Twichell, Enoi Warren, Benjamin Wesson, William Wait Josiah — South Royalston Wilder, Eaphraim Walker, Moses Wood, Kimball — Main and Pleasant Streets Ward, Alpheus — 313 Pleasant Street Young, William — Bearsden Road Young, Samuel — Chestnut Hill Young, David Young, Robert — 738 Pleasant Street 679 APPENDIX 5 School Committee Members of Athol At our second town meeting on March 7, 1753, Nathan Goddard, Jesse Kendall, and John Oliver were appointed a committee to hire a school¬ master. In succeeding years a committee of various numbers were appointed for that purpose, the number of members of which varied with the years, but beyond this function of hiring teachers the general conduct of the schools seems to have been largely controlled by the officials of the various school districts. In 1829 the town began the practice of electing three members who constituted the School Board which number was increased to six in 1893. I give below the names of those who have served our town on this Board of Education: 1829 — Rev. Joseph Estabrook, Horatio Willard, Abel Sweetzer 1830 — Rev. Joseph Estabrook, Dea. Elijah Ballard, Emerson Bay 1831 — Rev. Josiah Moore, Dr. William H. Williams, Capt. Adin Holbrook 1832 — Rev. Josiah Moore, Rev. B. B. Beckwith, Dr. William H. Williams 1833 — Dr. George Hoyt, Rev. B. B. Beckwith, Rev. Lysander Fay 1834 — Rev. Linus H. Shaw, Rev. B. B. Beckwith, Rev. Ambrose Day 1835 — Rev. William Warner, Dr. George Hoyt, Col. Samuel Sweetzer 1836 — Rev. Linus H. Shaw, Rev. William Warner, Rev. Joseph Glazier 1837 — Dr. George Hoyt, Col. Samuel Sweetzer, Rev. William Warner 1838 — Rev. Lysander Fay, Rev. John D. Smith, Benjamin Estabrook 1839 — No record 1 840— Rev. Richard M. Chipman, Rev. Stephen A. Barnard, Rev. Asaph Merriam 1841 — Rev. Richard M. Chipman, Rev. Asaph Merriam, Dr. George Hoyt 1842 — Benjamin Estabrook, Charles Field, Samuel Sweetzer 1843 — Rev. Richard M. Chipman, Rev. Crawford Nightingale, Rev. Asaph Merriam 1844 — Rev. Richard M. Chipman, Rev. Crawford Nightingale, Rev. Asaph Merriam 1845 — Dr. George Hoyt, Benjamin Estabrook, Daniel Heywood 1846 — Rev. Richard M. Chipman, Rev. Crawford Nightingale, Isaac Stevens 1847 — Dr. George Hoyt, Benjamin Estabrook, Benjamin G. Wood 1848 — Rev. Richard M. Chipman, Rev. Samuel F. Clarke, Dr. George Hoyt 1849 — Rev. Richard M. Chipman, Rev. Samuel F. Clarke, Dr. George Hoyt 1850 — Dr. George D. Colony, Benjamin Estabrook, Rev. Oren Tracy 1851 — H. W. Carter, Dr. George D. Colony, Lyman W. Hapgood 1852 — Dr. George D. Colony, H. W. Carter, Lyman W. Hapgood 1853 — Rev. Samuel F. Clarke, Lyman W. Hapgood, Dr. George D. Colony 1854 — Dr. George D. Colony, Lyman W. Hapgood, Rev. Lysander Fay 1855 — Rev. Lysander Fay, Daniel Davis, G. Rice 1856 — Rev. John F. Norton, Rev. Nathaniel H. Martin, Dr. George D. Colony 1 857 — Rev. John F. Norton, Dr. George D. Colony, Chancey B. Swan 1858 — Rev. John F. Norton, Dr. George D. Colony, Rev. D. C. O'Daniels 1859 — Rev. John F. Norton, Dr. George D. Colony, Lyman W. Hapgood 1860 — Rev John F. Norton, Lyman W. Hapgood, Farwell F. Fay 1861 — Lyman W. Hapgood, Rev. Increase B. Bigelow, Dr. Joshua B. Gould 1862 — Rev. John F. Norton, Rev. Ira Bailey, Dr. James Coolidge 680 SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS 1863 — Rev. John F. Norton, Rev. Ira Bailey, Rev. Charles Ayer 1864 — Dr. James P. Lynde, Sereno E. Fay, Edwin Ellis 1865 — Dr. James P. Lynde, Sereno E. Fay, Rev. George L. Hunt 1868 — Thomas H. Goodspeed, Rev. Temple Cutler, Rev. Darius H. Stoddard 1869 — Rev. Ira Bailey, Benjamin Estabrook, Jennie L. Case 1870 — Washington H. Amsden, Franklin G. Lord, C. C. Bassett 1871 — Washington H. Amsden, Franklin G. Lord, Samuel M. Osgood 1872 — Abner G. Stratton, Edwin Ellis, Franklin G. Lord 1873 — Rev. William S. Burton, George W. Horr, Henry A. Stearns 1874 — Elisha F. Brown, Samuel M. Osgood, Edwin Ellis 1875 — Elisha F. Brown, Samuel M. Osgood, Edwin Ellis 1876 — Henry M. Humphrey, E. A. Thomas, Samuel M. Osgood 1877 — Henry M. Humphrey, Rev. Edwin M. Bartlett, Fred Allen 1878 — Henry M. Humphrey, Rev. Edwin M. Bartlett, Fred Allen 1879 — Henry M. Humphrey, Rev. Edwin M. Bartlett, Fred Allen 1880 — Lilley B. Caswell, Fred Allen, Rev. Edwin M. Bartlett 1881 — Lilley B. Caswell, Dr. James Oliver, Edgar V. Wilson 1882 — Lilley B. Caswell, Dr. James Oliver, Rev. John H. Cox 1883 — Lilley B. Caswell, Dr. James Oliver, Rev. John H. Cox 1884 — Lilley B. Caswell, Sidney P. Smith, Rev. John H. Cox 1 885 — Lilley B. Caswell, Sidney P. Smith, Alpheus J. Nye 1886 — Lilley B. Caswell, Sidney P. Smith, Alpheus J. Nye 1887 — Lilley B. Caswell, Alpheus J. Nye, Edgar V. Wilson 1888 — Lilley B. Caswell, Edgar V. Wilson, Rev. Francis B. Knowlton 1889 — Edgar V. Wilson, Rev. Francis B. Knowlton, Ellen M. Bigelow 1890 — Rev. Francis B. Knowlton, Ellen M. Bigelow, Edgar V. Wilson 1 89 1 — Ellen M. Bigelow, Edgar V. Wilson, Charles A. Chapman 1 892 — Edgar V. Wilson, Charles A. Chapman, Ellen M. Bigelow 1893 — Charles A. Chapman, Ellen M. Bigelow, Lucien Lord, Dr. James Oliver, George D. Bates, William D. Luey 1894 — Charles A. Chapman, Ellen M. Bigelow, Lucien Lord, Dr. James Oliver, George D. Bates, William D. Luey 1895 — Charles A. Chapman, Ellen M. Bigelow, Lucien Lord, Dr. James Oliver, George D. Bates, William D. Luey 1896 — Charles A. Chapman, George D. Bates, Ellen M. Bigelow, William D. Luey, Dr. James Oliver, Lucien Lord 1897 — Ellen M. Bigelow, William D. Luey, Lucien Lord, Lilley B. Caswell, George D. Bates, Charles A. Chapman 1898 — Lucien Lord, Dr. James Oliver, George D. Bates, Charles A. Chapman, Ellen M. Bigelow, William D. Luey 1899 — George D. Bates, Charles A. Chapman, Ellen M. Bigelow, William D. Luey, Dr. James Oliver, Dr. Hiram H. Burns 1900 — Ellen M. Bigelow, Dr. Hiram H. Burns, Alfred J. Raymond, Frank E. Wing, Dr. David G. Coolidge, Roy C. Osgood 1901 — Parke B. Swift, Alfred J. Raymond, Frank E. Wing, Dr. David G. Coolidge, Ellen M. Bigelow, Eli G. Greene 1902 — Frank E. Wing, Dr. David G. Coolidge, Arthur F. Tyler, Ellen M. Bigelow, Parke B. Swift, Almond Smith 1903 — Arthur F. Tyler, Ellen M. Bigelow, Parke B. Swift, Almond Smith, Frank E. Wing, Dr. David G. Coolidge 1904 — 'Frank E. Wing, Parke B. Swift, Almond Smith, Dr. David G. Coolidge, Arthur F. Tyler, Alfred J. Raymond 1905 — Frank E. Wing, Dr. David G. Coolidge, Arthur F. Tyler, Alfred J. Raymond, Dr. Charles H. Forbes, Almond Smith 1906 — Dr. Charles H. Forbes, Almond Smith, Fred W. Lord, Frederick H. Lee, Arthur F. Tyler, Alfred J. Raymond 1907 — Dr. Charles H. Forbes, Almond Smith, Fred W. Lord, Frederick H. Lee, Will S. Hinman, Alfred J. Raymond 681 HISTORY OF ATHOL 1908 — Fred W. Lord, Frederick H. Lee, Will S. Hinman, Alfred J. Raymond, Dr. Charles H. Forbes, Almond Smith 1909 — Fred W. Lord, Frederick H. Lee, Dr. Charles H. Forbes, Almond Smith, Will S. Hinman, Alfred J. Raymond 1910 — Dr. Charles H. Forbes, Almond Smith, Fred W. Lord, Frederick H. Lee, Will S. Hinman, Alfred J. Raymond 191 1 — Fred W. Lord, Frederick H. Lee, Will S. Hinman, Alfred J. Raymond, Albert N. Ellis, Almond Smith 1912 — Will S. Hinman, Alfred J. Raymond, Albert N. Ellis, Almond Smith, Fred W. Lord, Frederick H. Lee 1913 — Albert N. Ellis, Almond Smith, Fred W. Lord, Frederick H. Lee, Will S. Hinman, Alfred J. Raymond 1914 — Fred W. Lord, Frederick H. Lee, Will S. Hinman, Alfred J. Raymond, Albert N. Ellis, Almond Smith 1915 — Will S. Hinman, Alfred J. Raymond, Albert N. Ellis, Almond Smith, Fred W. Lord, Frederick H. Lee 1916 — Albert N. Ellis, Almond Smith, Fred W. Lord, Frederick H. Lee, Will S. Hinman, Alfred J. Raymond 1917 — 'Fred W. Lord, Frederick H. Lee, Will S. Hinman, Alfred J. Raymond, Albert N. Ellis, Almond Smith 1918 — Will S. Hinman, Alfred J. Raymond, Albert N. Ellis, Almond Smith, Fred W. Lord, Frederick H. Lee 1919 — Albert N. Ellis, Almond Smith, Fred W. Lord, Frederick H. Lee, Will S. Hinman, Dr. Alphonse V. Bowker 1920 — Fred W. Lord, Frederick H. Lee, Will S. Hinman, Dr. Alphonse V. Bowker, Albert N. Ellis, Almond Smith 1921 — Will S. Hinman, Dr. Alphonse V. Bowker, Albert N. Ellis, Almond Smith, Anne M. Brooks, Carl E. Sault 1922 — Albert N. Ellis, Almond Smith, Anne M. Brooks, Carl E. Sault, Dr. Alphonse V. Bowker, James E. Hastings 1923 — Anne M. Brooks, Carl E. Sault, Dr. Alphonse V. Bowker, James E. Hastings, Dr. Joseph A. Smith, Jared P. McClumpha 1924 — Dr. Alphonse V. Bowker, James E. Hastings, Joseph A. Smith, Jared P. McClumpha, Anne M. Brooks, Carl E. Sault 1925 — Dr. Joseoh A. Smith, Jared P. McClumpha, Anne M. Brooks, Carl E. Sault, Dr. Alphonse V. Bowker, James E. Hastings. (Caroline S. Mann, appointed in place of Carl E. Sault, who resigned September 9, 1925 to serve until February, 1926). 1926 — Anne M. Brooks, Mrs. Caroline S. Mann, Dr. Alphonse V. Bowker, James E. Hastings, Alexander A. Laughton, Jared P. McClumpha 1927 — Dr. Alphonse V. Bowker, James E. Hastings, Alexander A. Laughton, Jared P. McClumpha, Anne M. Brooks, Frank W. Wilson 1928 — Alexander A. Laughton, Jared P. McClumpha, Anne M. Brooks, Frank W. Wilson, Dr. Alphonse V. Bowker, James E. Hastings 1929 — Anne M. Brooks, Frank W. Wilson, Dr. Alphonse V. Bowker, James E. Hastings, Alexander A. Laughton, Jared P. McClumpha 1930 — Dr. Alohonse V. Bowker, James E. Hastings, Alexander A. Laughton, Jared P. McClumpha, Webb R. Avery, Frank W. Wilson 1931 — Alexander A. Laughton, Jared P. McClumpha, Webb R. Avery, Frank W. Wilson, Dr. Alphonse V. Bowker, J. Clarence Hill 1932 — Webb R. Avery, Frank W. Wilson, Dr. Alphonse V. Bowker, J. Clarence Hill, Alexander A. Laughton, Jared P. McClumpha (McClumpha resigned and Dr. James F. Cuddy was appointed in his place). 1933 — Alexander A. Laughton, Dr. Alphonse V. Bowker, J. Clarence Hill, Dr. James F. Cuddy, Webb R. Avery, Frank W. Wilson 1934 — Alexander A. Laughton, Dr. James F. Cuddy, Webb R. Avery, Frank W. Wilson, J. Clarence Hill, Rev. Everett E. Jackman 682 SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS 1935 — Rev. Everett E. Jackman, Webb R. Avery, Frank W. Wilson, J. Clarence Hill, Dr. James F. Cuddy, Dr. Raymond Fessenden 1936 — Rev. Everett E. Jackman, J. Clarence Hill, Dr. James F. Cuddy, Dr. Raymond Fessenden, Webb R. Avery, .Frank W. Wilson 1937 — J. Clarence Hill, Rev. Everett E. Jackman, Dr. Raymond Fessenden, Helen C. Grant, Webb R. Avery, Frank W. Wilson (A. William Plotkin was chosen September 22, 1937 in place of Rev. Everett E. Jackman, resigned). 1938 — Dr. Raymond Fessenden, Helen C. Grant, J. Clarence Hill, A. William Plotkin, Webb R. Avery, Frank W. Wilson 1939 — Dr. Raymond Fessenden, Helen C. Grant, J. Clarence Hill, A. William Plotkin, Webb R. Avery, Frank W. Wilson 1940 — Frank W. Wilson, Dr. Raymond Fessenden, Dr. Francis X. Dufault, Webb R. Avery, J. Clarence Hill, Thomas Kendrick (Francis X. Dufault elected for the unexpired term of Helen C. Grant who resigned December 26, 1939). 1941 — Frank W. Wilson, Webb R. Avery, J. Clarence Hill, Thomas Kendrick, Dr. Francis X. Dufault, Evelyn H. Merrifield 1 942 — Frank W. Wilson, Webb R. Avery, Dr. Francis X. Dufault, Evelyn H. Merrifield, J. Clarence Hill, Thomas Kendrick 1943 — Webb R. Avery, J Clarence Hill, Dr. Francis X. Dufault, Evelyn H. Merrifield, John G. Hunton, Joseph G. Hausmann (Mr. Hunton was chosen May 25, 1943 in place of Frank W. Wilson, resigned). 1944 — J. Clarence Hill, John H. Hunton, Webb R. Avery, Joseph G. Hausmann, Dr. .Francis X. Dufault, Edward J. Herd 1945 — Dr. Francis X. Dufault, Joseph G. Hausmann, J. Clarence Hill, John R. Hunton, Edward J. Herd, Harold H. Chaplin 1946 — Dr. Francis X. Dufault, Edward J. Herd, John H. Hunton, Harold H. Chaplin, Joseph G. Hausmann, Edward E. Baker 1947 — John H. Hunton, Edward J. Herd, Joseph G. Hausmann, Harold H. Chaplin, Edward E. Baker, Douglas R. Starrett 1948 — John H. Hunton, Harold H. Chaplin, Edward J. Herd, Douglas R. Starrett, Joseph G. Hausmann, Edward E. Baker 1949 — John H. Hunton, Harold H. Chaplin, Edward J. Herd, Douglas R. Starrett, Joseph G. Hausmann, Samuel J. Boudreau 1950 — Joseph G. Hausmann, Edward J. Herd, John H. Hunton, Samuel J. Boudreau, Paul P. Jerris, William A. Nickerson (elected Oct. 18 to succeed Harold H. Chaplin, resigned 1951 — Joseph G. Hausmann, William A. Nickerson, Edward J. Herd, Samuel J. Boudreau, Paul P Jerris, Dr. Samuel I. Glaser 1952 — William A. Nickerson, Edward J. Herd, Samuel J. Boudreau, Paul P. Jerris, Dr. Samuel I. Glaser, Charles R. Stone 1953 — William A. Nickerson, Edward J. Herd, Samuel J. Boudreau, Dr. Samuel I. Glaser, Charles R. Stone, Richard B. Ellis 683 HISTORY OF ATHOL APPENDIX 6 1870 - 1872 1874 - 1875 1893 - 1897 1897 - 1931 1931-1935 1935 - 1937 1937 - 1949 1949 - School Superintendents Dr. James P. Lynde Virgil M. Howard, also Principal, High School Flora E. Kendall Winfield Scott Ward Leon M. Farren — resigned July 1, 1935 George S. Goodell William A. Spooner, resigned as of July 1 , 1 949 E. Perley Eaton, began duties July 1, 1949 684 APPENDIX 7 Soldiers in American Revolution Allen, Aaron — Minute Man, 1775; service 8 days. Capt. Joel Fletcher's (Templeton) Co. 3 months 12 days. Ayers, Nathaniel — (Name spelled on military records as Ara and Ary; in probate records as Arg). Minute Man, 1775 and other service in Boston area. Service at Nantasket 2 months 17 days following May 1776. In 1777 with Capt. John Oliver's Co. in the Jerseys. Service in 1778 and 1779 with Continental Army in the Jerseys. Babbitt, Asa — Minute Man in Athol, 1774. Three months' service in 1778 doing guard duty in Cambridge; service three months, 1780, West Point. Born in Easton, Mass.; died March 20, 1837. Babbitt, Daniel — Service 6 months in 1778. In Londonderry, Vt. in 1790. Babbitt, Ira — Service 1781 at West Point, rating fifer; discharged June 30, 1784. Born Easton, Mass., Aug. 1, 1764; died Nov. 29, 1833 in N. Y. C. Babbitt, Nathaniel, Jr. — Arrived in Springfield, Mass., July 7, 1780; ser¬ vice months in Continental Army. In Hanover, N. H. in 1790. Babbitt, Uri — Service 5V2 months in Continental Army, rating barber. One winter in Valley Forge; at the taking of Burgoyne; Battle of Mon¬ mouth; on guard at execution of Major Andre. Born Mar. 3, 1760 at Easton, Mass.; died Jan. 5, 1844, Danville, Vt. Ball, Adonijah — Service 3 months, July to Oct., 1780. Born in Athol, Dec. 5, 1762; died in Athol, Dec. 17, 1833. Ball, Isaac, Jr. — Minute Man, 1775; service in Capt. Ichabod Dexter's Co. from Apr. to Oct., 1775. Ball, Moses — Minute Man, 1775; other service 2 months 25 days prior to Nov. 19, 1778 when Co. detached to escort troops of convention to Enfield, Conn. Married in Athol to Susanna Nutt, Feb. 18, 1762; died in Athol Nov. 15, 1820. Ballard, John, Jr. — Enlisted May 1, 1776; muster roll dated Garrison at Ft. George, Dec. 8, 1776; reported died at Ft. George, Oct., 1776. Born in Athol Oct. 13, 1759. Ballard, Joshua — Minute Man, 1775; service from Sept. 28, 1777 to Oct. 18, 1777, marched to re-inforce Northern Army at reduction of Gen. Burgoyne. Married in Athol, June 15, 1775. Bates, Issachar — At 15 years of age entered military school, and at 17 with the consent of his father, he marched in May, 1775 with his in¬ dependent co. of rangers to Cambridge, Mass.; too young to pass muster but served as a Musician. In Battle of Bunker Hill; witnessed Gen. Washington's evacuation of New York and retreat to Harlem Heights; Feb., 1777 marched to the Jerseys; at retreat of Burgoyne; in 1780 three months' tour to West Point, serving last three terms as Fife Major. Born in Hingham, Mass., Jan. 29, 1758. 685 HISTORY OF ATHOL Bates, Noah — Minute Man, 1775; soon after Aug. 1775 five months ser¬ vice, Battle of White Plains. Bates, Theodore — Enlisted July 8, 1779; age, 17 years. Served 6 months in Continental Army; receipt for bounty paid him by Capt. William Young, Chairman of Class No. 1 of the Town of Athol, to serve in Continental Army for 3 years, dated Worcester, June 21, 1782, rating of drummer. Died Oct. 24, 1846 at Shaker Village in Waterveliet, N.Y. Beal, Joshua — Six months' service in Continental Army; discharged Jan. 5, 1781; died 1783. Bigelow, David — Minute Man, 1775; other service in Bennington from July to Aug. 1777. Born in Athol, Aug. 30, 1754. Died here Dec. 7, 1837. Bigelow (Biglo), Jotham — Minute Man, 1775; in Capt. John Oliver's (Athol) Co. from Sept. 28 to Oct. 18, 1777; marched to reinforce Northern Army at reduction of Gen. Burgoyne. Born Holden, 1745 and died in Phillipston in 1821. Bigelow (Biglow), William — Delegate for Athol to the 1st Provincial Con¬ gress at Salem 1774; and to the 2nd Provincial Congress in Cambridge, 1775; enlisted Aug. 21, 1777 in Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co., marched to Bennington; discharged Aug. 26, 1777. Held numerous town offices in Athol from 1764 to 1783. Bradish, Samuel — Continental Army pay accounts for service from June 1, 1777 to Apr. 4, 1779. Born in Templeton, 1750; died Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., 1812. Bridges, Benjamin — At 18 years of age arrived in Springfield, Mass., July 6, 1780 for 6 months' service in Continental Army; discharged Dec. 10, 1780. Married in Athol, Oct. 10, 1790. Brown, Briant — -Enlisted Capt. Lord's (Athol) Co., Col. Grout's (Petersham) Reg.; age 47 years; occupation farmer; enlisted for 3 years. Buckman, Asa — In 1775-76 stationed at Nantasket; service in Rhode Island, 2 months 10 days in 1777, and from July 31, 1778 to date of dis¬ charge, Sept. 14, 1778. With guards at Rutland Barracks for 2 months 27 days in 1779. One or two winters at West Point; in New Jersey at time Andre was executed; discharged at West Point, Apr. 1, 1781. Buckman, Jacob — Service at Nantasket and West Point; discharged at White Plains; last service 3 years and 3 months. Born in Athol, Jan. 1, 1749; twice married; moved from Athol to Lancaster, to Lemington, Vt. and Indian Stream on the Canadian line. Buckman, Joseph — Ten days' service with Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co.; marched from Athol to Bennington; discharged Aug. 26, 1777. Buckman, Reuben — October 1775 six weeks with Capt. Oliver's Co., marched to Roxbury and served out term there; service at Nantasket in 1776; 2 months 10 days at Rhode Island in 1777; 6 months in Continental Army; July 28, 1777 to Aug. 29, 1777 in Bennington to reinforce Gen. Stark; in 1778, 3 months 6 days guarding troops of convention at Cambridge; 1 month 8 days at Claverack in 1779. Served at West Point and in the Jerseys. Born in Athol, May 28, 1759; died at Chester, Mass. 686 SOLDIERS IN AMERICAN REVOLUTION Buckman, Stephen — With Capt. Agrippa Well's (Greenfield) Co. serving at Ticonderoga for 3 months from Sept. 1, 1776. Burbank, Isaac — In 1777 first to volunteer from Sutton; served in Provi¬ dence for 2 months; in Springfield for 6 months. In 1778 at siege of Newport; 3 months in Rhode Island in 1779; summer of 1781 at West Point on guard in furnishing fuel for the Army. Born in Sutton, Apr. 1, 1761; died March 26, 1838. Cady (Cada), Ephraim — With Capt. John Oliver's (Athol) Co. at the re¬ duction of Gen. Burgoyne, 28 days' service, Sept, to Oct. 1777. Ten days' service with Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co.; marched from Athol to Bennington. Married Jan. 10, 1770 to Marcy Ford. In North Orange 1782. Cheney, Ephraim — Ten days' service with Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co., Aug. 1777; also 1 mo. 15 days at taking of Gen. Burgoyne; with Capt. Ichabod Dexter's Co. (Athol). Born in Newton, Aug. 1, 1741. Ch urch, Paul — May to July, 1777, 2 months 10 days' service at Rhode Island; Capt. John Oliver's (Athol) Co., Sept. 28, 1777 to discharge Oct. 1 8, 1 777 at reduction of Gen. Burgoyne; 3 months service at Dorchester in 1778. Died in Athol, Dec. 2, 1826. Coleman, John — With Capt. John Oliver's (Athol) Co. in the Jerseys for 3 months' service, 1777. Born in Malden, Mar. 2, 1731. Cook, Joseph — Served with Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co. for term of 3 years in Continental Army. Copeland, David — July 8, 1777 to Aug. 29, 1777 in Capt. Peter Wood¬ bury's (Royalston) Co. to reinforce army under Gen. Stark; service at Rhode Island; Capt. Lord's (Athol) Co., mustered July 2, 1779. Crosby, Stephen — Mustered June 13, 1777 as Pvt. for Capt. John Blan¬ chard's (Sutton) Co.; Continental Army pay accounts for service from May 14, 1777 to May 14, 1780; discharged at West Point. Crosby, Will iam — Pvt. in Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co., Aug. 21, 1777; marched from Athol to Bennington; discharged Aug. 26, 1777. Cummings, Isaac — Service with Continental Army from Sept. 5, 1777 to Dec. 31, 1779; also, Capt. Benjamin Gates' Co., muster return dated Albany, Feb. 9, 1778. Cummings, John — Continental Army pay accounts for service from Apr. 12, 1777 to Dec. 31, 1779; reported as serving 29 months 21 days as Pvt.; 1 month 28 days as Corporal. Capt. Benjamin Gates' Co., muster return dated Albany Feb. 9, 1778. Service with Continental Army from Jan. 1, 1780 to Dec. 31, 1780 credited to Town of Topsfield,. Mass. Was at capture of Burgoyne; in the retreat through the Jerseys; discharge entitled him to "badge of merit" for 8 years of faithful service. Cummings, Joseph — Minute Man, 1775. Sept. 1, 1777, Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co., service 2 months 29 days, at the taking of Gen. Burgoyne. Capt. Oliver's (Athol) Co., marched to Springfield July 8, 1779. Cutting (Cuffing), Earl — Dec. 5, 1775 with Capt. Dan Haws' Co. Feb. 17, 1778 enlistment for 3 years with Continental Army; served 2 years and 687 HISTORY OF ATHOL nearly 8 months when he procured a substitute for remainder of term; discharged at West Point. May 31, 1820 lost right leg "owing to over¬ heating my blood at Monmouth Battle." Cutting, George — Service as Sergeant at Nantasket for about 5 months, pay abstract dated June 18, 1776; 2 months 10 days at Rhode Island; 10 days in Aug. 1777 with Capt. Thomas Lord's Co. on march to Bennington; further service from Sept. 5, 1777 to Nov. 29, 1777, promoted to Quarter Master Sergeant Sept. 28, 1777. Cutting, John — In Capt. Dexter's Co. of Minute Men, 1774. Twenty-two days' service at Cambridge, discharged Aug. 19, 1778 — Detachment of Guards. Born in Athol, Jan. 1, 1750. Cutting, Samuel — Oct. 6, 1779 in Capt. William Henry's (Rutland District) Co.; service 1 month 9 days, travel included, at Castle and Governor's Islands. Six months in Continental Army, discharged Dec. 16, 1780. Born in Athol, Oct. 21, 1761. Cutting, William — May 5, 1777, Pvt. in Capt. William Henry's (Rutland Dist.) Co., service in Rhode Island, discharged June 17, 1777. Marched in July, 1777 to reinforce Gen. Stark at Bennington, discharged Aug. 2, 1777. Served in Continental Army from Feb. 17, 1778 to Jan. 10, 1780; also on list of men raised for the 6 month's service, dated Camp Totoway, Oct. 25, 1780. Death, Benjamin — Minute Man, 1775. On Aug. 4, 1775 with Capt. Ichabod Dexter's Co., Company return probably Oct. 1775. Marched to Bennington with Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co., discharged Aug. 26, 1777. Born in Athol, Dec. 23, 1751. Death, Jotham — Service 2 months 29 days at the taking of Gen. Burgoyne; enlisted Oct. 5, 1779 with Capt. William Henry's Co. for service at Castle and Governor's Islands. Born in Athol, Apr. 7, 1760. Dexter, Ichabod — Capt. of a Company of Minute Men, 1775. Capt., Col. Benjamin Ruggles Woodbridge's (So. Hadley) 25th Reg.; list of officers recommended for commissions by Committee of Safety, dated Cambridge Camp, June 16, 1775. Born in Athol 1736-37; Died in Hardwick, Feb. 13, 1797. Dike, John — Minute Man, 1775. Enlisted Sept. 1776 for 3 months to guard forts at Dorchester Heights; joined Co. in Waltham commanded by Capt. Ezekiel Knowlton of Templeton; marched to Dorchester Heights and joined Reg. under command of Col. Nicholas Dike. Died in Athol May 13, 1825, aged 80. Dolbear, Benjamin — Sept. 1 3, 1 777 with Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co. at the taking of Gen. Burgoyne, service 2 months 27 days. Enlisted at Needham about April, 1781 in Capt. Drews' Co.; discharged Dec. 22, 1783. In Freeman, Maine, 1818. Dunton, Ebenezer — Served ten days in Aug. 1777 on the alarm at Ben¬ nington; with reinforcements to Northern Army at reduction of Gen. Burgoyne; 9 months with Continental Army, mustered July 2, 1779. Born in Southboro, Sept. 15, 1745. Dunton, Samuel — Continental Army service from Apr. 21, 1777 to Apr. 21, 1780; further service with Capt. Jonathan Sibley's Co. from Aug. 9, 1781 to Nov. 21, 1781. Born in Southboro, June 16, 1752 and died there on July 15, 1829. 688 SOLDIERS IN AMERICAN REVOLUTION Eaton (Eton), Malatiah — Ten days' service in Aug. 1777 on the alarm at Bennington. Born in Framingham, Jan. 15, 1747. Fairbanks, Benjamin — Continental Army service from Feb. 17, 1778 to discharge on May 14, 1780; in Battle of Monmouth. Born in Athol, Aug. 1, 1759. Hinsdale, N. H., 1818. Fairbanks, John, Jr. — Pvt. in Capt. Ichabod Dexter's (Athol) Co., June, 1775, and with Capt. Lord's Co. in Battle of Cowpens, 1781. Born in Athol, May 6, 1755. Died in Champlain, N. Y., 1830. Fairbanks, Nahum — Pvt. in Capt. Ichabod Dexter's (Athol) Co., June, 1775; Corp., Capt. Thomas Lord's Co., marched to Bennington; service 3 months 10 days in Northern Department at taking of General Burgoyne; enlisted May 8, 1778 with Capt. Oliver's Co. in Continental Army for 9 months' service. Born in Sterling, Aug. 24, 1753; died in Mayfield, New York, Jan. 21, 1827. Fairbanks, Philemon — Sept. 28 to Oct. 18, 1777 as Pvt. with Capt. John Oliver's (Athol) Co.; with reinforcements at reduction of Gen. Burgoyne; also 10 days' service with Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co. on march to Bennington, Aug. 1777. Born in Athol, June 15, 1759; removed to Fitzwilliam, N. H. Died 1783. Fairbanks, Thomas — Pvt. in Capt. Benj. Edgell's (Woburn) Co. for 6 months 7 days, enlistment to expire Jan. 1, 1779; also same Co., muster rolls dated Freetown, Sept. 13, 1778 and Oct. 18, 1778. Born in Lancaster, Aug. 29, 1736. Fay, Joseph — Minute Man, 1775; 10 days' service in Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co. on march to Bennington, Aug. 1777. Died Jan. 20, 1825, age 83 years. Fay, Sherebiah — Two months' service as Pvt. in Capt. Hawes' Co.; marched to Boston. July 1 to Dec. 1, 1776 with Capt. Hamilton's Co., marched to Ticonderoga; detailed as one of two of each Co. to go as Marines under Gen. Arnold in his fleet on Lake Champlain. July 1, 1777 to Jan. 1, 1778 Corp. in Capt. Burt's Co. in the State militia at Brookfield to guard ammunition and French arms. Five months, 1779-80 in Capt. Hartwell's Co., guard duty of Burgoyne's army. At West Point 6 months, at execution of Major Andre, discharged Jan. 1781. Born in Westboro, 1758; died March 18, 1839, Watertown, N. Y. Fay, Solomon — Service as Pvt. from Mar. 27, 1778 to July 2, 1778 guard¬ ing troops of convention at Cambridge. Died in Athol, Nov. 22, 1814. Fay, William — Pvt., Capt. Ephraim Stockwell's (Athol) Co. from July 28, 1777 to Aug. 29, 1777 on march to Bennington. Born in Westborough July 5, 1752. Felton, Daniel — 'Pvt., Lieut. John Trask's (New Salem) Co., on expedition to Ticonderoga, Feb. 26, 1777 to Apr. 10, 1777. Born in Marlboro, Mass., Sept. 30, 1752; died in Sudbury, Sept. 1823. Fisk, David — In Capt. Dexter's Co. of Minute Men. Pvt., Capt. Abel Mason's Co., Dec. 10, 1776 to Jan. 20, 1777 stationed at Providence, R. I. Born in Sutton, May 27, 1746. Fisk, Jonathan — In Capt. Dexter's Co. of Minute Men. Pvt., Capt. William Tucker's (Charlton) Co.; enlisted July 6, 1778, discharged Dec. 1, 1778. 689 HISTORY OF ATHOL Fletcher, Jonathan — Pvt., Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co.; enlisted Sept. 1, 1777, service 2 months 29 days, at time of taking of Gen. Burgoyne. Foster, John — In Capt. Dexter's Co. of Minute Men. Sept. 28 to Oct. 18, 1777 as Pvt. in Capt. John Oliver's (Athol) Co., at the reduction of Gen. Burgoyne. Apparently moved to Athol from Rochester between 1772 and 1774; held number of town offices. French, Bartholomew — Pvt., Capt. Ezekiel Knowlton's (Templeton) Co., Nov. 1776; receipt dated Athol, May 10, 1781 for bounty paid French on behalf of the town of Athol, to serve in Continental Army for 3 years. French, Micah — Two months 10 days' service as Pvt. in Rhode Island; Capt. John Oliver's (Athol) Co., Sept. 28 to Oct. 18, 1777, served with reinforcements to Northern Army. Goddard, David — With Capt. Blanchard's Co. (Petersham) in Continental Army, term to expire Jan. 10, 1780. Story on one James Monroe pen¬ sion application: "Was at taking of Burgoyne. David Goddard was file leader and was wounded by a musket ball in the breast. The two men who stood on each side of him took him in their arms to carry him off but as they were carrying him away, a cannon ball came and took his head entirely off." Born in Leicester, Sept. 17, 1738. Goddard, Ebenezer — Minute Man, 1775. Three months 14 days' service as Pvt. with Capt. Ichabod Dexter's Co.; 10 days' service as Sergeant with Capt. Thomas Lord's Co. on march to Bennington. Died in Green¬ field, Aug. 15, 1822, age 71 years. Goddard, Ebenezer, Jr. — Pvt., Capt. Ichabod Dexter's (Athol) Co., 3 months 8 days, muster roll dated Aug. 1, 1775. Died in New York State, Mar. 30, 1815. Goddard, Edward — Pvt., Capt. John Oliver's Co., service 28 days, with re¬ inforcements to the Northern Army at reduction of Gen. Burgoyne. Born Apr. 1 6, 1 759. Goddard, James — Commissioned Apr. 6, 1776 as 2nd Lieut., Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co. Died Feb. 22, 1809, age 68 years. Goddard, Moses — Pvt., Capt. William Warner's (Leominster) Co., service at Nantasket from June 18, 1776 to Nov. 1776; fifer in Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co. for 10 days in Aug. 1777, marched to Bennington. Born July 25, 1 754. Goddard, Simon — Minute Man, 1775; discharged May 3, 1775, service 13 days. Goodell, Stephen — Pvt., Capt. Ichabod Dexter's (Athol) Co.; return probably Oct. 1775. Goodell, Timothy — Pvt., Capt. John Oliver's (Athol) Co., service 105 days in the Jerseys; 10 days with Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co. on march to Bennington; again with Capt. John Oliver, Sept. 28 to Oct. 18, 1777 with reinforcements to Northern Army. Graves, Abner — Minute Man, 1775, 2nd Lieut., Capt. Ichabod Dexter's (Athol) Co. Served in Continental Army from Feb. 17, 1778 to dis¬ charge, June 17, 1778; petitioned for discharge because family burnt out by fire. Died in Athol, Mar. 26, 1830, age 89. 690 SOLDIERS IN AMERICAN REVOLUTION Graves, Eleazer, Jr. — In Capt. Dexter's Co. of Minute Men. Three months guarding troops of convention at Cambridge, 1778; in July, 1778, 13 days with guards at Dorchester Heights. Born in Athol, 1759; died in Athol, 1822. Graves, Nathaniel, Jr. — In Capt. Dexter's Co. of Minute Men; Corporal, Capt. John Oliver's Co., enlisted Sept. 28, 1777 and discharged Oct. 18, 1777, with reinforcements to Northern Army at time of reduction of Gen. Burgoyne. Born in 1748. Graves, Rueben — Miunte Man, 1775. Born Sept. 23, 1753 and died Apr. 12, 1819. Hartness, Asa — Minute Man, 1775, Capt. Dexter's Co. Hasey, (Hasa, Hase, Haza) Samuel — With Capt. Ichabod Dexter's (Athol) Co. in June, 1775; also 28 days' service as Pvt. with Capt. John Oliver's Co., reinforcements to Northern Army. Hasey, Zacheus — Pvt., Capt. John Oliver's Co. from Sept. 28, 1777 to Oct. 10, 1777, to reinforce Northern Army at the time of Burgoyne; 17 days' service in November, 1778 with Capt. Jotham Houghton's Co. to reinforce guards in barracks at Rutland and to escort troops of Saratoga convention to Enfield, Conn. Haven, John, Jr. — Pvt., Capt. John Oliver's Co., Sept. 28 to Oct. 18, 1777, to reinforce Northern Army at reduction of Gen. Burgoyne. Haven, Simon — Pvt., Capt. John Oliver's Co., Sept. 28 to Oct. 18, 1777, to reinforce Northern Army; July 31 to Sept. 14, 1778 served in Rhode Island. Holman, Edward, Sr. — Pvt., Capt. John Oliver's Co., Sept. 28 to Oct. 18, 1777, to reinforce Northern Army at reduction of Gen. Burgoyne; 3 months 23 days in 1781 with Capt. Jonathan Sibley's (Royalston) Co.; with Capt. Lord's Co. in Aug. 1777 on march to Bennington. Born in Sutton, Oct. 13, 1730. South Royalston area. Holman, Edward, Jr. — At 13 years of age, June, 1779, passed muster for three months' guard duty in Rutland; on duty at West Point, discharged Nov. 1782. Born in Sutton, Sept. 1 1, 1766; died Feb. 28, 1837, Fitz- william, N. H. Holman, William — On list of men raised to serve in the Continental Army as returned by Capt. Thomas Lord; with Capt. Blanchard's (Sutton) Co. from Sept. 10, 1777 until his death on Dec. 28, 1777. Howe, Daniel — Service 3 months 8 days, Capt. Ichabod Dexter's (Athol) Co., Camp Cambridge. Born in Sutton, Feb. 6, 1752; died at Ticon- deroga, Oct. 13, 1776. Hutch ins, Jacob — With Capt. Ichabod Dexter for 8 months in 1775 at Battle of Bunker Hill; saw Charlestown burned. Spring of 1776 enlisted for 6 months, marched to New Haven, White Plains, and Dobbs Ferry where discharged; in Apr. 1777 marched up the Mohawk to Ft. Stanwix, to Bemis Heights; in Battle of Saratoga. Born in Charlton, Mass., March, 1758. In Burton, Ohio, 1832. Hutch ins, Moses — Enlisted for 9 months' service on Mar. 1, 1775; quar¬ tered on Noddles Island, on Nantasket Hill the greater part of time; joined Capt. Blanchard's (Sutton) Co. in spring of 1777, for 9 months, 691 HISTORY OF ATHOL to Albany, thence up Mohawk River to Ft. Herkimer, at surrender of Burgoyne; Springfield, 1778 enlisted in Capt. John Oliver's Co. to Peekskill, ordered into team service and continued to drive a team until expiration. Hudson, Ezra — Served in Continental Army for 3 years; Sergeant, Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co. for 1 month 22 days at the surrender of Gen. Burgoyne. Birthplace, Northborough. Humphrey, John — Corp., Capt. Ezekiel Knowlton's (Templeton) Co., in Sept. 1776 one of five men sent from Athol to march to Dorchester Heights and guard the U. S. Forts; enlisted first for 3 months, then 3 months more; last 5 months rating of Sergeant. In Aug., 1777 marched to Bennington under Capt. Thomas Lord; and at surrender of Burgoyne. Born in Dorchester; father minister in Athol; died Jan. 24, 1837. Humphrey, Royal — Pvt., Capt. John Morgan's Co., service 6 months 4 days, to guard stores and magazines at Springfield and Brookfield; discharged July 1, 1778. Born in Athol, Sept. 22, 1761; died Mar. 30, 1848. Jacobs, Eli — April 6, 1776 entered service at fourteen, to Worcester and Roxbury, guarding the shore until discharged Oct. 6, 1776. Mustered July 2, 1779 for 9 months' service in Continental Army; on guard in Oct. 1780 at execution of Major Andre; discharged at West Point Jan. 1, 1781. Enlisted again for 3 months, Aug. to Oct. 1781 under Capt. Sibley of Royalston; and several other services — in all over three years. Born in Killingly, Conn., Apr. 7, 1762; died at Moraira, N. Y., June 18, 1839. Jacobs, Elnathan — With Capt. Ichabod Dexter's (Athol) Co. at Cambridge Camp, June 20, 1775, service 3 months 8 days. Jacobs, John — Three months 8 days' service with Capt. Ichabod Dexter's (Athol) Co., enlisted May 1, 1775; 28 days with Capt. John Oliver's (Athol) Co. to reinforce Northern Army at surrender of Burgoyne. Jacobs, Simeon — Pvt., Capt. John Oliver's (Athol) Co., 104 days' service in the Jerseys; 3 months 6 days in 1778 with Capt. William Marean's (Hubbardston) Co. as Corporal guarding troops of convention at Cam¬ bridge; 1 month 8 days at Claverack, Oct. 24 to Dec. 1, 1779; in spring of 1779 served as Corporal under Capt. Oliver in Great Bar¬ rington, Albany, Schenectady. Born in Thompson, Conn., 1757; died April 7, 1833. Jacobs, Whitman, Jr. — Mustered May 19, 1778 for 9 months' service in Continental Army, arrived at Fishkill June 7, 1778; also on list of 9 months' men mustered July 2, 1779 by Muster Master for Worcester Co., Capt. Oliver's (Athol) Co. Previous army service in 1776 in Capt. Richardson's Co. at Winter Hill, Cambridge, Ft. Washington in New York, to New Jersey, thence to Peekskill where discharged Jan. 1777. Born in Thompson, Conn., 1759; died at Croydon, N. H., Oct. 2, 1825. Kelton, John — -Mustered June 13, 1777 for service in Capt. Blanchard's Co.; on list of men raised to serve in the Continental Army, as returned by Capt. John Oliver (Athol), term of 3 years to expire Jan. 10, 1780. Born May 6, 1758; died April 29, 1778 in Athol. Kelton, Jonathan, Jr. — Pvt., enlisted for 3 years in Continental Army, May 14, 1777 in 9th Mass. Reg.; discharged May 14, 1780. Born Feb. 6, 1756; died in Boston. 692 SOLDIERS IN AMERICAN REVOLUTION Kelton, Lucas — Pvt., enlisted in Continental Army for 3 years on May 14, 1777, in 9th Mass. Regt., Capt. Blanchard's Co.; served until death- while in the army in camp at Valley Forge, Mar. 7, 1778. Born in Southboro, Feb. 4, 1760. Kelton, Thomas — Pvt., Capt. Peter Proctor's (Warwick) Co., service 1. month 4 days, Aug. 1777, to reinforce Northern Army; 3 months 11 days in Capt. Ephraim Steam's (Petersham) Co.; 3 months 21 days in Rhode Island, discharged Nov. 27, 1781. Born Dec. 20, 1763. Kendall, Jonathan — Corp., Capt. John Oliver's Co.; engaged Sept. 28, 1777, discharged Oct. 18, 1777; marched to reinforce Northern Army at surrender of Burgoyne. Died July 8, 1817, age 74 years. Kendall, Samuel — Pvt., Capt. Ezekiel Knowlton's (Templeton) Co., enlisted Sept. 1776 for 3 months to guard forts at Dorchester Heights. Probably the Samuel born in Athol, Aug. 27, 1757. Kendall, Timothy — Pvt., Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co., 10 days' service in Aug. 1777 on Co. march to Bennington. Died Oct. 20, 1805, age 64. King, William — Service with Continental Army from Feb. 16, 1777 to Feb. 16, 1780, serving 10 months 10 days as Corporal, remainder of service as Quartermaster Sergeant. Born in 1762; died in 1840. Knight, Joseph — Pvt., Capt. Ichabod Dexter's (Athol) Co., 3 months 14 days in 1775; Capt. John Oliver's (Athol) Co., 100 days' service in the Jerseys, ending Aug. 12, 1777; in Marlboro, Mass., 1776, enlisted for 5 months; to Nov. 4, Rutland, Ticonderoga where discharged in Dec. 1776; in Athol, Dec. 1776, enlisted for 3 months under Col. Jonathan Grout, to Northampton, Springfield, Danbury and to Peekskill; dis¬ charged Mar. 1777. Born in Stowe, Apr. 19, 1756; died May 21, 1836 at Waterford, Vt. Lewis, Abijah — Corp., Lieut. Nathaniel Sartell's (Pepperell) Co., enlisted May 15, 1775, service 78 days; Capt. Ephraim Corey's Co. (Stowe), dated Cambridge, Oct. 7, 1775. Died at Combridge in the Army, May 29, 1776. Lewis, William (Also given Jr.) — Pvt., Capt. Wm. Marean's (Hubbardston) Co., service from Mar. 27 to July 2, 1778 guarding troops of convention at Cambridge; July 16 to Oct. 21, 1778 as guard with Capt. Peter Woodbury's Co.; mustered July 2, 1779 to serve in Continental Army for 9 months, Capt. Oliver's Co.; 6 months' service in 1780; also receipt dated Worcester, May 16, 1782 for bounty paid said Lewis by Chairman of Class No. 3 of town of Athol, for 3 years' service; discharged June 30, 1784. Probably born in Sutton, Aug. 31, 1751; died in Athol, Oct. 11, 1829. Lombard, James — Sept., 1776, served 6 months at Dorchester Heights, part of time repairing Castle William which British had attempted to destroy before evacuation; 28 days as Pvt. in Capt. John Oliver's (Athol) Co. at the time of the reduction of Gen. Burgoyne, discharged Oct. 18, 1777. Died in Athol, Feb. 15, 1812, age 80 years. Lord, Asa — Jan. 1, 1778 enlisted in Co. commanded by Capt. Morgan, to Springfield for 6 months; Pvt., Capt. Josiah Wilder's (Templeton) Co., 13 days' service at Rutland Barracks, July, 1778; Nov. 1778, 17 days' service to reinforce guards at Rutland Barracks and to escort troops of Saratoga Convention to Enfield, Conn.; service 3 months 12' 693 HISTORY OF ATHOL days, July to Oct. 1780 with Capt. Ephraim Steam's Co., to West Point and White Plains; Aug. 9 to Nov. 13, 1781 with Capt. Jonathan Sibley's Co., to West Point. Born Oct. 1, 1761; died in Orange, Nov. 20, 1849. Lord, Thomas — Sergeant, Capt. Ichabod Dexter's Co. of Minute Men, 1775; Lieut., Capt. Nathan Hamilton's (Brookfield) Co., Aug. 3 to Sept. 30, 1776 and in 1777; Capt., 13th Co., Col. Nathan Sparhawk's Regt. of Mass. Militia, commissioned Apr. 5, 1776; Capt. of a Co. in Col. Job Cushing's (Shrewsbury) Regt., Aug. 31 to Dec. 10, 1777 at the time of taking Gen. Burgoyne. Born in Athol Jan. 17, 1736; died in Athol Dec. 3, 1810. Lord, Will iam — Pvt, Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co., 10 days' service in Aug. 1777 in march to Bennington; also with Capt. Thomas Lord, Sept. 1, to Nov. 30, 1777, at the time of taking Gen. Burgoyne; 13 days in July, 1778 at Rutland Barracks with Capt. Josiah Wilder's Co. Born May 3, 1 732. Love, Robert — - 1776 enlisted with Capt. Warner, service in Nantasket, discharged Dec. 1, 1776; as a teamster with Capt. Howe until dis¬ charge in Apr. 1777; Apr. 10, 1777 enlisted by Lieut. Abner Graves for 9 months, discharged at Valley Forge Jan. 10, 1778; July 2 to Dec. 10, 1780 with Continental Army, discharged at West Point. Born in Coventry, R. I., 1757; died at Hanover, N. Y., Feb. 20, 1846. Lucas, James — Pvt., Capt. Ezekiel Knowlton's (Templeton) Co., Sept, to Nov. 20, 1776, to guard forts at Dorchester Heights. Died Oct. 13 (14), 1822. Marble, Aaron- — -May 14, 1777 to May 14, 1780 served in Continental Army, in Capt. John Blanchard's (Sutton) Co. Marble, Moses — - Pvt., Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co., 1 0 days' service in Aug. 1777, marched from Athol to Bennington. Died Oct. 18, 1796, age 5 1 years. Marble, Silas — Pvt., Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co., 10 days' service in Aug. 1777, marched from Athol to Bennington and return. Although a marker placed in the North Orange Cemetery by his family gives him the rank of 1st Lieut., yet careful examination of the records does not disclose any such honor his due. Monroe, John — Pvt., Capt. Ezekiel Knowlton's (Templeton) Co., pay ab¬ stract dated Nov. 30, 1776, served 6 months at Dorchester Heights; at taking of Burgoyne; May 14, 1777 to May 14, 1780 in Continental Army as Pvt. with Capt. John Blanchard's Co. Believe he was born on Indian Island in Passamaquoddy Bay; died in Penfield, July 10, 1846. Moore, Josiah — June 20, 1775, service 3 months 8 days, with Capt. Ichabod Dexter's (Athol) Co.; May 14, 1777 joined Capt. Blanchard's (Sutton) Co. for service in Continental Army, term to expire Jan. 10, 1780; after enlistment joined army at German Flats, N. Y. at which place he was stationed until he was taken sick with measles, was furloughed, continued under care of physician till expiration of term. Morse, Joseph — Mustered June 24, 1777, term 8 months, for service in Capt. Blanchard's (Sutton) Co.; according to Church Record "He was killed in the fight at Stillwater Sept. 18, 1777." 694 SOLDIERS IN AMERICAN REVOLUTION Morton, Abner — Minute Man, 1775; 8 days' service. Married Sophia God¬ dard, May 14, 1764. Morton, Joshua — Minute Man, 1775; 13 days' service; Sergt., Capt. Ephraim Stockwell's (Athol) Co., July 28, 1777 to Aug. 29, 1777, Co. marched to Bennington to reinforce under Gen. Stark. Died Feb. 13,. 1 827 in 83rd year. Morton, Martin — Sergt., Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co., 10 days' service; Co. marched from Athol to Bennington. Morton, Richard — Pvt., Capt. Ichabod Dexter's Co., enlisted May 1, 1775; service 3 months 8 days. Born in Athol June 16, 1755. Morton, Rueben — Corp., Capt. Wing Spooner's (Petersham) Co., Sept. S to Nov. 29, 1777, with Northern Army. Died in Athol July 30, 1835. Morton, Samuel, Jr. — Corp., Capt. Ichabod Dexter's (Athol) Co., receipt for advance pay dated Cambridge Camp, June 20, 1775; Co. return probably Oct. 1775. Married in Athol to Esther Goddard, Aug. 23, 1773. Nutt, Abraham — Pvt., Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co., Aug. 21 to Aug. 26, 1777; Co. marched from Athol to Bennington; 17 days' service in Nov., 1778 with Capt. Jotham Houghton's (Petersham) Co., to rein¬ force guards at the barracks in Rutland and to escort troops of Saratoga convention to Enfield, Conn.; 1 month 9 days' service at Castle and Governor's Islands in Capt. William Henry's Co., discharged Nov. 10, 1779. Born in Athol Apr. 23, 1762. 01 iver, Aaron — Pvt., Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co., 1 0 days' service, Aug., 1777; Co. marched from Athol to Bennington. Died Jan. 3, 1826, age 77 years. Oliver, James — 2nd Lieut., Capt. John Oliver's (Athol) Co., of Mass. Militia (7th); reported commissioned Apr. 5 (?), 1776; Lieut., Capt. William Marean's (Hubbardston) Co., entered service May 10, 1778. Died Jan. 28, 1790 in his 64th year. Oliver, John — Commissioned Apr. 5 (?), 1776 as Capt., 6th Co., Col. Nathan Sparhawk's Worcester Co. Regt. of Mass. Militia; 3 months'' service in the Jerseys; Capt. list officers appointed to command men enlisted or drafted from (Worcester Co.) Brigade; Co. drafted to joirr Col. Josiah Whitney's (Harvard) Regt., service from Sept. 28 to Oct. 18, 1777, marched to reinforce Northern Army at the time of the reduction of Gen. Burgoyne. Died in Athol, Dec. 23, 1811, age 87. Oliver, Moses — 1st Sergt., Capt. Dan Haws' Co., Col. Samuel Holden Parson's (10th) Regt., engaged to serve until Jan. 15 "next;'' reported enlisted Dec. 5, 1775. Born in Athol 1753; died in Athol 1792. Oliver, Robert — Minute Man, 1775; 13 days' service. Held several town offices in Athol between 1766 and 1775. Oliver, William — Pvt., Capt. Jotham Houghton's (Petersham) Co., service at Claverack from Oct. 24, 1779 to Dec. 1, 1779. Married in Barre, Dec. 7, 1767. Paine, Joseph — Pvt., Capt. John Oliver's (Athol) Co., service from Sept. 28 to Oct. 18, 1777, to reinforce Northern Army at the time of the reduction of Gen. Burgoyne. Born in Truro, Feb. 20, 1744 or 5. 695 HISTORY OF ATHOL Parsons, Ebeneezer — With Capt. Lord's (Athol) Co. and other companies in Col. Sparhawk's (Rutland Dist.) Regt.; mustered to serve in the Con¬ tinental Army for 9 months, May 19 (probably 1778); arrived at Fishkill June 7, 1778 for the term of 9 months. Phillips, Elija — Pvt., Capt. Jonathan Sibley's (Royalston Co.), Col. Luke Drury's (Grafton) Regt. Service from Aug. 9, 1781 to Nov. 21, 1781. Phillips, Nathaniel — Fifer, Capt. Ephraim Steam's Co. (Petersham), Col. John Rand (Westminster) Regt. Service from July 10, 1780 to October 1 1, 1780. Phillips, Samuel Phillips, Samuel, Jr. According to the Phillips Family geneology Samuel Phillips was born June 22, 1726, birthplace unknown. He had 12 children all born in Southboro, Mass. The geneology states that he removed to Athol in 1771 and deed is found from William Young to him in 1771. The record further states that he and four of his sons served in the Rev¬ olution. The sons of military age at the time of the Revolution were Samuel Jr. of Athol, b 1748, Andrew of Marlboro, N. H. b 1750, Jedediah, of Medway, b 1754, John of Chesterfield, 1757 and Nathaniel of Titzwilliam, 1 759. From this it would appear that only Samuel Jr. and Sr. were Athol soldiers but the services of men of that name are all listed under Samuel Phillips (or Philips). I give below abstract of the records under this name without attempting to allocate between father and son. Private, Capt. John Oliver's Co., Col. Nathan Sparhawk's Regt., pay allowance for 104 days Aug. 12, 1777. Private, Capt. Ephraim Stock- well's Co. Enlisted July 28, 1777, discharged Aug. 29, 1777, service upon Bennington Expedition. Private, Capt. Jonothan Maynard's Co., Lieut., Col. Brooks, Regt., Feb. 8, 1781 for 3 years, age given as 34. Private, Capt. Allen's 4th Mass. Regt. On guard at huts in New Windsor, May and June, 1783. Samuel Jr. died April 19, 1796 in Gerry. Pike, David — Served in the Continental Army from 7th Worcester Co. Regt. Joined Capt. Gates (Hutchinson-Barre) Co., Col. Putnam (Brook¬ field) Regt., term, 3 years. Mustered May 8, 1777. Pvt., Capt. Gardner's Co., Col. Putnam's (Brookfield) Regt. Service from April 21, 1777 to Dec. 31, 1779. Also Col Putnam's (5th) Regt. Continental Army pay accounts for service from Jan. 1, 1780 to April 21, 1780. Born in Hopkinton 1759. Powers, Nathaniel — Pvt., Capt. Ichabod Dexter's (Athol) Co., Col. Ben¬ jamin Ruggles Woodbridge's (South Hadley) 25th Regt.; muster roll Aug. 1, 1775; enlisted May 1, 1775. Service, 3 months, 8 days. Also Company return (probably Oct. 1775). Presson, Benjamin — Preston on Capt. Lord's roll. Pvt., Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co., Col. Nathan Sparhawk's (Rutland Dist.) Regt. Enlisted August 21, 1777, discharged Aug. 26, 1777. Service 10 days, including 5 days travel home. Company marched from Athol to Bennington. Also Capt. Ephraim Steam's (Petersham) Co., Col. 696 SOLDIERS IN AMERICAN REVOLUTION John Rand's (Westminster) Regt.; enlisted July 10, 1780, discharged Oct. 10, 1780. Regt. raised in Worcester Co. to reinforce Continental Army for 3 months. Married in Leicester, Nov. 27, 1760. Highway Surveyor in Athol in 1779. In Dummerston, Vt. 1790. Rameck, Elkanah — Pvt., Capt. Jonathan Sibley's (Royalston) Co., Col. Luke Drury's (Grafton) Regt. Entered service Aug. 9, 1781; marched Aug. 13, 1781; arrived at camp Aug. 22, 1781; discharged Nov. 21, 1781. Service, 3 months, 23 days. Regiment raised for 3 months. Born in Eastham, August 11, 1757. Died Jan. 20, 1831, in Ellsworth, Maine. Rawson, Jonathan — Pvt., Capt. William Henry's (Rutland Dist.); enlisted Oct. 5, 1779; discharged Nov. 10, 1779. Service at Castle and Gov¬ ernor's Islands. Company raised in Worcester Co. Raymond, William — Private, Capt. William Henry's (Rutland District) Co., Col. Whitney's (Harvard) Regt.; enlisted May 5, 1777; discharged July 5, 1777; service 2 months, 10 days at Rhode Island, including 10 days travel to camp and home. Also, Corporal, Capt. Thomas Lord's Co., (Athol), Col. Job Cushing's (Shrewsbury) Regt.; engaged Sept. 1, 1777; discharged Nov. 30, 1777; service, 3 mos. 10 days in Northern depart¬ ment at the time of taking Gen. Burgoyne, including 1 1 days travel home; travel allowed company from Tarrytown, N. Y. to Athol. Reed, Benjamin — Private, Capt. Nathan Hamilton's (Brookfield) Co., Col. Samuel Brewer's (probably Great Barrington or Richmond) Regt. Pay abstract for travel allowance, etc. from Fort Edward home, dated Brook¬ field, Feb. 6, 1777. Rice, Luke — Private, Capt. Jotham Houghton's (Petersham) Co., Col. Josiah Whitney's (Harvard) Regt.; service from July 31, 1778 to date of discharge Sept. 14, 1778. Company raised for six weeks service at Rhode Island. Also in Capt. Dexter's Co. of Minute Men. In Peter¬ sham in 1790. Born in Worcester, April 26, 1754. Rich, Jonathan — Private, Capt. John Oliver's (Athol) Co., Col. Nathan Spar- hawk's (Rutland District) Regt.; service 85 days, travel included. Com¬ pany served in the Jerseys. Died at York in 1776. Rich, Zacheus — Private, Capt. John Oliver's (Athol) Co., Col. Nathan Spar- hawk's (Rutland District) Regt.; service, 104 days, travel included. Company served in the Jerseys. Served in the Continental Army for 3 years, Capt. Blanchard's Co., Col. James Wesson's (9th) Regt. Con¬ tinental Army pay accounts for service from May 14, 1777 to May 14, 1780. Rider, Seth — Capt. Ichabod Dexter's (Athol) Co., Col. Ruggles Woodbridge's (South Hadley) Regt.; receipt for advance pay dated Cambridge Camp, June 20, 1775. Also, Private, same Co. and Regt. muster roll dated August 1, 1775; enlisted April 24, 1775. Service 3 mos., 14 days; also company return (probably Oct. 1775). Robbins, Luke — Served for 9 months from time of arrival at Fishkill, agree¬ able to resolve of April 20, 1778, returned as received of Jonathan Warner, Commissioner, by Col. R. Putnam, July 20, 1778. Engaged for town of Athol. Arrived at fishkill June 7, 1778. Died in Athol, March 21, 1 836. 697 HiSTGRY OF ATHOL Russell, Benjamin — Six months service and returned by Brig. Gen. Patterson as having passed muster in a return dated Camp Totoway, Oct. 25, 1780. Sawtelle, Richard, Jr. — Private, Capt. John Oliver's (Athol) Co., Col. Nathan Sparhawk's (Rutland District) Regt.; enlisted Sept. 28, 1777, discharged Oct. 18, 1777; service 28 days, including 7 days travel home. Com¬ pany marched to reinforce Northern Army at time of the reduction of Gen. Burgoyne. Minute Man, enlisted for 8 months at time of battle of Lexington; enlisted 2 months, 1776; Aug. 1776 enlisted as Sergeant in Capt. Nathan Hamilton's Co. for 4 months; Oct. 1779, enlisted 3 months, Capt. Jotham Houghton's Co. Died July 31, 1838 in Phillip- ston. Seaver, Luther — Capt. Holman's (Sutton) Co., Col. Doolittle's (Petersham) Regt.; order for advance pay dated June 10, 1775; also, receipts given to Benj. Heywood, Paymaster, 4th Regt., for wages for Sept., Dec. 1776. Served in Continental Army from Capt. Josiah Wilder's 7th Worcester Co. Regt. Joined Capt. Adam Wheeler's (Hubbardston) Co., Col. Nixon's (Framingham) Regt. for term of 3 years. Also, Private, Capt Barne's (Salem) (Light Infantry) Co., Col. Nixon's Regt. Served from April 12, 1777 to Dec. 31, 1779; 8 months, 19 days as Private, 24 months as Corporal. Also, Capt. Abel Holden's (Light Infantry) (Sudbury) Co., Col. Nixon's Regt. from Jan. 1, 1780 to March 10, 1780. Enlisted as Private Jan. 24, 1781 in Capt. Benjamin Heywood's Co., Lieut. Col. Calvin Smith's (Mendon) Regt. (6th). Promoted to Sergeant April 6, 1781, and reported on duty at fort Putnam in May 1781. Discharged June 8, 1783. In New York City 1820. Smith, Aaron, Jr. — Sergeant, Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co., Col. Job Cushing's (Shrewsbury) Regt.; engaged Sept. 1, 1777, service 2 mos. 29 days, in Northern department at the time of taking Gen. Burgoyne. ^mith, Asa — Corporal, Capt. Ichabod Dexter's (Athol) Co., Col. Doolittle's (Petersham) Regt. Marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775. Left service May 3, 1775. Sergeant, Capt. John Oliver's Co. (Athol), Col. Nathan Sparhawk's (Rutland District) Regt. Service from Sept. 28, 1777 to October 18, 1777. Company marched to reinforce Northern army at the time of the reduction of Gen. Burgoyne. Served in the Continental Army for term of 3 years; joined Capt. Blanchard's Co., Col. Wesson's (Brookline) Regt. Continental pay accounts for service from Nov. 1, 1777 to Jan. 10, 1780. Died Sept. 19, 1815. Smith, Caleb — Sergeant, Capt. Ichabod Dexter's (Athol) Co., Col. Doolittle's (Petersham) Regt. which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775. Left service May 3, 1775. Also 1st Lieut., Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co. (13th), Col. Nathan Sparhawk's (Rutland District) Regt. of Mass. Militia. 2nd Lieut., Capt. William Henry's (Rutland District) Co., Col. Whitney's (Harvard) Regt.; engaged May 15, 1777, discharged July 5, 1777; service at Rhode Island, Lieut., Capt. Ephraim Stockwell's (Athol) Co., Col. Job Cushing's (Shrewsbury) Regt.; engaged July 28, 1777, discharged Aug. 29, 1777. Company marched to Bennington July 28, 1777 to reinforce army under Gen. Stark. Lieut., Capt. John Oliver's (Athol) Co., Col. Nathan Sparhawk's (Rutland District) Regt. from Sept. 28, 1777 to Oct. 18, 1777 Company marched to reinforce Northern army at the time of the reduction of Gen Burgoyne. Died in 1813, Orwell, Vt. 698 SOLDIERS IN AMERICAN REVOLUTION Smith, Moses — No military record found but Athol Church records say: "Moses Smith died Dec. 1776 at Ashby (?) upon his way from the army at York." Smith, Solomon — Private, Capt. William Warner's Co., Col. Josiah Whit¬ ney's (Harvard) Regt., from May 17, 1776 to Nov. 1, 1776. Private, Capt. Thomas Lord's Co. (Athol), Col. Job Cushing's (Shrewsbury) Regt. Enlisted Sept. 1, 1777, discharged Nov. 30, 1777. Service in Northern department at the time of taking Gen. Burgoyne. Sprague, Israel — Private, Capt. Wing Spooner's (Petersham) Co., Col. Job Cushing's (Shrewsbury) Regt. Served from September 5, 1777 to Nov. 29, 1777. Also in Capt. Dexter's Co. of Minute Men. Stockwell, Ephraim — Lieut., Capt Ichabod Dexter's (Athol) Co., Col. Doo¬ little's (Petersham) Regt. which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775; left service May 3, 1775. 1st Lieut, Capt. John Oliver's (Athol) Co., (6th), Col. Nathan Sparhawk's (Rutland District) (7th) Wore. Co. Regt. of Mass. Militia, reported commissioned April, 1776. Captain, 12th Co., Col. Nathan Sparhawk's (7th Worcester Co.) Regt. of Mass. Militia; commissioned Dec. 10, 1776. Capt., Col. John Cushing's Regt., engaged July 28, 1777, discharged Aug. 29, 1777. Com¬ pany marched to Bennington July 28, 1777 to reinforce army under Gen. Stark. In Gerry 1790. Stockwell, Jesse — Drummer, Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co., Col. Job Cushing's (Shrewsbury) Regt., from Sept. 1, 1777 to Nov. 30, 1777. Service 3 mos., 10 days at the time of taking Gen. Burgoyne. Born in Petersham, Jan. 3,(?) 1759. Stockwell, John — Corporal, Capt. Ichabod Dexter's (Athol) Co., Col. Doolit¬ tle's Regt. (Petersham), which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775; left service May 6, 1775 Sergeant, Capt. John Oliver's (Athol) Co., Col. Nathan Sparhawk's (Rutland District) Regt. Service 104 days; com¬ pany served in the Jerseys. Warrant for pay allowed in Council Aug. 12, 1777. Stockwell, Ziba — Private, Capt. William Henry's (Rutland District) Co. Enlisted Oct. 5, 1779, discharged Nov. 10, 1779. Service at Castle and Governor's Islands. Stone, John — Corporal, Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co., Col. Nathan Spar¬ hawk's (Rutland District) Regt. Enlisted August 21, 1777, discharged Aug. 26, 1777. Company marched from Athol to Bennington. Stow, Thomas — Private, Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co., Col. Nathan Spar¬ hawk's (Rutland District) Regt. Enlisted August 21, 1777, discharged August 26, 1777. Company marched from Athol to Bennington. Also, Capt. Josiah Wilder's (Templeton) Co., Col. Nathan Sparhawk's Regt., commanded by Maj. Daniel Clap; entered service July 4, 1778, dis¬ charged July 15, 1778. Service at Rutland Barracks. Company raised for 20 days service. Stratton, Asa — Private, Capt. William Henry's (Rutland District) Co., Col. Whitney's (Harvard) Regt. Enlisted May 5, 1777, discharged July 5, 1777; service at Rhode Island. Also, Capt. Peter Woodbury's (Royal- ston) Co., Col. Job Cushing's (Shrewsbury) Regt.; enlisted July 28, 1777, discharged Aug. 29, 1777. Company marched to Bennington July 28, 1777, to reinforce guards at the barracks in Rutland under 699 HISTORY OF ATHOL Col. Jacob Garrish (Gerrish) (Newbury), and to escort troops of Saratoga convention to Enfield, Conn. Died Feb. 16, 1779. Stratton, Ebenezer — -Private, Capt. Thomas Fish's Co., Col. Nathan Tyler's Regt. Payroll for Dec. 1779 allowed 1 month, 5 days service at Rhode Island. Private, Capt. Josiah Wilder's (Templeton) Co., Col. Nathan Sparhawk's (Rutland District) Regt. Entered service July 4, 1778, dis¬ charged July 15, 1778. Service at Rutland Barracks; company raised for 20 days service. Died here Sept. 14, 1835. Stratton, Jonathan — Private, Capt. David Holbrook's Co. (Wrentham), Col. Wm. Shepard's (Westfield) (4th) Regt. Enlisted October 10, 1781 for six months. Stratton, Peieg — Private, Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co., Col. Nathan Sparhawk's (Rutland District) Regt. Enlisted August 21, 1777, dis¬ charged Aug. 26, 1777. Company marched from Athol to Bennington. Private, Capt. John Oliver's (Athol) Co., Col. Nathan Sparhawk's Regt. Service from Sept. 28, 1777 to Oct. 18, 1777. Company marched to reinforce Northern army at the time of the reduction of Gen. Burgoyne. Pvt., Capt. Wing Spooner's (Petersham) Co., Col. Job Cushing's (Shrews¬ bury) Regt. Entered service Sept. 5, 1777, to serve with Northern Army. Company raised to serve until Nov. 30, 1777. Stratton, Stephen — Sergeant, Capt. Ichabod Dexter's (Athol) Co., Col. Doolittle's (Petersham) Regt., which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775; left service May 3, 1775. Died here March 31, 1814. Stratton, Thomas — Private, Capt. John Oliver's (Athol) Co., Col. Nathan Sparhawk's (Rutland District) Regt.; service from Sept. 28, 1 777 to Oct. 18, 1777. Company marched to reinforce Northern Army at the time of the reduction of Gen. Burgoyne. Born here Oct. 30, 1758. Stratton (Stratten), Zebulon — Private, Capt. Ichabod Dexter's (Athol) Co., Col. Doolittle's (Petersham) Regt.; which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775. Left service April 23, 1775. Also, Capt. Dexter's Co., Col. Woodbridge's (South Hadley) Regt.; receipt for advance pay dated June 20, 1775. Private, Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co., Col. Nathan Sparhawk's (Rutland District) Regt.; enlisted August 21, 1777, discharged Aug. 26, 1777. Company marched from Athol to Benning¬ ton. Also, Capt. Josiah Wilder's (Templeton) Co., Col. Sparhawk's Regt., commanded by Maj. Daniel Clap; entered service July 4, 1778, discharged July 15, 1778. Service at Rutland Barracks. In Little Valley, N. Y. 1832. Taylor, Rufus — Private, Capt. John Blanchard's (Sutton) Co., Col. James Wesson's (Brookline) Regt. Continental Army pay accounts for service from May 14, 1777 to May 1, 1778 Furloughed until May 1, 1778 and did not return on account of sickness. Died 1783. Thomson, Peter — Private, Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co., Col. Job Cush¬ ing's (Shrewsbury) Regt. Enlisted Sept. 1, 1777, discharged Oct. 20, 1777; service in Northern departments at the time of taking Gen. Burgoyne. Bounty paid May 10, 1781 by the town of Athol to serve in the Continental Army for the term of 3 years. Engaged Feb. 23, 1781. Townsend, Benjamin — Minute Man, 1775; service 16 days. Lieut., Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co., Col. Nathan Sparhawk's (Rutland District) Regt. Engaged Aug. 21, 1777, discharged Aug. 26, 1777; company 700 SOLDIERS IN AMERICAN REVOLUTION marched from Athol to Bennington. 1st Lieut., Capt. Wing Spooner's (Petersham) Co., Col. Job Cushing's (Shrewsbury) Regt. Entered service Aug. 31, 1777, discharged Nov. 30, 1777; service with Northern army. 1st Lieut., 6th Co., 7th Worcester Co. Regt. of Mass. Militia; commis¬ sioned Jan. 30, 1778. Also, 1st Lieut., Capt. John Oliver's (6th) (Athol) Co., 7th Worcester Co. Regt of Mass. Militia. 1st Lieut., Capt. Ephraim Steam's Co. (Petersham) Co., Col. John Rand's (Westminster) Regt.; service from July 10, 1780 to Oct. 10, 1780. Died July 18, 1783. Train, David — Private in Capt. Ephraim Stockwell's (Athol) Co., Col. Job Cushing's (Shrewsbury) Regt. from July 28, 1777 to Aug. 29, 1777. Company marched to Bennington July 28, 1777 to reinforce army under Gen. Stark. Train, Isaac — Mustered May 19 (probably 1778) to serve in the Continental Army for 9 months in Capt. Lord's (Athol) Co. and other companies in Col. Sparhawk's (Rutland District) Regt. Also 5 months 1 1 days service in the Continental Army from July 2, 1780 to Dec. 12, 1780. In Urbanna, N. Y. 1832. Train, Jonathan — Minute Man, 1775; service, 16 days. Sergeant, Capt. Josiah Wilder's (Templeton) Co., Col. Nathan Sparhawk's (Rutland District) Regt., from Aug. 21, 1777 to Aug. 26, 1777. 10 days' service on the alarm at Bennington of Aug. 21, 1777. Twichell, Enos — Private in Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co., Col. Nathan Sparhawk's (Rutland District) Regt., from Aug. 21, 1777 to Aug. 26, 1777. Company marched from Athol to Bennington. Died July 25, 1812. Twichell, Seth, Jr. — Served in Capt. Nathan Hamilton's (Brookfield) Co.; receipt for wages dated Oct. 1776. Private in Capt. Hamilton's Co., Samuel Brewer's Regt.; travel allowance dated Feb. 6, 1777. Upham, Jabez — Private in Capt. Josiah Wilder's Co. (Templeton), Col. Nathan Sparhawk's (Rutland District) Regt.; service from Aug. 21, 1777 to Aug. 26, 1777. 10 days' service on the alarm at Bennington. Born in Brookfield, Dec. 28, 1747. Vernon (Varnum), Willard — Served 100 days in Capt. John Oliver's (Athol) Co., Col. Nathan Sparhawk's (Rutland District) Regt. Company served in the Jerseys. Warrant for pay allowed Aug. 12, 1777. Waite (Wait, Waate), Josiah — Served in Capt. John Dexter's Co., Col. Woodbridge's (South Hadley) Regt. Receipt for advance pay dated Cambridge Camp, June 20, 1775. Also, Private in Capt. Thomas Lord's Co. (Athol), Col. Nathan Sparhawk's (Rutland District) Regt. from Aug. 21, 1777 to Aug. 26, 1777. Company marched from Athol to Ben¬ nington. Service from Sept. 28, 1777 to Oct. 18, 1777 when company marched to reinforce Northern Army at the time of reduction of Gen. Burgoyne. Also, Private in Capt. John Grainger's (New Braintree) Co., Col. Ebenezer Learned's (Oxford) Regt. Enlisted May 1, 1775 for 3 months, 8 days. Of Royalston 1833. Ward, Ruggles — Private in Capt. Peter Woodbury's Co. (Royalston), Col. Job Cushing's (Shrewsbury) Regt. from July 28, 1777 to Aug. 29, 1 777. Company marched to Bennington to reinforce army under Gen. Stark. Orwell, Vt. in 1781. 701 HISTORY OF ATHOL Warner, Ichabod — Mustered June 13, 1777, term of 3 years, to serve in the Continental Army. Received $26 bounty. Private in Capt. John Blanchard's (Sutton) Co., Col. James Wesson's (Brookline) Regt. Con¬ tinental Army pay accounts for service from May 14, 1777 to July 19, 1778; reported died July 19, 1778 of smallpox. Weatherbee, John — Private in Capt. Josiah Wilder's (Templeton) Co., Col. Nathan Sparhawk's (Rutland District) Regt. from Aug. 21, 1777 to Aug. 26, 1777. 10 days' service on the alarm at Bennington. Private, Capt. John Oliver's (Athol) Co., Col. Nathan Sparhawk's (Rutland Dis¬ trict) Regt.; service from Sept. 28, 1 777 to Oct. 1 8, 1 777. Company marched to reinforce Northern army at the time of the reduction of Gen. Burgoyne. In Gerrey, 1790. Whelock, Alpheus — Private in Capt. Joseph Elliot's (Sutton) Co., Col. Wil¬ liam Turner's (Scituate) Regt. Service, 4 months, 6 days at Rhode Island; discharged Dec. 1, 1781. Pittstown, N. Y. 1790. Williams, Ebenezer — Private, Capt. Blanchard's Co., Col. James Wesson's (Brookline) Regt. Continental Army pay accounts for service from May 14, 1777 to May 15, 1778. Reported deserted May 15, 1778. Sharon Vt. 1790. Winslow, Jacob — Jan. 1778 joined Capt. Peat's Co., Col. Ogden Regt.; term to expire Jan. 10, 1780. Wood, Jonathan — Private in Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co., Col. Nathan Sparhawk's (Rutland District) Regt. Service from Aug. 21, 1777 to Aug. 26, 1777. Company marched to Bennington. Enlisted to reinforce Continental Army for term of 6 months; arrived at Springfield, July 6, 1780; marched to camp July 7, 1780 under command of Capt. Dix (Reading). Discharged Dec. 10, 1780. Wood, Kimble — Minute Man, 1775; service, 16 days. Died in Athol, Sept. 22, 1805. Wood, William — Private in Capt. Jotham Houghton's (Petersham) Co., Col. Josiah Whitney's (Harvard) Regt. Service from July 31, 1778 to Sept. 14, 1778 at Rhode Island. Young, David — Private in Capt. Dan. Haw's Co., Col. Samuel Holden Par¬ son's (10th) Regt. Enlisted Dec. 5, 1775, engaged to serve until Jan. 1 5 "next." Also, Private in Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co., Col. Nathan Sparhawk's (Rutland District) Regt. Service from Aug. 21, 1777 to Aug. 26, 1777. Company marched from Athol to Bennington. Private in Capt. Jotham Houghton's Co. (Petersham), Col. Josiah Whit¬ ney's (Harvard) Regt. Service from July 31, 1778 to Sept. 14, 1778 at Rhode Island. Born in Athol, Sept. 14, 1755. Died here Dec. 13, 1841. Young, Robert, Jr. — Minute Man, 1775; service, 5 days. Also served in Capt. Dexter's (Athol) Co., Col. Ruggles Woodbridge's (South Hadley) Regt.; receipt for advance pay dated June 20, 1775. Corporal in Capt. Thomas Lord's (Athol) Co., Col. Nathan Sparhawk's (Rutland District) Regt. from Aug. 21, 1777 to Aug. 26, 1777. Company marched from Athol to Bennington. Born in Athol, 1753. Died Berlin, Vt., Apr. 1828. Young, Samuel — Minute Man, 1775; 16 days service. Also, 4th Sergeant, Capt. Josiah Wilder's (Templeton) Co., Col. Nathan Sparhawk's (Rutland 702 SOLDIERS IN AMERICAN REVOLUTION District) Regt.; service from July 4, 1778 to July 10, 1778 at Rutland Barracks. Died here Dec. 5, 1831. Young, William — Minute Man, 1775; 16 days service. Also, Sergeant in Capt. John Oliver's Co. (Athol), Col. Nathan Sparhawk's (Rutland Dis¬ trict) Regt. Service of 104 days in the Jerseys. Warrant for pay allowed Aug. 12, 1777. Corporal in Capt. John Oliver's Co., Col. Spar- hawk's Regt. from Sept. 28, 1777 to Oct. 18, 1777. Company marched to reinforce Northern Army at the time of the reduction of Gen. Bur- goyne. Died April 21, 1810. INDEX A Abar, J. Weston, 630, 636 A. O. U. W., 512 A. P. A., 512 Academy, Athol's, 65 Academy of Music, 157, 163, 238, 246, 250, 259, 373, 418, 432, 539, 541, 601 Adams, Charles, 301 Adams, Daniel, 1 7 Adams, Daniel E., 302 Adams, & Downs, 302 Adams, Dr. Frank W., 424 Adams, Hiram B., 348 Adams, Dr. Howard C., 583 Adams, Joel, 83 Adams, John M., 168 Adams & Leonard, 348 Adams, Louisa M., 597 Adams, Lucy, 594 Adams, Mary C., 597 Adams, Oliver, 339 Aderton, Johnson Assoc., 564 Adonio Shomo Corporation, 150 Advent Christian Church, 522, 527 Agudus Achim Synagogue, 168 Ahern, James D., 283, 357 Ainsworth, Merrick E., 401, 430 Airport, 218 Aishberg, Julius, 167, 235 Albee, Eva L., 1 62 Aldrich, Frank A., 239 Aldrich & Stone, 239, 540 Alexander, R. C., 244, 290 Allder, Rev. H. Goring, 156 Allen Chair Co., 290 Allen, Fred, 244, 290, 575 Allen, George S., 373 Allen, John, 228 Allen, Oscar C., 239 Allen St., 244 Allen, Stephen M., 320 Allen & Turner, 373 Alpha Apartments, 382 Amatto, Vincent, 231 American Legion, 529 Ames, C. H., 234 Amherst, Lord Jeffrey, 46 Amoskeag Fire Engine, 510 Amsden Bros., 368, 369 Amsden, Charles F., 367, 383 Amsden, Elizabeth (Bridgeford), 76' Amsden, Elliot, 5 1 4 Amsden, Festus F., 273, 277 Amsden, Festus G., 359, 437, 438 Amsden, Frank J., 639 Amsden, George M., 639 Amsden, Hero, 514 Amsden, Lauriston K., 372 Amsden, Lillian A., 163, 639 Amsden, Margaret 0., 639 Amsden, Otho F., 313 Amsden, Warren, 284, 639 Amsden, Washington H., 277, 278, 313, 331, 424, 427, 486 Anctil, J. Wilfred, 353 Anderson, "Joe,” "John," 362, 415 Andrews, Rev. Elisha, 107, 119,, 267 Andrews Family, 549 Andrews, Albert, 646 Andrews, Chester, 646 Andrews, Esther (French), 646' Andrews, Ethel, 646 Andrews, Florence, 646 Andrews, Frank, 646 Andrews, George W., 560 Andrews, Perlie, 646 Andrews, Phoebe L., 84 Andrews, Tillie (Tangway), 646 Anoris, Edward, 647 Anoris, Nancy C., 647 Ansin Shoe Co., 346 Ansin, Sidney, 29 1 Anti-Slavery, 131 Anwelt Shoe Co., 346 Appleton, Scott, 515 Arcade, 142,170,237 Ardendale, 255 Armistice Day (1st), 449 Armstrong, Rev. George, 153 Arsenault, Henry, 383 Assembly Halls, 257 Associated Charities, 513 Athol Acqueduct Co., 273 Athol Amusement Co., 262 Athol Board of Trade, 346, 540 Athol Brick Co., 333 Athol Building Co., 286 704 INDEX Athol Center P. 0., 435 Athol Circulating Library, 415 Athol Clothing Co., 381 Athol Co-operative Bank, 292, 359, 406 Athol Credit Union, 363 Athol Daily News, 362,391,393, 395 Athol Depot P. O., 435, 539 Athol Gas & Electric Co., 206 Athol Granite Works, 366 Athol Industrial Corporation, 346 Athol Lodge, A.F. & A.M., 262 Athol Machine Co., 307, 309 Athol Manufacturing Co., 320, 385, 400, 614 Athol AvAemorial Hospital, 301 Athol Military Band, 459, 566 Athol National Bank, 361, 384 Athol, Orange St. Ry., 207 Athol Post Office, 556 Athol Pump Co., 292 Athol Reed & Rattan Co., 324, 541 Athol Reservoir Co., 273 Athol Savings Bank, 291, 366, 368, 404, 405, 408, 596 Athol Sentinel, 393 Athol Table Mfg. Co., 337, 354 Athol Toy Co., 280 Athol Transcript, 373, 392, 393 Athol Water Co., 273 Athol Women's Club, 1 1 1 Atwood, Andrew, 348 Auburn Hall Bazaar, 167, 378 Auburn Place, 242 Austin, Dr. Horace B., 567 Australian Voting System, 434 Autumnial Garland, 65 Avery, F. C., 79 Avery, Webb R„ 82, 522 Avery, William G., 405 Avey, Rev. Clarence F., 145, 147 Ayer, Rev. Charles, 123, 127 B Babbitt, George W., 381, 645 Babbitt, Mary L., 595 Babbitt, Nathaniel, 95, 425 Babbitt, Sewell, 372 Babcock, Jason, 23, 24, 31, 220 Bachelder, Charles W., 352 Bachelor, A. A., 72 Back, R. Harlow, 575 Backus, Rev. Isaac, 41, 115 Bacon, Harold, 5 1 5 Bacon, John, 515 Bailey, Rev. Ira, 114 Bailey, R. A. & Son, 333 Baker, Abner, 1 0 1 Baker, Abraham, 167 Baker, Esq. Chas., 480 Baker, Daniel, 4 1 0 Baker, Milton, 273, 285 Baker, Sherebiah, 223 Bakery, 281 Balcom, John L., 211,379,515 Baldwin & Caswell, 486 Baldwin, Elio ry A., 73 Baldwin, Col. Loami, 182, 184 Baldwin, Rev. Wm. W., 145, 147 Ball, Absalom, 599 Ball, Adonijah, 47, 505 Ball Brothers & Young, 357, 361 Ball, Rev. Clarence L., 160, 161 Ball, Elijah, 140 Ball, Emma J., 594 Ball, Frank A., 261,310,498,560 Ball, Frank H„ 373 Ball, Moses, 47 Ball, Persis F., 594 Ballard, Dea. Elijah, 110,114,136 Ballard, Elizabeth, 1 10 Ballard, Hattie, 589 Ballard, John, 116,117,275 Ballard, Joshua, 426 Ballard, Mary, 1 1 0 Bancroft, Benjamin, 17 Bancroft, Charles, 293 Bancroft, Chester, 33 1 Bands (Music), 5 1 3 Bangs, Adolphus, 237, 349 Bangs, Jacob, 194, 198, 602 Bangs, Joel, 237 Banking, 397 Banks (early), 399 Bannon, Charles W., 190, 236 Bannon, Frank W., 494 Bannon, Rev. Fr., 148 Baptist Church, 90, 415 Baptist Church Building, 119, 121,. 122, 124, 483, 555 Baptist Meeting House, 107, 126, 243 Barber, Edith L., 419 Barber, Emily, 621 Barber, Harding R., 157, 363, 365, 424, 437 Bardwell, F. W., 7 1 Bare Hill, 58 Barker, Rev. John W., 159, 161,.. 162, 428, 429 Barker, Nathan B., 337 Barlow, Charles F., 335 Barnard, Ebenezer L., 665 705 INDEX Barnard, Franklin, 556 Barnard, Rev. Stephen, 1 14 Barney, Sarah C., 162, 163 Barrett, James, 217 Barrett, Robert, 560 Barrus, Benjamin F., 556 Barrus, H. C., 381 Barrus, J. Edward, 515 Barrus, Lt. Richard, 539 Barry, Thomas, 507, 524 Bartlett, Rev. E. M„ 125,127, 156, 415, 487 Bartlett, Herbert L., 418 Bascom, Rev. Ezekiel L., 1 08, 1 09, 524, 588 Bass, Dwight E., 280 Bassett, Charles, 70 Bassett, Capt. Charles C., 134, 300, 381, 404, 430, 645 Bassett & Chickering, 369 Bassett, Cyrus, 271 Bassett, Elias, 339, 427, 431, 543 Bassett, Elton M., 255 Bassett, Harry E., 255 Bassett, Jacob, 338, 339 Bassett, Lucinda S., 134 Bassow, Dr. Carleton F., 567 Bassow, Dr. George J., 559, 567 Batchelder, Daniel, 341 Batchelder, George, 599 Batchelder, William, 599 Bates, Abbie (Sheldon), 636 Bates, C. Waldo, 424 Bates, Charles A., 351,352 Bates, Dresser T., 309 Bates, George D., 157, 206, 239, 246, 351, 352, 402, 406, 494, 542, 636 Bates, Mrs. George D., 519, 629 Bates, James P., 351, 352 Battles, Cynthia R., 140 Battles, William R., 140 Beach & Halbert, 372 Beal, George M., 292 Beal, J. William Sons, 82 Beals, Jonothan, 3 1 1 Bearsden (New Salem), 10 Bearsden Road, 188, 213 Beckwith, Rev. B. B., 128, 136 Beebe, Florence, 146, 620 Beebe, Newell S., 620 Beecher, Robert E., 575 Beede, Rev. Harold, 1 53 Beers, Rev., 4 1 9 Beers, Rev. J. S., 155, 156 Beeton, Mary, 24 Belbin, Wm., 565 Belcher, Gov. Jonothan, 1 3, 1 5 Bell, John D., 391 Bell School House, 136 Bemis, Charles B., 360 Bemis, George A., 515 Bemis, Dr. Howard A., 582 Bemis, Leonard A., 515 Bemis, William, 514 Benjamin, Foster J., 658 Bennett, A. G., 320, 322 Bennett, Keith, 647 Bennett & Van Vaulkenburg, 321, 322 Bentz, Dr. Felix J., 567 Berry, Arthur J., 629 Berry, Arthur W., 629 Berry, Lee, 629 Berry, Mary E. (Walton), 629 Berry, Roy N., 146 Berry, Sanford L., 629 Bevis, Charlene, 653 Bevis, Charles, 653 Bigelow, Abel, 270 Bigelow, Adeline M., 84 Bigelow, Charles, 515 Bigelow, Daniel, 318 Bigelow, Ellen M., 74, 75 Bigelow, Elmer, 66 Bigelow, Rev. Increase, 143, 147 Bigelow, J. Sanford, 389 Bigelow, Josiah P., 437 Bigelow, Oscar J., 121 Bigelow, William, 91,92, 101, 114, 429, 430 Bills & Taylor, 329 Bingham, Abba P., 604 Birch, Dr. S. J., 567 Birch St., 253 Bird Ave., 255 Bisbee, Arthur W., 242 Bishop-Dodge Co., 384 Bishop, George A., 589 Bishop, George W., 201, 214, 427, 428, 541 Bissell, Edwin M., 659 Bissell, Gertie B., 659 Bissell, Rollo O., 659 Bissell, Sadie (Ashmore), 659 Bissell, Samuel R., 363, 659 Bixby, 379 Black, Esther M., 441 Black, George A., 73 Blackmer, Roy H., 515 Blake & Bruce, 283 Blake, Rev. Henry A., 133, 136 415, 416, 486 Blake, Thomas, 5 1 3 706 INDEX Blakely, Ella G., 610 Blanchard, Amos, 595 Blanchard, Benjamin, 31 1 Bl ss, Hattie, 609 Bl ss, Milton, 609 Bl ss, Perrin, 284 Bl ss. Stephen W., Bl ssv i lie, 185 Bl zzard, 550 281, 387, 509 Block, Hill , 214 Blodgett, Amos, 507 Blodgett, Frank A., 514 Blondin, Archie, 646 Blodin, Dorothy S. (Nash) 646 Blondin, Harold, 646 Blondin, Jacqueline, 646 Blondin, Madeline, 646 Blondin, Sarah L. 646 Board of Trade, 85 249 Bog Beadow Bridge, 173 Bolton, George C., 441 Bolton, Dr. William J., 526, 567 Bond, Arline H., 420 Bosquette, Donald G., 616 Bosquette, Frederick M., 616 Bosquette, Jeane, 616 Boston & Albany R. R., Athol Branch, 1 94 Boston & Lowell R. R., 183 Boston & Maine R. R., 200, 201 Boston Police Strike, 534 Boston & Worcester R. R., 1 83 Bosworth, Ann Maria, 85 Bosworth, Rev. George W., D.D., 125 Bosworth, Rev. L. A., 147 Boudreau, Samuel J., 385, 425 Bourne & Hadley, 354 Bourne, Levi, 589 Boutell, Clifton, 659 Boutell, Jeffry, 659 Boutelle, George W., 284, 428 Boutelle, Harry F., 284 Boutelle, John, 284 Boutelle, Mill, 283, 608 Bowers, Jason, 593 Bowker, A.rthur H., 388 Bowker, Dr. A. V., 187, 384, 549, 568, 584 Bowman, Francis, 1 7 Bowman, Rev. Jonathan, 37 Bowman, Capt. Jos., 17 Boyce, Roy L. Post, 538 Boyden, Elbridge, 125, 181, 377 Boynton, John, 401 Boynton, John W., 317 Brackett, Charlene E., 597 Brackett, Reginald E., 597 Bradburn, Rev. George, 113, 114 Bradford, Allan, 647 Bradley, Mary Sawyer, 560 Bragg, Edward F., 313, 332 Bragg, Victor, 628 Brattle St., 245 Brattleboro, 1 83, 1 85, 1 87 Brattleboro & Fitchburg R. R., 1 85 Brattleboro Turnpike, 179 Breck, Amos, 589 Breed, F. W„ 286, 540 Brewer's Block, 525 Brewer & Carlson, Inc., 360, 630 Brewer, George S., 262, 280, 283, 286, 296, 360, 630 Brewer, Helen L., 630 Brewer, Mabel Lee, 360 Brewer's Skating Rink, 515 Brick Sghool House, 1 18 Brickyard, 333, 367 Brickyard R. R. Crossing, 217, 333 Bridge, Adin, 339 Bridge Repairs, 550 Bridges (R.R.), 1 92 Bridges, Benjamin, 656 Briggs, Barbara (Peck) 622 Briggs, Clarence M., 556 Briggs, Clayton W., 622 Briggs, Dora (Havemaker), 622 Briggs, Eleanor W., 622 Briggs, Evelyn (Rendell) 622 Briggs, Howard A., 622 Briggs, Rev. Isaac, 117, 118, 120, 127 Briggs, Kathryn J., 622 Briggs, Kendall W., 622 Briggs, Lawrence A., 622 Briggs, Dea. Levi, 117, 118 Briggs, Melvin H., 622 Briggs, Moses, 120 Briggs, Priscilla M., 622 Briggs, S. B., 337 Briggs, Stuart M., 622 Briggs, Thomas J., 622 Briggs, Walter A., 622 Briggs, Will K., 321 Briggs, William, 514 Brigham, Aaron, 226, 318 Brigham, Alice A., 593 Brigham, Alyce, 593 Brillant, Lorenzc, 363 Broad, Asa, 336 Brock Block, 344 Brock, Winfield H., 86, 321, 394, 498, 499 Brock, W. H. & Co., 393, 394 Brookhouse, 522 707 INDEX Brooks, George A., Spanish War Vet., 538 Brooks, James W., 151 Brooks, John, 39, 228, 229, 288 Brooks & King, 388 Brooks, Oscar T., 376, 377, 406, 424, 427 Brooks, O. T. Grocery Store, 368 Brooks, Rev. Phillips, 1 55 Brooks, Ralph O., 376 Brooks, Mrs. Samuel, 175 Brooks & Sears, 376 Brooks' Tavern, 228 Brooks, Thomas D., 431 Brookside Park, 206 Brookside Road, 217 Broons, Dr. Frank E., 568 Brouilette, Albert A., 254 Brouilette, Anselme, 515 Brouilette, Charles S., 581 Broun, Timothy, 624 Brown, Rev. Mr., 34 Brown & Ackley, 319 Brown, Alfred H„ 429, 459, 643 Brown, Annie E. (Rowe) 643 Brown, Arthur H., 644 Brown, Benjamin E., 643 Brown, Benjamin F., 75 Brown, Lt. Benjamin H., 424, 643 Brown, Charles H., 628, 643 Brown, Charles J., 658 Brown, Daniel, 21 Brown, E. D., 200 Brown, Edith M. (Hager) 643 Brown, Edward R., 643 Brown, Eleanor M., 643 Brown, Elisha F„ 157,195,198, 415, 424, 540 Brown, Eugene S., 372 Brown, Florence F. (Ruggles) 643 Brown, Florence M. (Ritchie) 644 Brown, Frank H., 643 Brown, Gertrude E. (Newton) 643 Brown, H., 71 Brown, Rev. Horace F., 125, 127, 628 Brown, Irving F., 643 Brown, Isaac, 365 Brown, Isabelle E., 644 Brown, James, 508 Brown, Jeane B., 643 Brown, Jesse, 23 1 Brown, Joseph, 17 Brown, Rev. Joseph, 104, 105 Brown, Nancy, 643 Brown, Richard, 643 Brown, Robert A., 644 .Brown, Roger H., 643 Brown, Rose M., 643 Brown, Sadie E. (Skelley) 644 Brown, Samuel S., 365 Brown, Sarah P., 483 Brown, Susan J. (Geddes) 644 Brown, William L., 644 Brown, Dr. Windsor A., 568, 584 Browning, Walter J ., 505 Bruce, F. Leon, 359 Bruce, Stutson D., 358 Bruno Store, 389 Bruso, Nancy, 646 Bruso, Theodore, 646 Bryan, Charles, 515 Bryant, Clement, 330, 331, 664 Bryant, Gridley, 182 Buchanan, Amie M., 559 Buckley, 314 Buckman, Amos, 48 Buckman Brook Water Supply, 498 Buckman, Edward, 45, 46 Buehl, Carolyn, 654 Buehl, Edward, 654 Buehl, Frederick H., 654 Buehl, Prof., M.D., 146 Bugbee, Rev. Rolla S., 134, 136 Bullard, Daniel, 488 Bullard, Ebenezer W., 424 Bullard, Franklin D., 488 Bullard, Mary Ann, 488 Bullard, Nathan, 587 Bullard Tomb, 602 Bunker Hill Monument, 182 Burbank, L. S., 69 Burbeck, John W., 284 Burgess, Henry A., 599 Burgess, Henry M., 200 Burgess, Rev. Thomas C., 156 Burial Customs, 490 Burleigh, Clare Hoyt, 533, 534 Burleigh, Henry M., 575 Burns, Dr. H. H., 568 Burt, Rev. Ebenezer, 1 1 7 Burton, Rev. W. S., 114 Burying Grounds, 478 Butler, Harry H., 82 Butler, James P., 372 Butterworth, Charles H., 274 Button Fire Engine, 510 Byron, Nellie H., 487 C C St., 249 Cady, Ephriam, 102 Cahill, Anne M., 647 Cahill, Elizabeth A., 647 708 INDEX Cahill, Patricia E., 647 Cahill, William J., 647 Calcari, Pedro, 5 1 5 Call, Percy G., 361 Call, Ulysses G., 357,361 Callahan, William J., 434, 435 Calvary Cemetery, 484 Camann, Milton H., 575 Camann, Saul, 363, 375 Cambridge, Edward, 311 Cambridge, Town of 175 Campbell, Don W., 352 Campbell, John W„ 82, 519, 565, 566 Canal, 179 Canal St., 242 Canton Athol, 539 Capen, Rev. John, 147 Capitol Theater, 262, 383 Car Track Location, 205, 206 Carbon St., 2 1 6 Carbone, Chester C., 291, 374 Cardany Block, 262, 370, 529, 5 Cardany & Fish Tract, 245 Cardany, J. B., 245 Carlin, 165 Carlson, Carl M., 630 Carlson, Carl S., 360, 630 Carlson, Dexter J ., 630 Carlson, Geraldine W. (MacKnight) 630 Carlson, Phyllis L., 630 Carlson, Robert L., 360, 630 Carlson, Robert L., Jr., 630 Carlson, Severn Carl, 630 Carnegie, Andrew, 417 Carnegie Corporation, 419 Carpenter, Francis S., 622 Carroll, Robert, 660 Carroll, Verne A., 660 Carroll, Vernon, 660 Carrouth, Amos, 342 Carruth, Charles A., 374, 378, 3 424, 428, 556, 557 Carruth, Fanny, 74 Carruth, Levi W., 544, 608 Carter, John A., 337 Carter, Z. E., 209, 540 Casavant, Osmond H., 359 Case, William, 4 1 0 Cass, Games, 303 Cass, Gina L., 605 Cass, Grace Fish, 520 Cass, Grace M., 605 Cass, Ira J., 376 Cass, Nathan D., 280, 306, 307, 337, 376, 559, 560, 603 Cass Toys, 296 Cass, William F„ 218,605 Cassidy, "Capt." 236 Castle Ave., 255 Caswell, Arthur E., 351, 352 Caswell, Lilley B., 146, 240, 247, 253, 416, 420, 431 Catholic Church, 121 Catholic Church Lot, 75, 80 Causeway St. Station, 199 Causey, Rev. L. P., 145, 147 Census of Athol in 1790, 678, 679 Centennial Building, 359 Central Block, 210, 378, 379, 556 Central Park, 206 Central St., 229, 243 Chamberlain, Priscilla E., 588 Chandler, John, 356 Chandler, Judge Thomas, 633 Chandler, Capt. Wm., 15, 17, 172 Chapin, Oliver, 329 Chapin, Thomas, 15, 171 > Chaplin, Dr. Ebenezer, 107, 1 10, 342, 423, 426, 568 Chapman, Charles A., 85, 406 Chapman, Henry, 191 Charles River Bridge, 175 Charlestown, N. H., 30 Chase, Dr. Daniel A., 568 Chase, Freeman, 139 Chase, Moses, 479 Cheetham, Dr. D. B., 565, 568 Chenery, Isaac, 351 Cheney, Amos, 362, 524 Cheney, Amos Leander, 63, 293, 294, 295, 328, 427, 479, 604 Cheney, Annie (Knapp) 73 Cheney, C. Warren, 303 Cheney, Dexter, 273, 280, 281, 283 5 1 3 Cheney, Fred H., 294, 604 Cheney, Henry D., 359 , Cheney, Hesekiah, 226 Cheney, James M., 286, 315, 486 Cheney, John, 304 Cheney, Louis H., 514 Cheney's Pond, 294, 296 Cheney, Samuel French, 303 Cheney, Wallace, 353 Cheshire R. R., 1 85 Chestnut Hill, 54 Chestnut Hill Ave., 314 Chestnut Hill Cemetery, 491 Chsetnut Hill Reunions, 57 Chickering, Rev., 109 Child, John, 1 7 Chipman, Rev. R. M., 131, 136 709 INDEX Christian Science Church, 162 Church of Our Lady Immaculate, 148, 149 Church, Paul, 1 1 4 Church Record, 393 Church St., 242 Citizens' Building Co., 291 City Hotel, 233, 322, 366 Civil War, 410 Civil War History, 1 3 1 Civilian Defense Committee, 457 Clapp, Edward, 5 1 4 Clapp, Erastus, 5 1 4 Clapp, Samuel, 134 Clapp, Rev. W. A., 140 Clare, Edwin A., 82, 408 Clark, Elder A. J„ 164 Clark, George, 5 1 5 Clark, George W., 428 Clark, John W. M., 366, 382 Clark, Phineas Brook, 336 Clark, Samuel, 336 Clark, Dr. Thomas B., 583 Clarke, Rev. Jonas, 104, 105 Clarke, Rev. S. F., 22,65,105, 112, 113, 114, 191 Clay Pits, 250 Clayton, Justin W., 437 Clemence, John, 334 Clement, William W., 424 Cleveland, Delight, 587 Cleveland, E. E., 379,381,556 Cleveland, George H., 389 Cleveland, Rev. T. C., 146,147 Closson, Eugene E., 591 Closson, Faye H., 591 Closson, William E., 591 Closson, William M., 591 Clothier's Shop, 314 Clough, Fred M., 290 Cobb, Joseph G., 360 Coffin, Bernal F., 594 Colburn, Francis, 337 Colburn, Dr. S. H., 415, 568 Cold, Summer, 546 Cole, Kimball, 662 Coleman, John, 103 Collins, Dennis C., 441 Collins, Dexter & Lyman, 339 Collins, Ernest L., 80 Collins, Miss, 84 Colony, Dr. George D., 65, 68, 568 Comins, Alvin, 646 Comins, Bessie (Smith)) 646 Comins, Fred, 646 Comins, Helen, 646 Comins, Lawrence, 646 Comins, Leone, 646 Commercial House, 233 Commercial Telegraph Co., 210 Commerford, Herman M., 515 Committee of Correspondence, 91 Conant, Artemas B., 290 Conant, Arthur F. P., 21 1 Confederation, Articles of 96 Congregational Sunday School, 136 Conklin, Rev. Charles, 1 14 Conn. Valley St. Ry. Co., 207 Connors, John B., 234 Constitutional Convention, 97 Contagious Disease Hosp., 549 Converse, Alice L. (Sigourney) 631 Converse, Ann, 631 Converse, Evelyn, 63 1 Converse, Frank B., 630 Converse, Frank L., 631 Converse, Helen (Knight) 631 Converse, Howard B., 631 Converse, Madeline, 631 Converse, Rev. Otis, 1 22, 1 27 Converse, Penelope, 63 1 Cook, Anna F., 519 Cook, Caleb A., 382 Cook, E. Ward, 581 Cook, Henry, 370 Cook, Lydia, 1 53 Cook, Sanford B., 71 Cook, Vernon, 514 Cooke Block, 528 Cooke, Charles H., 408, 425, 428, 520 Cooke, George H., 232, 263, 364, 365, 374, 383, 532 Cooke, Howard W., 428 Cooke, Jacob S., 273, 280, 400 Cooke, L. V. B., 284 Cooke, Mary A., 365, 419 Cooke, Roy F., 516,562,565 Coolidge, Albert, 385 Coolidge, Augustus, 125, 253, 320, 321, 364, 385, 493, 540 Coolidge, Dr. D. G., 261, 559, 568 Coolidge, Frank, 515 Coolidge, Fred, 515 Coolidge, Henry H., 605 Coolidge, Dr. James, 569 Coolidge, Rev. John M., 143, 147 Coolidge, M. Eunice, 520, 534 Coolidge, Mabel (Cook) 72 Coolidge St., 253 Coombs, Arthur, 630 Coombs, David B., 630 Coombs, Irving B., 630 710 INDEX Coombs, Lee H., 630 Coombs, Phoebe, 630 Coombs, Virginia, 630 Co-operative Furniture Co., 290 Co-operative Store, 389 Corinthian Ledge, K. of P., 368 Cosby, Alice, 646 Cosby, Earl, 646 Cosby, Elmer, 646 Cosby, Ernest, 646 Costello, Rev., 149,566 Cottager, 393 Cotton Factory, 1 1 0, 3 1 7, 547 Cotton, James, 234, 247, 328, 427, 428 County Commissioners, 244 Cowdry, Isaac, 335 Cowles, Amy E., 598 Cowles, Charles H., 598 Cowles, Davis O., 598 Cowles, Deborah, 598 Cox, Hon. Chann ing H., 261 Cox, Rev. J. H., 125, 1 27, 4 1 6 Cox, Joseph W., 364 Coxeter, Dr. J. J., 581 Cragin-Downing Fund, 419 Crandall, Rev. Frank B., 161, 162 Crandall, Joel, 164 Crane, Joseph, 226 Crawford, Albert C., 283 Crawford, Chester, 270, 340 Crawford, J. F., 153 Crawford, Martha J., 153 Credit Unions, 407 Crocker, Alvah, 148,185,186 187, 192, 200 Crosby, Charles, 508 Crosby, Ernest, 647 Crosby, Joseph, 430 Crosby, Josiah D., 65 Crosby, Lydia, 1 1 6 Crosby, Nancy, 599 Cro by, Raymond E., 647 Crosby, Richard E., 647 Crosby, Sharon A., 647 Crosby, "Sister", 1 1 6 Crosby, Sylvia L., 647 Crosby's Tavern, 524 Crosby, Wm., 225 Cross, Bertrand T., 631 Cross, Fred W., 425, 596 Crossman, Charles A., 424 Crouch, Richard, 17 Cuddy, Dr. James F., 569, 584 Cummings, Arthur C., 515 Cummings Block, 360 Cummings, H. P. & Co., 238 Cummings, Joseph, 95 Cummings, Maria, 593 Curran, Rev. Michael J., 149 Curtis, Eunice L., 84 Cushing, Lucy, 105,586 Cushing, Nathaniel, 105 Cutler, Ammi, 3 1 8 Cutler, Nathaniel A., 81 Cutler, Rev. Temple, 133, 136, 142 Cut-throat Brook, 497 Cutting, Addison, 153,270 Cutting & Dexter, 381 Cutting, Ensign George, .21, 89, 221 Cutting, John, 1 7 Cutting, Persis F., 153 Cutting, William, 335 D D A. R„ 530 Dalrymple, CaDt, Andrew, 46 Dame, Dr. F. Russell, 569 Damon, Edward H., 370 Danforth, George, 17 Darling, Dr. B. H., 574 Darling, Wheeler, 175 Darling, Dr. Wm. E., 581 Davenport, Charles W., 245, 328 Davenport, David B., 285 Davenport, Otis P., 285 David, Iona, 625 Davidson, 167,382 Davis, Alice J., 598 Davis, Asor S., 143,373,620 Davis, Daniel, 1 1 5 Davis, Dix F., 598 Davis, Dwight S., 218, 219 Davis, Eliza R., 620 Davis, Elizabeth (Morse) 620 Davis, Ellen M., 620 Davis, Evelyn E., 598 Davis, Ezekiel G., 620 Davis, Fannie Z., 620 Davis, Florence, 620 Davis, Fred R., 494 Davis, George A., 598 Davis, George S., 598 Davis, Jenett J., 620 Davis, John A., 598 Davis, John M., 598 Davis, Jonothan, 597, 598 Davis, Dr. Kendall, 569 Davis, Louise S., 597 Davis, Lydia E., 620 Davis, Lydia H., 617 Davis, Mabelle, 598 Davis, Mariah S., 597 INDEX Davis, Mary L., 598 Davis, Rev. Reuben J., 127 Davis, Robert S., 598 Davis, Susie W., 359 Davis, Sylvester, 140, 142, 143 Davis, Walter, 515 Day, Rev. Ambrose, 1 27 Day, Joseph, 15, 171 Day, Marshall M., 431 Deane, Clarence E., 242, 430, 439, 457, 594 Deane, Erastus, 84 Deane, Dr. Henry A., 569 Deane, Marvis A., 594 Dearborn, Joseph J., 290, 428 Death, Jotham, 53, 271 Death, Martha, 607 Decker, Edwin J., 140 Deerfield River, 1 82 Deisel Engine, 1 36 Demolay, 527 Demos, James, 372 Dennis, Charlotte, 84 Dennison Lake, 185 Denny & Co., 364 Denny, Orville, 364 Depot, 199,200,201 Depot Village, 122 Deputy Sheriffs, 430 Derby, Abraham, 282, 342 Derby, Frank W., 406 Derby, Gertrude A. S., 1 63 Derby, Nathan, 282 Despatch Fire Engine, 190, 510 D'Entremont & Punis, 291 Dexter, Barbara (Bates) 629, 636 Dexter, Baynard P., 636 Dexter, Benjamin, 1 16, 332 Dexter, Edith L., 629, 636 Dexter, Frank E., 629, 636 Dexter, Fred A., 636 Dexter, Frederick A., 636 Dexter, Hannah, 1 1 6 Dexter, Ichabod, 92, 93, 94, 101, 221, 398, 425, 482 Dexter, Jane, 629, 636 Dexter, Joseph, 332, 636 Dexter, Louisa (Sheldon) 636 Dexter, Moses, 636 Dexter, Remember, 636 Dexter, Robert L., 352, 405, 559, 629, 636 Dexter, Ruth C. (Anderson) 636 Dexter, Samuel, 44, 332 Dexter, Sarah J. (Woods) 636 Diamand, Dr. Harris, 569 Diamond Match Co., 289 Dickerson, Joshua, 17,21 Dickenson, Moses, 17, 21 Dike, Donald, 83 Dillon Block, 407 Dillon, Florence, 657 Dillon, Thomas S., 352, 361, 362 Dillon, William E., 657 Dimmock, A. V., 544 Dinsmore St., 254 Disabled War Veterans, 531 Disaster Loan Corp., 556 District Court, 432 Doane, Amos, 254 Doane's Castle, 254 Doane, Frank C., 563 Doane, Harry L., 437, 448, 459, 529, 538 Doane, Joel, 389 Doane, Mr. & Mrs. Joel M., 416 Doane, Mercie S., 417 Doane, Roswell L., 151, 431 Dodds, John, 226 Dodge, Belle Ainsworth (Prouty) 231 Dodge, Dr. Geo. F., 570 Dodge, Mr. & Mrs. George H., 528 Dodge, George M., 566 Dole, Minnie Gourlay, 163 Donah, George H., 361 Donaldson, Rev. Charles, Jr., 162 Donley, Carl G., 6 1 6 Donley, George S., 207, 616 Donley, Geraldine, 616 Donley, Olive R. (Hough) 616 Donovan, John W., 368, 557 Donovan, Rev. R. J. 148 Doolan, C. Frank, 231, 595 Doolan, Charles F., Jr., 595 Doolan, Kenneth Edward, 595 Doolan, Marjorie L., 595 Doolan, Richard F., 595 Doolan, Robert L., 595 Double Track R. R., 197 Doubleday, Helena, 592 Doubleday, Margaret, 592 Dow, Charles F., 372 Dower, Harold L., 429 Downing, Albert E., 651 Downing, Ruby (Moore) 192, 651 Draft Board Office, 374 Draft, Military, 97 Drake, Roxanna, 1 1 6 Drew, Jefferson M., 652 Drew, Margery, 652 Drew, Vera, 652 Drought, 550 Drury, Abel, 336 Drury, Albert, 6 1 5 712 INDEX Drury, Alberta, 615 Drury, Alice, 616 Drury, Alwyn H., 372 Drury, Amos, 662 Drury, Clarence A., 522 Drury, Edward, 274, 615 Drury, Edith M., 61 5 Drury, Ellen E. (French) 615 Drury, Emma, 6 1 6 Drury, George S., 372 Drury, George W., 522, 615 Drury, Gertrude A., 615 Drury, Hattie (Russell) 615 Drury, Henry, 662 Drury, Irene, 615 Drury, J. Smith, 479,617 Drury, Jeane, 615 Drury, John, 56 Drury, Jonothan, 244, 245, 274, 290, 427 Drury, Mabel, 6 1 6 Drury, Myrtle, 1 64 Drury, Dr. Orasmus M., 570 Drury, Park, 75, 148, 244 Drury, Samuel T., 358 Drury, Stella A. (Barrus), 615 Dudis, Dr. Roger G., 570 Dudley, Hon. Wm., 16 Dufault, Dr. Francis X., 570 Dulharty, Charles, 17 Dunbar, Cyrus, 330 Dunbar, David, Jr., 330 Dunbar, Dr. Hervey O., 570 Dunbar, Joseph F., 305, 543 Duncan, William S., 432, 433, 575 Dunham & Brown, 204 Dunkiee, Albert E., 514, 515 Dunklee, Viola M., 610 Dunn, Frederick J ., 432 Dunn, Julian P., 432 Dunne, Dr. H. Russell, 570 Duran, Lizzie, 1 63 Duval, Mary, 592 Duval, Melvina, 593 Dwight, Nathan, 1 5 Dysentery Epidemic, 546 E Eagle furniture Co., 337 Eagles, 517 Eagles Hall, 262 Eagleville Area Bounds Error, 177 Eagleville Pond, 338 Eames, Rev. Charles O., 134, 137 Earle, Bernice I. (Brock), 642 Earle, Eleanor Lord, 642 Earle, Elizabeth B., 642 Earle, Ernest L., 642 Earle, Ernest L., Jr., 642 Earle, John L., 642 Earle, Mae (Wilcox), 642 Earle, Ralph L., 642 East Gardner Hill, 186 Eastern Furniture Co., 291 Eastern Star, 528 Eastman, M. W., 379 Eaton, E. Perley, 83 Eaton, Dr. Lillie A., 570 Eaton, Ralph, 515 Edgar, Dr. W. L , 559, 560, 570 Edgerly, Charles, 591 Edgerly, Claude, 515, 591 Edgerly, Eugene, 591 Edgerly, Fay, 59 1 Edwards, Charles E., 521 Edwards, Gen. Clarence R., 261 Eld, Experience, 1 1 6 Eldridge, H. Burr, 391 Electric Lighting, 493, 540 Ellen Bigelow School, 149 Ellinwood, Austin F., 521, 594 Ellinwood, Belinda, 594 Ellinwood, Benjamin, 594 Ellinwood Brook, 270 Ellinwood Country Club, 520 Ellinwood, D. Austin, 270, 521 Ellinwood, Dr. Daniel, 153, 225, 270, 426, 429, 521, 570 Ellinwood, Daniel, Jr., 270, 594 Ellinwood, Daniel W., 153 Ellinwood, Frederick T., 594 Ellinwood, George B., 599 Ellinwood, Hannah, 153 Ellinwood, Laroy, 153 Ellinwood, Laroy A., 659 Ellinwood, Maria, 594 Ellinwood, Minnie, 599 Ellinwood, Rebecca F., 594 Ellinwood, Rohena, 594 Ellinwood, Sarah E., 85 Ellinwood, Sarah T., 153 Ellinwood, Seneca, 594 Ellinwood, Thomas, 594, 599 Elliot, Ebenezer, 1 1 6 Ellis, Abigail, 1 4 1 Ellis, Abijah, 634 Ellis, Albert N„ 352, 428 Ellis, Amaziah, 600 Ellis, Chester, 600 Ellis, Clark, 600 Ellis, Edwin, 70,134,273,275, 284, 424, 427, 429 Ellis, Edwin W., 427, 515 713 INDEX Ellis, Harriet L., 600 Ellis, Ira, 335 Ellis, J. W., 283 Ellis, Lucinda, 600 Ellis, Marion (or Mary Ann), 600 Ellis, Simeon F., 600 Ellsworth, Albert, 261, 359, 378, 428, 498 Ellsworth, Joseph W., 425 Elmore, Stebbins, 214 Emery, Rev. J. C., 124,127,156 Enfield R. R„ 193 Engel, Hugo, 5 1 5 Engine "Athol", 1 89 Engine House No. 2, 283, 406 Engine Houses, 508, 510 Enniger, Charles E., 351 Epps, Mary, 5 1 9 Epps, Mary L., 80 Epps, Daniel, Jr., 16 Epps, Daniel, Sr., 17 Erie Canal, 179, 181 Erving's Grant, 1 85 Erving, Capt. John , 14 Estabrook, Hi an. Benj., 187, 284, 365, 422, 423, 424, 427, 429, 430, 431, 440, 543, 563, 586 Estabrook, Fii del ia. 586 Estabrook, Rev. Joseph, 61, 103, 105, 107, 108, 109, 111, 1 14, 415, 422, 435, 439, 586 Estabrook, Joseph H., 586 Estabrook, Lucy Cushing, 586 Estabrook, Marcia, 586 Estabrook, Turner, 586 Esterbrook, Nathaniel C., 440, 586 Esterman, Samuel, 167, 364 Estey, Clarence H., 645 Estey, Erma W., 645 Estey, Helen G., 4 1 9 Estey, Isaac, 41, 115 Estey, Mary A., 645 Esteys, Rev. Fred M., 147 Evangelical Cong. Church, 111, 127, 128 Evans, Harold M., 395 Events and Incidents, 546 Ewing, Frank S., 309 Exchange Club, 516 Exchange St., 216 Exchange St. Market, 373 Exchange St. North, 238, 367 F Factory Boarding House, 227, 228, 319 Factory Company, 600 Factory Store, 1 1 0, 3 1 9, 362, 547 Factory Village, 121, 187,415, 507, 539 Fairbank, Ephraim, 175 Fairbank, Nancy, 1 17 Fairbanks, Benjamin, 101, 117, 267 Fairbanks, Emogene (Bangs), 237 Fairbanks Grant, 174, 175,338 Fairbanks, Jonothan, 267 Fairbanks, Reuben, 507, 600 Fairbanks, Samuel, 478 Fairchild, Edward T., 395, 565 Fairview, 248 Farmers' Grant, 175 Farnsworth, Asa, 271 Farnum, Walter E., 429 Farr, Charles E., 664 Farr, George, 243, 305, 312, 427 Farr, Hollon, 155, 331, 664 Farr, Hollon A., 664 Farr, Mary, 410, 417 Farr, Stella J., 664 Farrar, Rev. Charles, 127 Farrar, Mary B., 595 Farrar, Nathaniel, 655 Farrier, Amasa, 486 Farrin, Leon M., 8 1 Farrington, Arthur W., 165 Faulkner, Charles W., 430, 561 Fay, Abagail, 594 Fay, Abbie Ann, 595 Fay, Adaline, 595, 639 Fay, Adoniram J., 489, 589, 591 Fay, Anna, 587, 607, 627 Fay, Artemas, 587 Fay, Bartlett, 596 Fay, Beatrice A., 590 Fay, Benjamin, 594 Fay, Beriah W., 65, 588, 589, 590, 602 Fay, Betsey, 595 Fay Block, 381, 382 Fay, Celestina Miranski, 588 Fay Cemetery, 485 Fay, Charles L., 360, 591 Fay, Charles Pratt, 588 Fay, Clara L., 589 Fay, Clarence, 59 1 Fay, Dorothy, 594 Fay, Dorothy A., 59 1 Fay, Edith G., 59 1 Fay, Elizabeth, 587 714 INDEX Fay, Emma, 587 Fay, Emerson, 175, 587, 588 Fay, Esther W., 594 Fay, Eudora M., 595 Fay Family, 586 Fay, Capt. Farwell F., 68, 424 479, 544, 575, 588 Fay, Flora A., 591 Fay, Fred H„ 360,361,589 Fay, Freeborn R., 588, 590 Fay, George F., 591 Fay, Hannah, 594 Fay, Harry W., 590, 602 Fay, Hazel L., 590 Fay, Helen, 591 Fay, Henrie C., 382, 430, 526, 596 Fay, J. Humphrey, 270 Fay, J. Sullivan, 485 Fay, James, 1 7 Fay, James H., 595 Fay, James S.. 595 Fay, Jonas, 587 Fay, Jonathan W., 595 Fay, Joseph, 271,485,593 Fay, Joseph F., 121,514,595 Fay, Josephine A., 589 * Fay, Josiah, 110,229,426, 485, 593, 595 Fay, Kate L., 529, 596 Fay, Leona, 59 1 , 592 Fay, Levi B„ 296,365,383,519, 529, 542, 595, 596 Fay, Lottie, 596 Fay, Lovina E., 589 Fay, Lucinda, 594 Fay, Lucy Raymond, 587 Fay, Lulu D„ 589, 627 Fay, Rev. Lysander, 120,272,341, 381, 423, 487, 587, 588 Fay, Martha C., 595 Fay, Mary, 587 Fay, Mary Abbie, 595 Fay, Matilda, 594 Fay, Minerva, 595, 657 Fay, Nabby, 587, 594 Fay, Nancy Maria, 588 Fay, Naham, 587 Fay, Nehemiah, 593 Fay, Othello A., 276, 357, 589, 623 Fay, Perley E., 589 Fay, Polly, 587, 595, 661 Fay, Priscilla E., 59 1 Fay, Rebecca L., 595 Fay, Rena M., 59 1 Fay, Rosa, 591 Fay, Russell J., 591 Fay, Sabra, 587 Fay, Sally, 594 Fay, Sarah D., 627 Fay, Sarah Jane, 590 Fay, Sereno E., 70, 125, 287, 357, 365, 381, 589 Fay, Seth, 594 Fay, Solomon, 587 Fay, Stephen, 1 7 Fay, Suse, 587 Fay, Viena, 587 Fay, Waldo E., 590 Fay, William Emerson, 588 Fay, William G., 588, 590 Feehan, Rev. Daniel F., 149 Felton, Alexander, 655 Felton, Aurelia, 655 Felton, Daniel H., 599, 625 Felton, David H., 655 Felton, Elizabeth, 655 Felton, George, 655 Felton, George W., 655 Felton, Lydia (Baker) 655 Felton, Moses O., 655 Fergerson, Logan & Willey, 368 Ferry, 27 Ferry, Rev. A. D., 114 Ferry Rotary Oil Burner, 287 Fessenden, Levi G., 617 Fessenden, Dr. Raymond, 428, 429, 517, 570 Fessenden, Thomas, 625 Field, Hon. Charles, 124, 148, 149, 157, 190, 228, 365, 415, 416, 422, 424, 432, 479, 486, 487, 542, 575, 614 Field, Charles, Jr., 576 Field, Dr. George, 570 Field, Zachariah, 13, 17, 18, 19, 228, 270, 426, 508 Fielden, Rev. Joseph F., 71 •Fielding Way, 2 1 7 Fifth Mass. Turnpike Corp., 179, 185 Financial Crises, 397 Finch, Rev. P. Voorhees, 154 Findlay, David, 207 Fire Alarm System, 51 1 Fire Department, 507 Fire Engine House, 374 First Church of Christ, Scientist, 162 First Church, Unitarian, 156 First Natonal Bank Lot, 243 Fish, Abby M., 606 Fish, Benjamin, 599 Fish, Betsey, 599, 625 Fish, Ellen E., 597 Fish, Elvira, 602 715 INDEX Fish, Esther, 599, 652 Fish, Eunice, 599 Fish, Ezra, 300,317,328,426, 507, 599, 603 Fish, Ezra Wilson, 242, 599, 601 Fish, Francis, 599 Fish, Frank, 604 Fish, Frederick A., 604 Fish, George FI., 604 Fish, Grace M., 605 Fish's Hall, 257 Fish, Hannah, 597 Fish, Henry, 235, 236, 242, 327, 427, 599, 601, 604, 650 Fish, Henry W., 598 Fish, Horatio K., 599 Fish, Jason, 599, 604 Fish, Joseph, 599 Fish, Rev. Linus, 143, 147 Fish, Lucia, 599 Fish, Lucinda, 599, 600 Fish, Lucy M., 598, 604 Fish, Mary A., 598 Fish, Marion (or Mary Ann) 600, 604 Fish, Moses, 507, 603 Fish, Nancy, 599, 625 Fish Park, 243 Fish, Prescott M., 604 Fish, "Aunt" Sally, 63, 199, 235, 242, 245, 599, 601, 602 Fish, Samuel, 242, 596, 597, 599, 601, 625 Fish, Simeon, 235, 298, 596, 598 Fish, W. W. Block, 233, 363, 604 Fish, William W., 1 57, 245, 363, 424, 427, 436, 437, 544, 604, 605 Fisher, Charles, 620 Fisher, Laurence G., 592 Fisher, Richard T., 560 Fisher, Waterman A., 319, 320 Fishman Store, 378 Fiske, Daniel, 1 7 Fiske, David, 221 Fiske, Isaac, 1 7 Fitch, Edson, 289 Fitchburg R. R., 184, 200 Fitts, Esq. George, 282, 431, 508 Fitts & Spooner, 282 Fitzgerald, Edward, 646 Fitzgerald, Richard, 646 Flagg, Levi, 2 1 8 Fletcher, A. V., 155,292 Fletcher, Allen F., 291 Fletcher, Almon E., 441 Fletcher, Dr. Carleton E., 641 Fletcher, Edgar A., 292 Fletcher, Edith L., 591 Fletcher, Mary E., 598 Fletcher, William, 275, 281, 291 Flewelling, Rev. Ralph T., 147 Flint, Rebecca, 84, 599 Flood of 1 845, 653 Flood of '36 and '38, 553, 554 Foley, Margaret Baker, 419 Follansbee, S. N., 382 Folsom, A. B„ 198,295,369 Foote, Rev. Horatio, 1 28 Forbes, Dr. Charles H., 570 Forbes, George W., 375 Forbes, W. A., 375 Ford, Rev. C. Oscar, 146 Ford, Fuller, 655 Ford, Hannah, 655 Ford, John, 1 02 Ford, Josiah, 655 Ford, Mercy, 655 Ford, Zervia, 655 Fording Place, 27 Forrest, Dr. Camille, Jr., 582 Foresters of America, 522 Forts, 22 Foster, Asa W*., 385, 604 Foster & Chamberlain, 337 Foster, Daniel, 334 Foster, Edward, 514 Foster, Rev. Elliot O., 134, 137 Foster, Fred F., 72 Foster, John, 99, 103, 426, 429 Foster, Leroy, 515 Foster, Lucy A., 59 Foster, Nancy A., 588 Foster, Nathaniel, 374 Four Minute Men, 501 Fowler, George C., 604 Fowler, Rev. Leonard W., 134, 135, 137, 566 Fowler, William, 508 Fox, William P., 233,239 Foye, George H., 429 Foye, Geo. O. & Son, 369, 601 Franco-American Credit Union, 409 Franklin Railroad, 183 Franklin Telegraph Co., 210 Fredette Store, 389 Freedom's Sentinel, 390 Freedom St., 216, 304 Freemasonry, 1 1 9, 522 French, Bartholemew, 223 French, Edward S., 662 French, Fred S., 662 French, Hattie M., 393 French, John E., 369 French, Stephen E., 309 716 INDEX Friedlund, Rabbi S., 168 Frost & Bemis, 359 Frost, Rufus, 329 Frost & Whitcomb, 359 Fry, Job, 120,312,377 Fry, Richard, 1 4 1 Frye, Charles, 284, 335, 514 Frye & Humphrey, 282 Frye, Capt. John, 45 Frye, Roland A., 218, 219 Fryville, 328, 329 Full, Rev. William, 147 Fuller's Block, 262, 525, 526, 527, 532 Fuller Farm, 1 50 Fuller, Frank W„ 1 64, 384, 428 Fuller, Irwin L., 53 1 Fuller, Leonard C., 150 Fuller, William G„ 372 Furbush, Dr. W. Clifford, 582 G G.A.R. Hall (Uptown), 527, 532 Gage, Charles F., 362 Gage, Charles F. Store, 1 66 Gage, Edmund J., 427, 486, 488 Gage, Emory Eating House, 373 Gage, Rev. James M., 146 Gage, Mary A., 660 Gage Road, 253 Gage, Willis D., 368, 660 Gale, Naham, 336 Gallup, Alfred D., 648 Garbose Brothers, 262 Garbose Family, 381 Garbose, Jacob, 337 Garbose, William, 576 Garbarino, John, 372 Garbarino, Joseph E., 560 Garbarino Store, 372 Gardner, 1 86 Gardner, Capt., 14 Gardner, Dr. Harrie M., 570 Gardner, Rev. James, 153 Gardner Trust Co., 302 Garfield, Cynthia, 621 Garfield, Reuben, 544, 620 Garfield Road, 244 Gas Lighting, 493 Gateley, John, 74 Gates, Annie May, 593 Gates, Arthur C., 592 Gates, Carl Foster, 593 Gates, Doris H., 593 Gates, Evelyn L.( 593 Gates, Frank A., 592 Gates, Franklin, 592 Gates, Frederick L., 593 Gates, Freeborn F., 593 Gates, Harry C., 376 Gates, Harry John, 593 Gates, Henry L., 592 Gates, Herbert H., 593 Gates, Herman W., 593 Gates, James W., 593 Gates, Lawrence R., 593 Gates, Mildred G., 593 Gates, Norman H., 593 Gates, Ralph W., 593 Gates, Robert Aubrey, 593 Gaudette, Eli, 515 Gaudette, Gideon, 515 Gauthier, Herman A., 292 Gay, Francis J., 317 Gay & Ward, 215,317 Gaynor, Eugene C., 315 Genaro, Long & Little, 504 Genealogies, 585 General Manufacturing Co., 292 George, Dr. Frank W., 571 George, Rev. Frederick T., 147 Geroy, Edwin, 351 Gerry, Rev. E. J ., 114 Gerry Family, 323 Gerry, George, 140, 142, 143, 322 Gerry, George & Son, 280 Gerry, Sophia, 1 40 Gerry, Town of, 42, 103 Gethsemane Cemetery, 483 Gibbs, Rev. E. P„ 114,487 Gibson, Rev. M. W., 148 Giddings, W. S., 362 Gilbert, Margaret L., 610 Giles, James, 140, 142 Giles, Parthenia, 140 Gilkey, Daniel G., 306 Gillespi, J. E., 295 Gilman, James E., 162 Girardi, Josephine, 362 Glaser, Isaac, 168 Glaser, Dr. S. I., 581 Glasheen, Robert W., 501 Glazier, Rev. Joseph, 127 Gleason, A. L., 7 1 Gleason, Dr. Benjamin W., 571 Gleason, Frank W., 261 Goddard, A. R., 368 Goddard Brook, 330, 519 Goddard, Charles, 245, 348 Goddard, Charles Virgil, 348 Goddard, Rev. David, 139 Goddard, David, 102, 134, 221, 254, 332 717 INDEX Goddard, Dennis, 280 Goddard, Dorothy, 607 Goddard, Ebenezer, 17, 481 Goddard, Eber, 599 Goddard, Edward, 16, 21 Goddard, Elijah, 55, 110, 114, 136, 426 Goddard, Erroll W., 640 Goddard, Goodell, 56, 136 Goddard, Harriet D., 85 Goddard, Hazel (Hale), 640 Goddard, Herbert S., 256, 293, 428, 431, 437, 498 Goddard, Mrs. Herbert S., 519 Goddard, Hezekiah, 656 Goddard, Hiram, 134 Goddard, Hollis, 254 Goddard, J. Williams, 617 Goddard, James, 55, 95 Goddard, Jane, 84 Goddard, Josiah, 55, 91, 96, 97, 264, 292, 422, 423, 426, 431 Goddard & Manning, 540, 541 Goddard, Mary Eliza, 617 Goddard, Moses, 223 Goddard, Nathan, 53, 60, 141, 329, 429 Goddard, Sal lie, 134 Goddard, Simon, 426 Goldman, Dr. Norman, 583 Goldsbury, James, 663 Goodale Heights, 252 Goodale, Josiah, 25 Goodale, Solon D., 252 Goodale St., 245 Goodell, Abner C., 328 Goodell, Elmira (Richardson), 609, 621 Goodell, George S., 82 Goodell, James, 339 Goodell, Jonothan, 509 Goodell, Josie M., 589 Goodell, Marshall G., 522 Goodell, Mary B., 609 Goodell, Mehitable, 55, 1 10 Goodell, Solomon, 101, 116 Goodell, Wyman, 609 Goodman, J. Wesley, 295 Goodman, Leavitt, Yatter Co., 295, 541 Goodnow, Alice V., 406 Goodnow, John E., 358 Goodrich, 328 Goodrich, Earl H., 385 Goodspeed, Thomas H., 134, 240, 331, 405, 424, 429, 430, 440, 486, 487, 494, 498 Goodwin, Rev. Bayard H., 156 Goodwin, Rev. Jonn, 1 43, 1 47 Gorton, Mrs. Etta, 163 Goss, William, 1 0 1 Gould, Barbara M., 609 Gould, Rev. Edwin S., 133, 134, 136 Gould, Frank A., 384 Gould, Henry, 84 Gould, Dr. Joshua B., 591 Gould, Phoebe Sherman, 134 Goulding, James I., 134, 136, 424, 429 Gourlay, Charles F., 639 Gourlay, Chester M., 639 Gourlay, Clifford, 610 Gourlay, Frank P., 639 Gourlay, Frank W., 363 Gourlay, Hazel V., 639 Gourlay, Nina J., 639 Grade Crossings, 196,215 Graham, Dwight Cass, 605 Graham, James A., 605 Graham, Roswell, 140 Grand Army, 530 Grand Army Auxiliaries, 533 Grand Army Block, 263 Grand Army Hall, 162 Grandell, Frank W., 292 Grange, Athol, 153, 358, 527 Grange Hall, 262 Granite Railway, 183 Grant, George W., 428 Grant, Rev. Roland D., 1 53 Graves, Abner, 91, 101, 110, 221, 425, 426 Graves, Abner, Jr., 426 Graves, Eleazer, Jr., 426, 617 Graves, Eleazer, 37, 423 Graves, Elijah, 6 1 8 Graves, Harley H., 230, 231, 233 Graves, Harry H., 394 Graves, Henry C., 363 Graves, Jesse, 6 1 8 Graves, Laura, 6 1 8 Graves, Lois, 6 1 8 Graves, Nancy, 618 Graves, Nathaniel, 17, 21, 32, 35, 36, 48, 425 Graves, Sally, 6 1 8 Graves, Samuel, 46 Gray, Alexander, 427 Gray, Henry, 276, 427 Great Bridge 1 73 Great Brook — See West Brook Great Road, 173 Green, George H. B., Jr., 603 Green, Gladys G., 420 718 INDEX Green Mountain Shoe Shop, 291 Greene, Rev. Howard E., 166 Greenfield, 1 80 Greenfield Turnpike, 180,217,504 Greenwood, Robert E., 278 Grennon, Alexis J., 253 Gridley, Eben E., 218, 560 Grimes, Rev. Isaac W., D.D., 127 Gross, Rev. Daniel I,, D.D., 134, 135, 137 Gross, Davis, 336 Grossman, Dr. M. J., 385, 571 Grossman, Samuel S., 373 Grout's Corners, 1 85 Grout, John, 17 Grover, Carrie, 549 Gulf Road, 48 1 Gunnison, Rev. George W., 127 Gunter, Edward H., 353 H H St., 249 H. V. Smith Post, G.A.R., 259, 263, 532 Hackett, May Stebbins, 163 Hackmetack Swamp, 329 Hadley, Geo. H„ 337 Hager, Daniel, 659 Hager, George W., 648 Hager, Harry G., 648 Hager, Hattie M., 647 Hager, Horace, 303, 306 Hager, Sarah, 1 53 Hager, Willard, 492, 647 Hail Storm, 552 Hale, Arthur, 5 1 5 Hale, B. F., 515 Hall, Frank P„ 449,450,501,534 Hall, Joseph, 336 Hambleton, Rev. Wm. J., 143, 147 Hames Studio, 384 Hamilton, A. Foster, 261, 406, 422, 433, 576 Hamilton, Andrew J., 163, 375, 552, 553 Hamilton & Butterfield, 384 Hamilton, Clarence D., 428 Hamilton, Clark A., 441 Hamilton, Henry D. & Sons, 372 Hamilton, John F., 365 Hamilton, Bishop John W., 146, 147 Hamilton & Kumin, 253, 256 Hamilton, Mrs. Walter P., 520 Hamlet, Vernon, 648 Hammond, 362 Hammond, Israel, 1 7 Hammond, Joseph W., 237, 435, 436 Hammond, Stephen, 646 Handy, Edward S., 338, 339 Handy & Kauffman, 301 Hanna, Judge Septimus J., 162 Hannaford, Rev. Charles H., 147 Hansen, Edgar T., 598 Hanson, Edward, 514 Hanson, Fred R., 659 Hanson, George R., 514 Hanson, Joseph H., 514 Hanson, Ruth E., 597 Hapgood, Herbert L., 1 77, 289, 329, 428, 499, 500 Hapgood, Lyman P., 500 Hapgood, Lyman W., 65, 1 90, 229 273, 288, 290, 340, 422, 486, 487 Hapgood, Oscar D., 538 Hapgood Road, 216 Hapgood, Seth, 401, 402 Hapgood, Thomas, 1 4, 1 7 Harden, James A., 365 Harding, Hon. Alpheus, 157, 198, 401, 404, 418, 424 Harding, Rev. Alpheus, 108, 109, 479 Harding, Rev. Charles, 147 Hardwick, 2 1 , 356 Hardy, Ada E., 597 Harlow, Rev. William T., 147 Harrington, Daniel, 633 Harrington, Joseph, 17, 21 Harris, Carl C., 2 1 8 Harris, Henry W., 514 Harris Lodge, A.F. & A.M., 225 Harris, P. Ebenezer, 23 Harrison, Benjamin, 541 Hartford Convention, 398 Hartshorn, 88 Hartshorn, Dr. Ebenezer, 270, 521, 571 Harvard School of Forestry, 151 Harvey, Rev. F. W., 166 Harvey, fred H., 209 Harwood, David, 507 Harwood, Reuben, 300 Harwood, Seth, 300 Harwood, Stephen, 299, 507 Harwood, Stephen, Jr., 300 Hascall, Loring, 508 "Hasher," 308 Haskell, Calvin, 206, 428 Haskell, Frank R., 376, 431 Haskell, Hiram, 484 Haskell, Joseph , 335 719 INDEX Haskell, Loring, 342 Haskins, Clayton J., 512 Haskins, Ernest W., Jr., 630 Haskins, Joseph H., 283 Haskins, Leslie T., 425 Haslett, Rev. Paul S., 127 Hastings, Allen E., 408 Hastings, Frank C., 280 Hause Pool Room, etc., 372, 381 Hausmann, Joseph G., 381 Haven, Asa, 607 Haven, Asa Sumner, 607 Haven, C. Waldo, 610 Haven, Carolyn S., 610 Haven, Charles, 609 Haven, Chauncey, 607 Haven, Elizabeth H., 610 Haven, Erwin J., 609, 610 Haven, Eunice, 608 Haven, Evelyn, 608, 610 Haven Farms, 6 1 0 Haven, Florence, 610 Haven, Hannah M., 608 Haven, Herbert, 609 Haven, Isabel, 609 Haven, Capt. John, 53, 55, 91, 95, 96, 103, 1 14, 421, 423, 425, 429, 481, 606, 607 Haven, John, Jr., 55, 587, 607 Haven, John H., 608 Haven, John S., 610 Haven, John W., 609 Haven, Jonathan, 606 Haven, Josiah, 284, 400, 424, 427, 608 Haven, Jotham, 607, 608 Haven, Jotham F. (homestead), 183, 609 Haven, Levi, 607 Haven, Lucius S., 607 Haven, Lucy S., 607 Haven, Oramel T., 608 Haven, Pat, 609 Haven, Richard, 607, 610 Haven, Robert R., 576 Haven, Samuel, 607 Haven, Samuel C., 610 Haven, Sarah E., 590 Haven, Simon, 55, 606 Haven, Urania A., 607 Haven, Viola E., 609 Haven, William L., 608, 610 Hayden, Carlton F., 653 Hayden, Charles H. and wife, 564 Hayden, Edward J., 207, 438 Hayden, James, 515 Hayden, John F., 261, 408, 559, 560, 561 Hayden, Mrs. Mabel A. (Mann), 1 65 Hayden, Patrick J., 372 Hayden, W. J., 515 Hayes, Rev. Truman L., 162, 459 Hayward, Albert H., 630 Hayward, Carlton L., 630 Hayward, Gail, 630 Hayward, John, 625 Hayward, June, 630 Haywood, Sally, 599 Hazard, Robert, 649 Hazen, Hon. J. D., 54 Headley, John, 1 7 Healthy Home, 393 Hearse, 491 Hebrew Association, 167 Hebrew Synagogue (old), 531 Hedstrom, Ernest, Jr., 646 Hedstrum, Donna Lee, 646 Hemmingway, Dr. James, 153 Henchey, Thomas, 515 Herbeck, Frank, 164 Hero, Dr. John H., 571 Herr, Henry P., 576 Herrick, Rev. A. f., 144, 147, 486 Hersey, Edwin S., 429 Hewett, Leslie, 1 46 Heywood, Rev. Charles, 142 Heywood, Rosella B., 604 Hickman, Elroy P., 292 Higgins, Dana F., 370, 408 Higgins, H. Howard, 370 Higgins, J. F. & Co., 370 Higgins, James F., 370, 559 Higgins, William, 17 High School, 65, 66, 77, 78, 81 High School Alumni Association, 86 High St., 229, 243 Highland Avenue, 242 Highland Foundry Co., 292 Highland Place, 242 Highland St., 242 Highview, 221 Highways & Byways, 240 Hildreth, Merric E., 425 Hill, Abigail, 1 4 1 Hill, Abijah, 110,338,431 Hill, Rev. Abraham, 17, 36, 37 Hill, Anna (Ballard), 134 Hill, Asa, 134,214,486 Hill, Clara S„ 519 Hill & Green, 286, 540 Hill, John, 56, 268 Hill, Rev. John, 1 4 1 720 INDEX Hill, John C„ 67,157,187,236, 237, 248, 255, 293, 300, 304, 307, 329, 332, 338, 369, 390, 404, 486 Hill, John Clarence, 393 Hill, Louette E., 393 Hill, Moses, 56, 480 Hill, Wells L., 392 Hillside, 248 Hinchliffe, Rev. Edwin V., 147 Hinas, Ephriam, 5/6 Hinman, Mantie R., 418 Hoar, Daniel, 623 Hoar, Timothy, 275,277,281,357 Hoar, William, 281,508 Hoban, Owen A., 433 Hobbs, William, 385 Hoer, Dr. George L., 582 Hog Island, 2 1 7 Hogan, Henry, 576 Holbrook, Adin, Jr., 3 1 8, 3 1 9, 507, 524 Holbrook, Enos, 618 Holbrook, John D., 376, 424, 429, 644 Holbrook, Pardon D., 125, 370 Holden, Alice, 141 Holden, James, 1 7 Holden, Samuel, 195, 197 Holland, Francis, 647 Holland, George F., 565, 566 Holland, Hugh, 32 Holland, Capt. Park, 101 Holman, Oliver, 221,311 Holman, Dr. Jacob, 110, 571 Holmes, Dr. Louise D., 572 Holton, Emma P., 589 Holton, Mary A., 87 Hook & Ladder Co., 509 Hoosac Tunnel, 182, 197 Hop Meadow, 37, 243, 327 Horr, Addison D., 427 Horr, Charles, 229, 243 Horr, George W., 365, 442, 576 Horse Sheds, 1 08 Horst, Rev. Carl G., 156, 161 Horton, Albert, 514 Horton, Edwin B., 441 Horton, Oscar L., 287, 560 Horton, Russell S., 424 Houghton, Alvin, 365 Houghton's Block, 322, 365 Houghton, Charles A., 379, 556 Houghton, Daniel W., 305, 308 Houghton's Hall, 142, 262, 525 Houghton, Henry F., 1 64 Houghton & Heywood, 381 Hovey, Rev. Alvah, D.D., 125 Howard, Experience, 1 16 Howard, Rev. J. J., 149, 528 Howard, Virgil M., 73 Howard, Zadock, 1 16 Howe, Estes, 336 Howe, Frank A., 218 Howe, Guy P., 359 Howe, John C., 1 50 Howe, Lewis R., 377 Howland, F. T., 1 50 Hoyt, Dr. George, 191, 224, 288, 4 1 5, 572 Hoyt, Col. George H., 392, 424, 576 Hoyt, Mary C., 362 Hughes, George W., 360 Hughes, Rev. Henry Holt, D.D., 146 Hume, Brent, 591 Hume, Edgar W. T., 591 Hume, Jeffry, 59 1 Hume, Michael, 591 Humphrey, Dr. Bernard F., 583 Humphrey, Calvin, 482 Humphrey, Helen M., 610 Humphrey, Henry, 270 Humphrey, Dr. Henry Martin, 79, 359, 361, 424, 581, 610 Humphrey, Gen. James, 130, 225, 356, 422, 423, 426, 429, 431, 439, 507 Humphrey, Rev. James, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 41, 102, 103, 114, 171, 172, 505, 586 Humphrey, Rev. James H., 147 Humphrey, John, 426, 429 Humphrey, John F., 283, 293, 361 Humphrey, John H., 360, 441 Humphrey, John Harvey, 340 Humphrey, John W., 423, 427, 429 Humphrey & Lee, 361 Humphrey, Dr. Royal, 1 10, 572 Huncus, 26 Huncus Street, 367 Hunt Bros., 369 Hunt, Carl W., 24 1 Hunt, Rev. George L., 123, 127 Hunt & Hamilton, 376 Hunt, Howard B., 436 Hunt, J. Luther, 369, 428 Hunt, James W., 331,427 Hunt, Orrin F., 237, 276, 427, 596 Hunt, Walter M., 402, 559 Hunter, Florence, 592 Hunting, Fay Emma, 590 Hunting, Martin Ward, 590 Hunting, Nathan J., 590 Huntington, Rev. Wm. R., 154 721 INDEX Hurricane of 1938, 126 Hutchins, James H., 424 Hutchinson Block, 382 I Ice Flood, 55 1 Influenza Epidemic, 450 Ingots, Ebenezer, 1 16 Ingols, Rachel, 1 1 6 Innholders, 672, 6/3, 674, 675, 676 Intervale, 157,249,269 Island, 243 J J St., 249 Jackman, Rev. Everett E., 82, 148 Jackson, Charles R., 373 Jackson, Lewis McLellan, 76 Jacobs, Eli, 116 Jacobs, Loring, 228 Jacobs, Rev. Whitman, 42, 115, 116 Jacobs, Whitman Farm, 609 Jacques, John B., 433, 549 Jacquith, Mary L., 441 James, Rev. Caroline R., 114 Jaquith & Howland, 239 Jason's Pond, 24 Jeffers, John T., 303 Jeffries, Rev. Arthur, 127 Jennison, Mr., 23 1 "Jeweii, 1 1 ie Jewell, Wm. H., 576 Jewish Synagogues, 168 Johnson, Rev. A. C., 153 Johnson, Arlene (Fields), 649 Johnson, Bruce A., 649 Johnson, Chloe, 603 Johnson, George T., 157, 308, 315, 338, 486 Johnson, Herbert, 648 Johnson, Herbert M., Jr., 649 Johnson, Hill & Co., 305 Johnson, Juliet (Mercier), 649 Johnson, Marilyn I. (Shaw), 649 Johnson, Nancy J., 649 Johnson, Richard F., 649 Johnson, Wallace L., o49 Johnson & Whittemore, 381 Johnson, Wm. G., 315 Johnston, Alexander P., 459, 518, 545 Johnston, Robert, 231 Jones & Baker, 285, 360, 627 Jones, Charles C., 1 10 Jones, Clarence W., 591 Jones, E. F., 392 Jones, Fred E., 110,130,244, 273, 285 Jones, Frederick, 663 Jones, James, 17, 342 Jones, Jerome, 483 Jones, Joseph E., 1 10, 429 Jones, Josiah M., 508 Jones, Marcia, 357, 586 Jones, Obadiah, 656 lones, Prescott, 1 10, 282, 284, 508, 523, 524 Jones, Prescott, Jr., 285 Jones, PrLcilla May, 591 Jones, R. L., 320 Jones, Redit, 625 Jones & Simonds, 285, 342 Jones, Theodore, Esq., 107, 110, 114, 187, 227, 244, 273 283, 356, 399, 400, 423 426, 427, 429, 430, 431, 507, 586 Jones, Theodore, Jr., 110 Jordan & Sellic, 253 Joslyn, Rev. Howard W., 127 Jucket Fire Engine, 510, 51 1 Judd, Howard T., 352 Judkins, Barbara B., 609 Judkins, David, 609 Judkins, Earl H., 609 Judkins, Fred H., 608 Judkins, Frederick A., 608 Judkins, Frederick C., 609 Judkins, Frederick H., 608 Judkins, Ralph S., 608 Judkins, Viola E., 609 Juraitis, Rev. Pius, 170 K K K K 512 Karner, Warren C., 425, 428, 539 Katz Family, 372 Katz, Reuben, 1 67 Keeler & Co., 287 Keene, N. H., 15,183 Keene Turnpike, 180 Kelley, Charles M., 517,576 Kelley, James, 284 Kellogg, James, 1 7 Kelton, Calvin, 424, 427, 491, 543 Kelton, Calvin, Jr., 594 Kelton, tawara b., oo/, 361, 514 Kelton, George, ^4, 95, 304, 425 Kelton, James, 1 1 6 Kelton, Jonothan, 480 Kendall, Abigail, 612, 613, 618 Kendall, Abigail (Bacheler), 618 722 INDEX Kendall, Abigail (Broughton), 61 1 Kendall, Abner, 613 Kendall, Mrs. Albert, 387 Kendall, Andrew, 618 Kendall, Angeline, 618 Kendall, Anna E., 153, 618, 619 Kendall, Annie, 620 Kendall, Anstis, 618 Kendall, Benjamin, 612 Kendall, Calvin, 136, 618 Kendall, David, 6 1 8 Kendall, Eleazer, 612 Kendall, Elijah, 6 1 2 Kendall, Elisha, 6 1 2 Kendall, Elizabeth, 611,612, 613, 614 Kendall, Elizabeth (Evans), 613 Kendall, Ephraim, 612, 613 Kendall, Ettie (Thomas), 620 Kendall, Ezekiel, 612, 613 Kendall, Fanny, 84, 618, 621 Kendall Farm, 175, 334, 613 Kendall, Flora E., 79 Kendall, Francis, 61 1, 618 Kendall, Francis H., 618 Kendall, George L., 618 Kendall, George N., 343, 487, 559, 621 Kendall's Grant, 175 Kendall Grist Mill, 297 Kendall, Hannah, 61 1, 613, 617, 656 Kendall, Hannah L. (Kelton), 618 Kendall, Hannah (Rice), 613 Kendall, Helen F., 85, 621 Kendall, Henry, 621 Kendall, Ira Y„ 343, 424, 427, • 487, 544, 620 Kendall, Jacob, 611 Kendall, Jabez, 6 1 2 Kendall, James, 613 Kendall, Jane, 6 1 2 Kendall, Jerusha, 613 Kendall, Jesse, 53, 60, 96, 114, 223, 234, 298, 303, 423, 425, 613, 617 Kendall, Joab, 134,601,620 Kendall, Joel, 288,614,618 Kendall, Joel, Jr., 293, 508 Kendall, John, 427,482,611, 613, 619, 620, 621 Kendall, John R., 621 Kendall, Jonas, 613 Kendall, Jonothan, 56, 94, 223, 224, 482, 613, 619 Kendall, Joshua, 612 Kendall, Josiah, 175,613 Kendall, Lois, 6 1 9 Kendall, Louisa (Young), 134, 620 Kendall, Lucius W., 618 Kendall, Lucy, 6 1 8 Kendall, Lydia W., 153, 618, 620 Kendall, Lyman, 187, 284, 386, 614, 618 Kendall, Maria, 620 Kendall, Maria S., 618 Kendall, Martha, 613 Kendall, Mary, 6 1 1 , 6 1 2, 6 1 7, 6 1 8 Kendall, Mary Ann, 618 Kendall, Mary (Curtis), 613 Kendall, Mary H., 620 Kendall, Mary (Tidd), 61 1 Kendall, Mehitable (Hosmer), 612 Kendall, Meribah, 618 Kendall, Molly (Taylor), 618 Kendall's Mill, 314 Kendall, Nancy, 618 Kendall, Nathan, 613 Kendall, O. & Co., 370,381,645 Kendall, Cbaaian c I 3 Kendall, Olive, 6 1 7 Kendall, Ozi, 67, 342, 424, 487, 620 Kendall, Ralph, 612 Kendall, Rebecca, 66, 61 1 Kendall, Ruth, 6 1 2 Kendall, Ruth (Blodgett), 61 1 Kendall, Sally, 618 Kendall, Sally (Raymond), 618 Kendall, Samuel, 17, 21, 60, 175, 269, 272, 287, 297, 478, 611, 612, 613, 618 Kendall, Rev. Samuel, 36, 37, 175 Kendall, Rev. Samuel of Weston, 104 Ken_all Ssioh do9, 612, 613 Kendall, Sarah (Cheever), 612 Kendall, Seth, 53,288,524,613 Kendall, Silas, 1 0 1 Kendall, Stephen, 619 Kendall, Susan, 620, 621 Kendall, Susan (Smith), 619 Kendall, Susanna, 175, 613 Kendall, Thomas. 61 1, 612, 613, 618 Kendall, Timothy, 175, 613 Kendall, William H., 366 Kendall, Wiman, 620 Kendrick, Annie Oliver, 530, 660 Kendrick, Caroline (Croucher), 660 Kendrick, Frank B., 234 Kendrick, George S., 660 Kendrick, Harry, 660 Kendrick, Harry A., 660 Kendrick, James B., 660 723 INDEX Kendrick, James O., 660 Kendrick, Karl S., 660 Kendrick, Kathryn S., 660 Kendrick, Martha (Butler), 660 Kendrick, Mary L., 660 Kendrick, Peter S., 660 Kendrick, Robert B., 660 Kendrick, Thomas, 429, 564, 660 Kendrick, Vinetta (Ellinwood), 660 Kendrick, William T., 660 Kennebunk, 313 Kennebunk St., 213 Kennedy, Byron E., 645 Kennedy, George C., 645 Kennedy, George G., Jr., 645 Kenney, James, 17 Kenney, William E., 577 Kessler, Melvin, 3 1 0 Ketchum, Justus, 334 Kimball-Cooke Ins. Co., 407 Kimball, Dea. Daniel P., 135, 375, 428, 429 Kimball, Parker B., 407, 516, 535, 536 King, Amos F., 620 King, Arthur, 66 1 King, Bruce, 66 1 King, Charles S., 437, 661 King, Clarence E., 374 King, David, 661 King, Donald, 661 King, Donna J ., 661 King, Emily S., 590 King, John Morrison, 376, 427 King, Thea, 66 1 King, W. Haskell, 323 Kingsbury, Betsy, 598 Killay, William H„ 231,381 Kiwanis Club, 5 1 6 Knapp, Annie (see Annie (Knapp) Cheney, 604 Knapp, Paul, 329 Knights of Columbus, 263, 528 Knights of Labor, 346 Knights of Pythias, 262, 263, 529 Knights of Pythias Hall, 527 Knode, Dewey M., 622 "Know Nothing," 512 Knowlton, Emily, 157, 263 Knowlton, Irwin L., 437 Knowlton, Lincoln B., 431, 440 Knowlton, Stillman, 325, 328, 339, 364, 427, 532 Knox, Gen. Henry, 179 Kohler, Julia B., 542 Korean War, 473 Kratt, Arthur D., 630 Kratt, Beatrice, 630 Kratt, Christopher J., 280,630 Kratt, Dorothy A., 630 Kratt, Hilda C., 630 Kratt, Lloyd L., 630 Kumin, Charles, 167, 337, 375 Kumin & Garbose, 354 L LaCoste, Annette, 609 Lake Ellis Development, 276 Lake Park, 157, 246 Lake Park School, 215 Lakie, George, 5 1 5 Lamb, Charles S., 595 Lamb, James, 293, 427, 629 Lamb, James "place," 549 Lamb, Lena, 595 Lamson, Daniel, 223 Landon, Doris, 643 Landon, Omer F., 643 Lane, Hosea F., 7 1 Lane, John P., 647 Lane, Leslie A., 647 Lane, Mary M., 647 Lane, Rev. Walter E., 159, 161 Lang, Mary, 78 Langley Tile Co., 384 Larkeque, Dr. G. B. B., 572 LaRose, William, 593 LaRose, William Joseph, 593 Larrow, F. A., 23 1 Lathrop, Andrew J., 69 Laughton, A. Abbott, 408, 495, 518 Laurel St., 245 Law, E. M., 374 Lawton, Oren M., 428 Lawton, Mrs. Oren M., 135 Leach, Edmond F., 495 Leach, Dr. V. W„ 581 Leahberg, Mendall, 167, 378 Leahey, Dr. Frank, 566 Leavitt, D. D., 68 Leavitt Machine Co., 292 Lebanon, Maine, 15 Lee, Abby M. (Lamb), 629 Lee, Abner, 17, 22, 44, 478 Lee, Almira C., 629 Lee, Amanda B. (Simmons), 628 Lee, Angeline M., 626, 628 Lee, Anne M., 624 Lee, Col. Artemas, 181 Lee, Auburn W., 345, 628 Lee, Baird B., 628 Lee, Bathsheba, 624 Lee, Beatrice, 630 724 INDEX Lee, Bertha, 629 Lee, Carlton H., 629, 620 Lee, Carrie M., 628 Lee, Charles M., 167, 344, 345, 346, 374, 377, 406, 626, 628 Lee, Charles S., 627 Lee, Clara A., 589, 627 Lee & Co., 627 Lee, Cora H., 629, 636 Lee, Dennis, 625 Lee, Earl, 628 Lee, Elizabeth, 625, 628 Lee, Elizabeth (Wood), 624 Lee, Ellen E. (Fessenden), 627 Lee, Ellen F., 628 Lee, Etta J. (Frost), 627 Lee, Evelyn, 629, 630 Lee, Everett D., 628 Lee, Florence, 628 Lee, Florence (Armstrong), 629 Lee, Florence E. (Ball), 628 Lee, Frederick H., 361, 559, 560, 599, 626 Lee, George H., 339, 626, 627, 628 Lee, George Marshall, 346, 628 Lee, Gladys, 630 Lee, Hannah, 624 Lee, Harriet C., 626 Lee, Harriet M., 626 Lee, Hattie L. (Nourse), 626 Lee, Helen S. (Hamilton), 626 Lee, Henrietta C., 626 Lee, Henry, 110, 340, 342, 344, 386, 430, 599, 624, 625, 626, 650 Lee, Ida (Deone), 628 Lee, Isaac, 625 Lee, James M., 229, 270, 276, 344, 347, 626, 627 Lee, Jesse, 140, 626 Lee, John, 624 Lee, John Howard, 344, 626, 629 Lee, Jonathan, 599, 625 Lee, Joseph, 88, 623, 624, 625, 626 Lee, Rev. Joseph, 88, 103, 104 Lee, Lottie (Leathe), 630 Lee, Lucy, 625 Lee, Lucy (Stearns), 625 Lee, Lydia H. (Wetherby), 626 Lee, M. L. & Co., 627 Lee, Mabel, 627, 630 Lee, Margaret, 628 Lee, Marion, 629 Lee, Martha A. (Covell), 629 Lee, Mary, 624 Lee, Mary (Foster), 625 Lee, Mary (Fox), 623 Lee, Mary H., 629 Lee, Mary (Miles) Wrigley, 623 Lee, Mary (White), 624 Lee, Mary (Woodhouse), 623 Lee, Merritt L. Shop, 211, 344, 626, 627 Lee, Minnie, 629 Lee, Minnie (Howe), 628 Lee, Mittie, 625 Lee, Mollie (Conant), 624 Lee, Nathan, 625 Lee, Nancy, 625 Lee, Nancy (Fish) Felton, 625 Lee, Nellie (Ward), 628 Lee, Orinda (Lewis), 626 Lee, Priscilla, 628 Lee, Prudence, 626 Lee, Rachel (Dexter), 627 Lee, Rebekah (Tuffer), 625 Lee, Robert E., 629 Lee, Ruth, 624 Lee, Ruth (Warren), 624 Lee, Sally, 625 Lee, Samuel, 229, 240, 243, 361,. 430, 440, 543, 625, 626 Lee, Sarah, 625 Lee, Sarah A. (Hall), 626 Lee, Sarah E. (Emmons), 629 Lee, Sarah H. (Munsell), 627 Lee, Sarah (Hayward), 625 Lee, Seth, 624 Lee, Solon W., 345, 347, 427, 626, 629 Lee, Sybil (Butterfield), 625 Lee, Thamer, 624 Lee, Walter M., 627 Lee, Warren D., 280, 294, 342, 627 Lee, Wellington Starr, 345, 628 Lee, Wm. D., Jr., 427 Lee, William Dexter, 342, 344, 625, 626, 627, 628 Lee, Wilson H„ 417,418,419, 483, 514, 599, 601, 626. Lee, Woodis, 623, 624, 625 Legg, David, 1 4 1 Legg, Hannah, 1 4 1 Legion Police, 434 Leicester Church, 1 15 Leland, Caleb, 300, 301 Leland, Silence, 329 Lemis, Thomas F., 359 Lenox St. Section, 245, 255 Leonard, Cornelius, Jr., 363' Leonard, D. Ambrose, 151 725. INDEX Leonard, Edward D.( 234 Leonard, Ezra, 15, 171 Leonard, M. C., 233, 234 Leonard, Dr. Richard L., 582 Leonard, William M., 348 Lescord, Henry, 515 Lessard, Arthur A., 409 Lewis Bridge, 2 1 3 Lewis, Enoch T., 430, 431 Lewis, Hiram, 268 Lewis, John S., 513, 627 Lewis, Sarah A., 69 Lewis, Whitman T., 282 Lexington Alarm, 92 Lexington, Town of, 175 Library, 415 Liggett, Louis, 379 Lilley, David W., 299 Lillie, Joan B., 592 Lillie, Joseph E., 592 Lillie, Joseph Elon, 592 Lincoln, Amasa, 427 Lincoln, Gen. Benj., 398 Lincoln, Catherine H., 84 Lincoln, Jotham, 282 Lincoln, Lyndon H., 360 Lincoln, Dr. Ward C., 583 Lindahl, Anne F., 649 Lindahl, John H., 649 Lindahl, Judith L., 649 Lindahl, Vernon S., 649 Lindsey, Cassa M., 441 Lindsey, Mrs. Frank, 419 Lindsey, Dr. M. L., 254, 572 Linehan, Joseph R., 408 Lino, Doris Emory, 593 Lions Club, 5 1 7 Litchfield, Alba K., 270, 522 Litchfield, Albert E„ 270 Litchfield Rev. W. C., 114 Little Grant, 176 Little Mill, 340 Livermore, Arthur, 639 Livingstone, Austin E., 433 Livingstone, Marcus, 239 Locke, Amos H., 514 Locke, Edgar H., 255 Lockup, 352 Lombard, Rev. Charles P., 157, 161 Long Bridge, 193, 197, 601 Long Hill, 213 Longley, Arthur C., 381, 437 Longley, Guy C., 381 Longley, John, 17, 22 Longley and Oliver, u57 Lord, Aaron, 141, 637 Lord, Abbie (Billings), 639 Lord, Abbie S., 640 Lord, Abel, 340, 389, 595, 634, 639 Lord, Abigail, 632, 638, 643 Lord, Abigail F., 634 Lord, Abigail (Hinckley), 631 Lord, Absalom, 634, 637, 638 Lord, Addie J. (Stowell), 646 Lord, Adelaide I. (French), 648 Lord, Adeline (Wales), 639 Lord, Admiral, 639 Lord, Albert L., 637 Lord, Alice S., 637 Lord, Alvira, 635 Lord, Ann F., 649 Lord, Arthur, 638 Lord, Asa, 141, 634, 635, 640 Lord, Azubah, 635 Lord, Benjamin, 635 Lord, Bethiah (Smith), 631 Lord, Betsey, 635, 639 Lord, Betsey (White), 641 Lord's Block, 374 Lord, Caroline E. (Knapp), 641 Lord & Cass, 26 1 Lord, Charles H., 646 Lord, Charles L., 348, 370, 385, 486, 638 Lord, Chester, 639 Lord, Clarina, 635 Lord, Clarina (Cady), 635 Lord, Clarissa (Hodgkins), 638 Lord, Clarissa (Tuttle), 636 Lord, Cyrrell, 635, 639 Lord, Delia E., 64 1 Lord, Delia M. (Pierce), 641 Lord, Dezier (Ward), 636 Lord, 2nd Lieut. Donald S., 642 Lord, Edith M. (Chism) Knowles, 641 Lord, Edwin Everett, 641 Lord, Eldora (Burnett), 638 Lord, Eliza A. (Flint), 645 Lord, Elizabeth J., 640 Lord, Elizabeth J. (Goodwin), 642 Lord, Elvira R. (Brigham) Goodnow, 638 Lord, Emerson, 639, 646 Lord, Emily M., 640 Lord, Emma F. (Stratton), 642 Lord, Emory, 637, 642 Lord, Estella M., 647 Lord, Esther, 636, 639 Lord, Esther (Johnson), 636 Lord, Ethan, 157, 247, 293, 300, 301, 302, 327, 340, 372 479 487 634, 641, 642 Lord, Ethan, Jr., 250, 637 726 INDEX Lord, Etta, 646 Lord, Eunice, 635 Lord, F. G., C. L. & Co., 348, 384, 638 Lord, Fernaldo L., 639 Lord, Frank F., 640 Lord, Franklin, 637 Lord, Franklin Goddard, 22, 57, 128, 157, 348, 380, 638, 645 Lord, Fred W., 363, 378, 379, 424, 498, 556, 557 Lord, Fred W. Block, 432 Lord, Frederick E., 642 Lord, Frederick W., 650 Lord, Gardiner, 56, 199, 214, 276, 348, 351, 400, 427, 430 431, 490, 551, 602, 634, 637 Lord, George F., 239, 361, 374, 379, 449, 645, 646, 649 Lord, Mrs. George F., 528, 649 Lord, Hannah, 633 Lord, Harold S., 646, 649 Lord, Harriet G., 640 Lord, Harriet (Goddard), 640 Lord, Hattie, 647 Lord, Hazel H. (Harris), 642 Lord, Helen B. (Chenery), 645 Lord, Hiram, 637, 639 Lord & Howe, 359 Lord, Ichabod, 635 Lord, Isabel J. (Cummings), 646 Lord, James A., 637 Lord, James T., 637 Lord, James W., 640 Lord, Jerome J., 641 Lord, John, 635 Lord, John H., 640 Lord, Joseph, 632, 634, 639 Lord, Dr. Joseph, 17, 20, 33, 38, 44, 270, 520, 572, 631 Lord, Joseph Jr. 44, 141, 270 Lord, Joshua, 635 Lord, Jotham, 634, 637 Lord, Julia (Allen), 637 Lord, Julia Ann, 640, 647 Lord, Justine, 635 Lord, Katherine, 631 Lord, Lora L., 639 Lord, Leonard, 116, 141, 480, 634 Lord, Levi, 635, 640 Lord, Lillian, 648 Lord, Lois, 635 Lord, Lorenzo, 636, 640 Lord, Lorenzo P., 640 Lord, Lottie A. (Wight), 638 Lord, Louensa R., 641 Lord, Louisa, 635, 636 Lord, Lucien, 122, 157, 238, 240,. 246, 247, 249, 250, 251, 252, 367, 378, 379, 392, 424, 430, 436, 487, 540, 541, 544, 556, 641 Lord, Lucy, 639 Lord, Luther, 636, 641 Lord, Lydia (Humphrey), 635 Lord, Lydia, 1 4 1 Lord, Lydia (Hale), 646 Lord, Lyman, 636 Lord, Marguerite (LaPoer), 641 Lord. Msnam. 633 Lord, Marian I., 649 Lord, Martha A. (Lyman), 637 Lord, Martin V., 640 Lord, Mary, 633, 639, 642, 649 Lord, Mary B., 79, 127, 520, 638 Lord, Mary L. (Durfee), 649 Lord, Mary (Preston), 633 Lord, Mary (Waite), 631 Lord, Melissa, 649 Lord, Milly, 635 Lord, Milton K., 638 Lord, Myron F., 642 Lord, Nabby F., 635. 637 Lord, Nancy, 646 Lord, Nancy (Campbell), 640 Lord, Nancy (Young), 637, 643 Lord, Nathaniel Young, 56, 486,. 487, 601, 633, 638 Lord, Olive (Moore), 640 Lord, Palmer J., 641 Lord, Perses, 635 Lord, Persis, 636 Lord's Pond, 372, 374 Lord, Pressen, 635 Lord, Preston, 633, 635 Lord, Ralph, 647 Lord, Rand, 635 Lord, Rebecca L. (Spear), 642 Lord, Resty, 635 Lord, Reuben, 633 Lord, Rhoda, 634 Lord, Richard B., 642 Lord, Rep. Robert, 63 1 Lord, Robert E., 642 Lord, Rosella (Young), 637 Lord, Ruth L., 648 Lord, Sabra J., 642 Lord, Sally (Smith), 637 Lord, Samuei, 635 Lord, Sarah, 633, 638, 639 Lord, Sarah F. (Cole), 646 Lord, Sarah (Miller), 638 Lord, Sarah (Rand), 632 727 INDEX Lord, Sarah (Thayer), 641 Lord, Stephen, 45, 46, 47, 633, 634, 635 Lord, Thankful (Richardson), 641 Lord, Capt. Thomas, 45, 46, 56, 92, 94, 96, 101, 141, 332, 396, 398, 426, 480, 631, 633 Lord, Thomas, Jr., 228 Lord, Thomas C., 637 Lord, Unity W. (Ruggles), 636 Lord, Vashney, 636 Lord, Vashni, 64 1 Lord, Wallace, 303, 642, 648 Lord, William, 44, 633, 635, 637, 639 Lord, William C., 635 Lord, William G., 74, 126, 218, 219, 301, 241, 262, 332, 336, 374, 380, 383, 406, 408, 425, 449, 459, 529, 542, 559, 560, 562, 566, 603, 638 Lothrop, Chauncy, 271 Louisburg Campaign, 29 Lovering, Levi, 524 Luce, Alvin A., 592 Luce, Arthur E., 592 Luce, Eleanor F., 592 Luce, Philips E., 592 Luce, Dr. Zenas R., 515, 581 Luey, William D„ 206, 247, 404, 494, 601 Lund, Orrie H„ 515 Lyman, Arthur H., 374 Lyman, Catherine, 136 Lyman, Rev. Daniel W., 127 Lynch, Wm. P., 388 Lynde, Beulah, 647 Lynde, Charles E., 647 Lynde, Charlie, 647 Lynde, Earle C., 647 Lynde, Flora (Clifford), 647 Lynde, George, 647 Lynde, George E., 647 Lynde, Hazel L., 647 Lynde, Dr. J. P„ 70, 72, 543, 572, 584, 660 Lynde, Marjorie (Babino), 647 Lynde, Mildred H., 647 Lynde, Myrtle F., 647 Lynde, Norma (Phoenix), 647 Lynde, Susan J., 647 Lyon, Amariah, 22 Lyric Theatre, 261 M Macadam Roads, 540 MacDonald, Herman E., 628 MacDonald, W. J., 363 MacDougal, William J. E., 80 Maclnnes, Norman P., 406 MacKay, Norman W., 135 MacKay, Simon, 317,408,542,560 MacKenzie, David W., 592 MacKenzie, Edward T., 592 MacKenzie, Jeane Thenis, 592 MacKenzie, Luther W., 592 Maddison, Elizabeth, 598 Main St., 1 80 Main St. (Lower), 371 Mallett, Altenor A., 409 Mallory, 325 Mandell, Rev. D. J., 192,390 Mandell, M. H., 390 Manley, Adin, 338 Mann,, Horace, 1 65 Mann, Priscilla, 594 Mann, Samuel, 1 39 Mann, T. Sidney, 274 Mann, William, 2nd., 150 Manning, Robert, 293 Mansfield, Rev. John H., 145, 147 Mapledale, 254 Marble, Jonothan, 17, 478 Marble, Moses, 342 Marble, Robert, 22, 35, 36, 220, 482 Marble, Silas, 221,425 Marble Street Garage, 384 Market Place, 328 Mars, Rev. John N., 144 Marsh, Ensign A., 1 53 Marsh Hill, 271 Marsh, Obediah, 271 Marshall, Dr. N. S., 515 Marston & Tapley, 346 Martell, Lillian, 609 Martial Law, 556 Martin, Rev. E. F., 148, 149, 442 Martin, Rev. Ira J., 127 Martin, Rev. Nathaniel H., 68, 143, 147 Mason, George, 594 Mason, Lowell, 1 10, 224 Mason, Pearl, 4 1 9 Masonic Block, 379, 525, 556 !; Masonic Hall, 262, 263 Masters & Stewart, 363 Match factory, 336 Matches, 283 Matrons of the Republic, 533 728 INDEX Matthews, Rev. George, 127 Maynard, John, 236 Maynard, Capt. Stephen, 39 Mayo, George, 5 1 5 Mayo, Simeon, 335 McBride, Dr. Wm. T., 581 McCandless, Dr. Frederick B., 650 McCandless, Trina, 650 McClellan, William H„ 587 McClumpha, J. P„ 164,428 McCurdy, Rev. C. L., 143, 147 McDonald, John A., 593 McElwain Shoe Co., 347 McGregor, John A., 317, 543 McHaffie, Donald, 651 McIntosh, James H., 81 McIntosh, Victoria, 621 McKellips, Wilbur H., 248 McLeod, Alexander, 515,557 McManas, Rev., 148 McNamara & Coughlin, 252 McNutt, Arthur H., 609 McNutt, Bruce H., 609 McNutt, Charles A., 609 McNutt, Harold T., 609 McNutt, Judith Ann, 609 McNutt, Warren A., 609 McSkimmon, William B., 317 McWilliams, John R., 233 Meade, J. Walter, 577 Meany, Dr. John H., 82, 583 Mechanic Street, 240 Meecham, James C., 336 Meecham, Mary Elizabeth, 485 Meeting House, Fourth, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110 Meeting House, Third, 38, 102 Mellen, William D., 389 Mellen, William H., 240, 247, 424, 428, 442 Melodian Hall, 198, 262 Memorial Building, 260, 449, 529 Memorial Hospital, 559 Mendell, Mary, 1 17 Mercantile, 356 Merchants' Association, 517 Merriam, Rev. Asaph, 127 Merriam, Elmer, 515, 627 Merrifield Creamery Farm, 607 Merrifield, Erwin H., 61 1 Merrifield, Ralph A., 610 Merrit, Theodore W., 303 Meskauskas, Rev. Francis, 170 Methodist Church, 1 17, 140, 603 Methodist Parsonage, 143 Metropolitan Air Goods, 233 Mexican War, 410 Miles, Clough R„ 110,440,577 Mill Brook, 272 Mill Brook Associates, 270, 273 Miller, Albert, 23 1 Miller, Calvin, 370 Miller, George L., 643 Miller, Isaac Farm, 312 Miller, Janet, 643 Miller, Rev. Joel D., 71 Miller, Richard, 643 Millerism, 120, 131, 139, 150, 522 Millers River, 10, 16, 182, 185,503 Millers River Bank, 368, 369, 400, 401, 402, 403, 503, 529, 539, 541 Millers River Lodge, Manchester Unity, 539 Millers River Manufacturing Co., 305, 314, 614 Millers River Water Powers, 310 Millett, Myrtie M., 591 Mills, Elizabeth M. (Hume), 616 Mills, Leon V., 6 1 6 Mills, Marilyne, 616 Mills, William H., 616 Miner, Henry S., 235 Minister's Association, 513 Minute Men, 92 Mohawk Upholstering Co., 292, 303 Monadnock Grill, 374 Monarch Shoe Co., 291 Monson & Petersham Turnpike, 180' Monument Hill, 177 Moody & Sankey, 244 Moore, Adelia C. (Keyes), 651 Moore, C. W., 193, 198, 202, 650 Moore, Czarina (Goddard), 650 Moore, Daniel, 650, 651 Moore, Eliphalet, 47 Moore, Ella, 652 Moore, Emma J. (Keyes), 651 Moore, Ethel L. (Dyer), 651 Moore, Frank, 651 Moore, Harold R., 620 Moore, Henry E., 620, 651 Moore's "Jewell," 651 Moore, Joseph P., 284, 513 Moore, Joshua, 282 Moore, Rev. Josiah, 112, 114 Moore, M. Allen, 432, 433 Moore, Miriam A., 651 Moore, Peter, 150, 285 Moore, Ruby M., 651 Moore, Sarah (Swanzey), 651 Moore, Sullivan, 237, 284 Moore, Susan (Keyes), 650 Moore, Trancena (Wright), 650 729 INDEX Moore, Warren, 407, 651 Moore, William C., 651 Moose, Loyal Order of, 263 Morgan, Abbie Mason, 485 Morgan Memorial, 138,337 Morrell, Rev. H. FT, 156 Morse, Alvira, 6 1 5 Morse, Anna M. (Amsden), 654 Morse, Barbara C., 654 Morse, Barbara Stebbins (Parker), 654 Morse, Charles L., 302, 513, 529 Morse, Charles W., 652 Morse, Claire (Creelman), 654 Morse, Clara, 654 Morse, Coleen, 653 Morse, Cushing B., 652, 653 Morse, Edward B., 654 Morse, Elizabeth (Stratton), 652 Morse, Frances (Sennenfelder), 653 Morse, Frank F., 278, 514, 620, 653 Morse, Frederick, 514 Morse, George, 652 Morse, H. E., 70 Morse, Halbert V., 622 Morse, Hannah (Cheney), 652 Morse, Helen M. (Sibley), 653 Morse, Henry H., 653, 654 Morse, Henry T., 278, 514, 599, 653 Morse, Jane I., 654 Morse, Jesse, 6 1 5 Morse, John E., 652 Morse, John H., 507 Morse, Julia E. (Munsell), 653 Morse, L. & Sons, 316, 654 Morse, Laban, 1 10, 190, 273, 278, 280, 424, 427, 513, 599, 652 Morse, Leander B., 278, 424, 514, 553, 653 Morse, Maria L. (Smith), 653 Morse, Martha E. (Brooks), 653 Morse, Mary A., 653 Morse, Mary S. (Proctor), 652 Morse, Nancy (Stratton), 652 Morse, Oliver, 6 1 4 Morse, Paul, 110,279,281, 508, 653 Morse, Paul E., 518, 652 Morse, Peckham, 653 Morse, Phillip, 653 Morse, Phyllis, 653 Morse Plant, 277 Morse, Priscilla, 654 Morse, Rodney, 653 Morse, Ruben, 614 Morse, Ruth (Drury), 614 Morse, Sally (Rice), 652 Morse, Samuel, 614 Morse, Sara, 6 1 5 Morse, Sumner L., 279, 599, 654 Morse, Sumner L. Mfg. Co., 654 Morse, Sumner R., 110, 140, 143, 280, 357, 652 Morse, Walter E., 653 Morse, William, 508, 652 Morton, Abigail, 103 Morton, Abraham, 21, 46 Morton, Alice, 619 Morton, Benjamin, 45 Morton, Daniel, 175 Morton, Jeremiah, 226 Morton, Jerusha, 1 1 6 Morton, Joel, 221,426,430, 482, 619 Morton, Jonothan, 17 Morton, Joshua, 101, 118, 429, 480 Merton, Dr. Joshua, 572 Morton, Margerie, 21, 38, 530 Morton, Martin, 1 16, 425 Morton, Richard, 17, 20, 32, 35, 36, 44, 53, 116, 221 Morton, Samuel, 17, 20, 37, 425, 480 Morton St., 2 1 6 Mott, Elizabeth, 628 Mott, Florence E., 628 Mott, Harold, 628 Moulton, Albert G., 193, 196, 198, 200, 231, 384 Moulton, George W., 659 Moulton, J. Warren, 302 Moulton, J. Wesley, 165 Moulton, Rev. Warren J., 134, 136 Mt. Hope Water Co., 496 Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, 479, 601 Mt. Pleasant Encampment, 539 Mt. Pleasant Water Co., 496 Mowry, Miles L., 233 Mudge, Capt. John G., 404 Mullen, Richard P„ 439, 459 Munn, Warner, 339 Munroe, Clarence, 165 Munroe, Elkins & Smalledge, 291 Murphy, John E., 431 Murphy, Patrick J., 434 Murphy, Thomas E., 233 Murray, Alexander, 54 Murrays of Atholl, 49 Murray, John Thomas, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 221 Music Hall, 258 730 INDEX Musson, Dr. William R., 572 Muzzey, Dr. I. P., 581 Myrick, Joshua, 634 Myrick, Rhoda, 634 N Nalon, Paul, 566 Nashua River, 1 82 Nason, Edward L., 648 Nason, Laura S., 648 Nason, Marjory, 648 Nason, Martha L., 648 Nason, Mildred T. (Dill), 648 Nason, Ralph M., 648 Nason, Robert H., 648 Nason, Shirley (Post), 648 National Bank Closing, 557 National Guard, 536 National Printing Machinery Co., 296 Nelson, Arlyn, 646 Nelson, Rev. Stephen S., 127 Nephew, Bryan W., 647 Nephew, Frank L., 647 Nephew, Sandra L., 647 New Boston, 120, 185, 186 Newell, Asa, 639 Newell, Cora O., 639 Newell, Ebenezer, 223 Newell, Nettie O., 163 New England Power Co., 495 Newhall, Augustine W., 300 Newhall, Esq. Hiram, 96, 173, 329, 423, 425, 429, 523, 524 Newhall, Samuel, 235, 327, 400, 427, 599, 650 Newhall, William, 300, 507 Newman, Albert L., 157 New Salem, 175,216 New Sherborn Area, 175 Newton, Alan D., 622 Newton, Arthur N., 599 Newton, C. Stanley, 408, 599 Newton, Chandler N., 599 Newton, D. A., 157, 246 Newton, Elijah B., 357 Newton, Elsie M. (Sevelius), 622 Newton, Gertrude (Hathaway), 622 Newton, Gordon B., 599 Newton, Grant, 175 Newton, Isabelle W., 622 Newton, John K., 622 Newton, Julia L., 622 Newton, Maria C., 622 Newton, Marion G., 622 Newton, Martha D., 621 Newton, Phineas S., 424 Newton, Simeon B., 621 Newton St., 242 Newton, Sybil B., 599 Newton, Town of, 175 Newton, Vesta L. (Pike), 622 Newton, Ward H., 622 N. Y. Central R. R„ 203 N. Y„ N. H. & H. R. R„ 192, 201 Nichols, Rev. A. R., 147 Nichols, Isaac, 223, 227 Nickerson & Cheney, 362 Nickerson, E. E., 522 Nickerson, Ebenezer, 317 Nickerson, Col. Nathan, 1 10, 227, 319, 400, 423, 426, 522, 547 Nightingale, Rev. Charles S., 127 Nightingale, Rev. Crawford, 1 14 Noonan, Clifford E., 595 Noonan, Michael J., 595 Normal School, 85 Northfield, 398 North Orange Church, 102, 172 Norton, Rev. John F., 68, 131, 132, 135, 136, 411, 479 Norton, W. W., 364, 374, 378, 556, 557 Noyes, Allen H., 428 Noyes, Blanche Parmenter, 163 Nutt, Abraham, 17, 22, 32, 36, 44, 425, 429 Nye, Alpheus J., 427 O Oak (now Jones) St. Community Hall, 170 Oakes, Abram, 273, 284 Oakes, Ira, 273 Oakes, Roland T., 544 Obrien, Rev. Robert J., 162 O'Brien, Lincoln, 394, 395 O'Brien, Robert Lincoln, 394 O'Daniels, Rev. D. C., 1 14 Odd Fellows, 262, 263, 539 O'Laughlin Family, 383 O'Laughlin, James, 560 O'Laughlin, Thomas P., 431 O'Laughlin, Wm. H., 218 Oliver, Aaron, 116, 117, 118, 426, 480, 524, 655, 656,. 657, 659 Oliver, Abel, 634 Oliver, Amara, 656 Oliver, Anastacia (Jones) Freeman, 659 731 INDEX 'Oliver, Angela M. (Putnam), 658 Oliver, Annie J., 660 Oliver, Arthur C., 658 Oliver, Asaph, 634 Oliver, Calvin H., 655 Oliver, Carl, 659 Oliver, Charles, 620, 656 Oliver, Charles S., 658 Oliver, Cinda, 657 Oliver, Collene B. (Chamberlain), 659 Oliver, Cornell, 656 Oliver, Dolly (Wood), 655 Oliver, Edna S., 659 Oliver, Dr. Edward R., 658 Oliver, Ellen F., 657 Oliver, Elizabeth, 656 Oliver, Emily (Woodward), 658 Oliver, Fanny M., 659 Oliver, Francis E., 656 Oliver, Frank, 656 Oliver, Franklin, 336, 657, 658 Oliver, Fred B„ 381,657 Oliver, Fred Y., 659 Oliver, Gardiner A., 634 Oliver, George, 507, 656 Oliver, George F., 659 Oliver, George S., 658 Oliver, Gertrude S. (Dunbar), 658 Oliver, Goldie I., 659 Oliver, Hannah, 655, 659 Oliver, Harriet K., 657 Oliver, Hepzibeth, 656 Oliver, Irwin M., 658 Oliver, Jacqueline (Jeffcoat), 658 Oliver, James, 22, 32, 91, 96, 107 266, 337, 423, 425, 426, 431, 483, 507, 547, 595, 656, 660 Oliver, Dr. James, 68, 72, 240, 425, 530, 553, 572, 584, 659 Oliver, James 2nd., 295, 322, 657 Oliver, James R., 659 Oliver, Jane T., 658 Oliver, Janet P., 659 Oliver, Jemima, 103, 655 Oliver, Joan (Smith), 658 Oliver, John, 22, 32, 53, 60, 94, 96, 101, 103, 1 15, 398, 482, 546, 655 Oliver, John D., 659 Oliver, Julia A., 657 Oliver, Kate (Johnson), 659 Oliver, Lois W. (Humphrey), 655 Oliver, Lois Y., 656 ■Oliver, Lois (Young), 659 Oliver, Lucia C. (Stone), 659 Oliver, Lucinda, 657 Oliver, Lucius C., 657 Oliver, Lucy, 1 1 7 Oliver, Lydia (Nutting), 657 Oliver, Lyonder, 634 Oliver, Mabel S. (Butterworth), 659 Oliver, Margaret P. (Carter), 658 Oliver, Mary, 656 Oliver, Mary E. (Hanlon) Benton, 659 Oliver, Mary (Lane), 656 Oliver, Mary M. (Perley), 658 Oliver, Meribah, 656 Oliver, Minerva, 658 Oliver, Moses, 655 Oliver, Moses W., 655 Oliver, Nancy, 657, 659 Oliver, Nathaniel Y., 656, 657 Oliver, Otis, 658 Oliver, Ozi, 658 Oliver, Rachel, 655, 656 Oliver, Rhoda (Young), 656 Oliver, Robert, 22, 32, 95, 478 Oliver, Rosella A., 657, 658 Oliver, Sally, 221,655,658 Oliver, Samuel C., 656 Oliver, Samuel H., 657 Oliver, Sarah J., 657 Oliver, Solon J., 658 Oliver, Susan (Whitcomb), 657 Oliver, Sylvester E., 658 Oliver, Thaddeus S., 659 Oliver, Thiery, 658 Oliver, Thomas, 657 Oliver, Thomas K., 659 Oliver, Thomas L., 634 Oliver, Tirzah, 655 Oliver, Urban M., 658 Oliver, Viola M. (Hanson), 658 Oliver, Walton F., 658 Oliver, William, 17,22,48,53, 95, 425, 429, 478 Oliver, Willie T., 336, 489, 659 Ol la ri, Alfred P„ 292 Olson, Carl E., 597 Olson, Stephen S., 597 Olson, Wendy M., 597 Olympia Candy Kitchen, 383 Open Hill, 58 Opera House, 259, 261 Orange, 2 1 1 Orange-Athol Airport, 218 Orange, District of, 172 Orange Enterprise & Journal, 394 Orange Methodist Church, 141, 142 Orange (South) Baptist Church, 120 732 INDEX Orange Street, 245 Orcutt, Alice L., 625 Orcutt, Charles E., 1 63 Orcutt, Charles H., 625 Orcutt, David, 508 Orcutt, Hattie E., 163 Orcutt, Henry Lee, 625 Orcutt, Jonothan, 221 Organizations, 512 Ormsbee, Daniel G., 647 Ormsbee, Eileen R., 647 Ormsbee, Eleanor M., 647 Ormsbee, George B., 647 Ormsbee, Joan, 647 Ormsbee, Kenneth D., 647 Ormsbee, Leslie E., 647 Ormsbee, Margaret (O'Connell), 647 Ormsbee, Martina (Mahoney), 647 Ormsbee, Mary C., 647 Ormsbee, Patricia, 647 Ormsbee, Richard H., 647 Ormsbee, Shirley E., 647 Orr, Rev. William, 148 Orton, Gardner L., 384 Orton Store, 376 Osgood, A. C., 305 Osgood, Samuel M., 236, 369, 374, 381, 431, 645 Osgood Soapstone Co., 433 Otter River Church, 483 Otterson, Jotham D., 599 "Ox-bow," 188,213,312 Ox Yokes, 336 P P.O.P.C.H., 233, 366 Packard, Joseph F., 237, 338, 366, 376 Packard Pond, 328 Packard, S., 366 Page, Jonothan, 17 Paige, C. F. & Co., 365, 557 Paige, Frazier K., 560 Paige, Harlan, 6 1 7 Paige, Rev. Lucius, 266 Paine, Rev. Harry H., 147 Paine, Joseph, 226 Paine, Joseph, Tavern, 549 Paine, Sarah, 84 Palmer & Bates, 351 Palmer, George K., 351 Palmer, Lillian M., 593 Palmer, Luther K., 351 Parcel Post, 438 Park Avenue, 242 Park St., 229, 242, 243 Park View, 253 Parke, Rev. H. C., Jr., 156 Parker, Capt. Ephraim, 319 Parker, J. E., 500 Parker Post, G.A.R., 262, 358, 53 1 Parker, Thomas L., 300 Parker, William, 300 Parkhurst, Hon. Lewis, 74 Parkhurst, Dr. Wm., 191 Parmenter, Abiel, 226 Parmenter, Adelle C., 163, 418, 519 Parmenter, Bertha, 598 Parmenter, Frank C., 230, 368, 375, 487 Parmenter, FrankS., 162, 163, 366, 376 Parmenter, Hiram L., 163 Parmenter, J. Sumner, 134, 170, 308, 368, 369, 376, 424, 429, 487 Parmenter, Jason, 45, 46 Parmenter, Joseph, 128 Parmenter, Laurence I., 163 Parmenter, Leroy C., 246, 248, 382, 494, 598 Parmenter, Oliver, 587 Parmenter, Ruth L., 598 Parmenter & Tower, 375 Parsons, Dr. A. W., 573 Parsons, Dr. C. W., 378, 573 Parsons, Hon. H. C., 12 Parsons, Rev. John C., 157, 161 Parson's Oak, 104 Partridge, Edward E., 339 Partridge, John H., 243, 386, 427, 431, 547, 601 Partridge & Lord, 387 Partridgeville, 339 Partridgeville Area Annexed, 175 Partridgeville Road, 253 "The Patch," 188 Peabody, J. Kitteredge, 337 Peach Orchard, 253 Peakes, Rev. Fred W., 127 Peal, Helen, 595 Peat Bog, 274 Peck, Wayland, 513 Peckham, Clarrissa Brooks, 163 Peckham, Harold L., 296 Peckham, Henry Marshall, 296, 305 Peckham, Lucy H. M., 595 Peckham, Mary A., 84 Peckham, Roy M., 615 Peckham, Sandra, 615 Peckham, Sue, 6 1 5 733 INDEX Pegville, 273 Peppard, Blanche M. (Ball), 616 Peppard, Charles E., 616 Peppard, Georgianna, 616 Peppard, John R., 616 Peppard, Lorainne, 616 Peppard, Mabel, 605, 616 Peppard, Nancy E. (Heyward), 616 Peppard, Wayne E., 616 Pequoag Guards, 536 Pequoig (various ways of spelling), 665 Pequoig Block, 238, 250, 541 Pequoig Engine House, 156 Pequoig Hotel, 157, 234, 367, 503, 539, 599 Pequoig Senate, 237, 540 Perekslis, Stanley, 362 Perham, Milton 0., 231, 233 Perkins, Rev. Charles E., 109, 158, 161 Perley, Norman H., 515 Perley, Philip S., 428 Pero, Joseph T., 368 Perry, Charles A., 437 Perry, Dr. G. L., 378, 549, 573 Perry, Grace, 592 Perry, Tyler, 1 1 0 Perry, William A., 84 Pest House, 549 Peters, Timothy, 329 Petersham, 16,88,120,211,212 Petersham Road Water Main, 497 Peterson, Harold C., 591 Peterson, Rev. John, 147 Petraitis, Rev. August, 170 Phaelan, Robert, 373 Phelps, Rev. A. E., 153 Phelps, Charles C., 284 Phelps, Harriet E., 134 Phelps, Rose E., 1 63 Phelps, Willis, 193,320 Phillip, King, 1 0 Phillips, Alonzo D., 191,235,237 Phillips Hotel, 188,190,235 Phillips, Ruth, 1 1 7 Phillips, Seth, 117, 174 Phillipston Town Hall, 166 Phoenix Block, 376 Pierce, G. Everett, 247, 253 Pierce, Gad, 227 Pierce & Goodell. 232 Pierce, J. L., 588 Pierce, Jerome, 5 1 5 Pierce, John R., 271, 513, 544 Pierce, Joseph, 293, 426, 430, 431, 523, 524 Pierce, Samuel, 624 Pierce & Stowell, 293 Pierce Street, 245 Pierce, W. Warren, 366 Pietz, Arthur H., 363 Pine Hill, 614 Pine Street, 216 Pinedale, 249, 328 Pinedale Woolen Co., 331 Pioneer Mill, 349 Piper, Charles A., 234 Pittman, Rev. Arthur A., 148 Pitts Block, 373 Pitts, Ella, 657 Pitts, Grace E., 359, 419, 657 Pitts, S. Bishop, 365, 657 Pixler, Rev. Wellington C., 147 Plantation, 243 Pleasant St. Cemetery, 482, 485 Pleasant St. Relocation, 279 Pleasant St. Reservoir, 496 Pleasant Valley, 157,250 Pleasantdale, 252 Plotkin, A. Williams, 377, 408, 433, 457 Plotkin, Isadore, 372 Plotkin, Jacob, 167, 364, 366 Plotkin, Joseph, 1 67 Plotkin, Louis, 1 67 Police Department, 433 Political, 421 Political Celebration, 492 Pollard, W. H. & I. E., 336 Pollack, Henry, 562 Pompanoot, 13 Pomroy, Chester, 228 Pond, Geneva H., 593 Pond, George S., 343 Poor Farm School House, 506 Population, 58 Poquaig Club, 234, 238, 539 Porter, Charles F., 280 Post Office, 362, 379, 439 Post Office Location, 438 Post Office Robbery, 494 Potter Interests, 284 Potter, Rev. M. A., 153 Potter, Orlando H., 403 Powers, Arthur I., 281 Powers, Benjamin, 1 1 6 Powers, Charlene B., 441 Powers, ErnestO., 291 Powers, & Haven, 372, 381 Powers, Orrin J., 291 Pratt, Charles W., 589 Pratt, Julia D., 374 Pratt, Marion E., 595 734 INDEX Pratt, Othello Fay, 589 Pratt, Walter S„ 382 Preble, Orimel B., 522 Premo, Duane, 615 Premo, Frank, 615 Premo, Maxine 6 1 5 Premo, Richard, 6 1 5 Prescott, Edith M., 593 Prescott, Fred E., 593 Prescott, Frederick L., 593 Preston, Harry, 515 Preston's Hotel, 508 Preston, Justus, 228 Priest, Alphonso, 214 Proctor, Joseph. Esq., 423, 426, 439. 577 Progress, 393 Proprietors (Original Land Drawers), 666, 667, 668, 669, 670, 671 Prospect Hill School, 157 Prospect Park, 251 Prouty, George H., 231 Prouty, Mary, 609 Prouty, Orcutt, 274 Prouty, S. D. Saw Mill, 244 Prouty, Samuel D., 274, 543 Prudden, Anne G. (Folsom) 631 Prudden, Constance (Thurber) 631 Prudden, Converse, 63 1 Prudden, Deborah, 63 1 Prudden, Joanna, 631 Prudden, John, 631 Prudden, Penelope, 631 Prudden, Peter, 63 1 Prudden, Stephen B., 631 Prudden, Theodore M., 631 Public Safety Committee, 448 Public Services, 493 Puffer, William H., 378 Purdy, Rev. J. S., 1 53 Puritan Outpost, 398 Putnam, Bela A., 619 Putnam, Bela W., 619 Putnam, Gen. Rufus, 54 Putnam, Rufus, 544 Pythian B'ork, ?~3, 364 Pythian Hall, 1 63 Q Quabbin Reservoir, 194, 502 Qualters, Charles H., 459, 537 Queen Lake, 497 Queen of Peace, 263 Quinn, John J., 584 R Railroad Accident, 548 Railroad Crossings, 214 Railroad, Vt. & Mass., 121 Rainbow for Girls, 528 Rainey, Frank H.. 515 Ramsey, John, 283 Randall, Rev. Dr., 1 54 Randall, Andrew J., 635 Randall, Augusta J., 635 Randall, Harrison L., 635 Randall, Louisa L., 635 Randall, Stephen, 338, 635 Rawson, Alonzo, 390 Raymond, Alfred J., 276 Raymond, Elizabeth, 83 Raymond, Franklin H., 440 Raymond, Freeborn, 619 Raymond, Horatio, 588 Raymond, Sullivan, 664 Read, Benjamin, 338 Red Men, 262 Reed, Cheney, 3 1 1 Reed, Elijah, 403 Reed, F. E., 234 Reed, Rev. Samuel, 1 04 Reed, Rev. Solomon, 104, 105 Reed, Spencer A., 406, 560 Reform Club, 518 Regular Train Service, 192 Reid, Rev. J. Douglas, 127, 154, 156 Reid, Mr., 233 Reiley, James, 233 Reilef Corps, 533 Representatives to General Court, 90 Restaurant in Depot, 200 Revolutionary Services, 95 Reynolds, Carl E., 647 Reynolds. Dr F \ 017, 573( 534 Reynolds, 'Frank W., 647 Reynolds, Lucy, 595 Reynolds, Olive M., 648 Rice, Rev. Augustus M., 644 Rice, B. Madron, 335 Rice, Daniel H., 578 Rice, Ephraim, 659 Rice, Erwin P., 384 Rice, Rev. Gardner. 143, 147 Rice, H. H. Box & Toy Co., 337 Rice, Henry H., 336,337,441,428 Rice, James M., 335, 427 Rice, Dr. Samuel, 227, 357, 523, 524 573 Rice, William, 336 Riceville, 334 Rich, Benjamin W., 424 Rich, George, 514 Rich, Jeremiah A., 424 Rich, L. D., 308 735 INDEX Rich, Lizzie S., 382 Richards, Asa F., 151 Richardson's Block, 260, 382, 383, 525 Richardson, C. Fred, 325, 406, 424, 427, 428, 429, 494 Richardson, Delavan, 658 Richardson, George H., 325 Richardson, Kate, 658 Richardson, Luna B., 122 Richardson, Lysander, 216, 295 Richardson, Nathaniel, 67, 157, 187, 188, 189, 263, 325, 326, 327, 331, 383, 400, 423, 424, 427, 430, 509, 548, 549, 609, 621 Richardson, Pierson, 103 Richardson, Rev. Wellen N., 145, 147 Richardson, William, 230 Rickey, Walter J., 515 Ridge Hill, 245,601 Rieb, Joseph, 5 1 5 Ritchie, James H. & Son, 563 Riverbend School, 148 Roache, John F., 80 Roberts, Edna Proctor, 530 Robinson, Samuel, 22 Rod & Gun Club, 518 Rodney Hunt Machine Co., 339 Rogan, Rev. D. H., 1 14 Rogers, Ross A., 660 Rogers, Sarah K., 660 Rohunta, 338 Romanowicz, Lt. James, 539 Rome Family, 23 1 Roosevelt, Theodore's Call, 552 Rosenberg, Fanny, 301 Rotary Club, 234, 518 Rowe, Judge C. Edward, 457, 558, 578 Rowlandson, Mary, 11,12 Royal Cafe, 376 Royalston, 14, 120 Royalston Road, 314, 481 Rubin's Block, 432 Rubino, Dr. Bernard C., 573 Rural Mail Delivery, 438 Rushmore, William J., 76 Russell, Bud, 2 1 8 Russell, Harold J., 647 Russell, James E., 647 Russell, Joan C., 647 Russell, John M., 647 Russell, William E., 541 S Sabin, Rev. Dr., 1 30 Sabin, Luke, 5 1 4 St. Francis Church, 168, 369 St. George, 339 St. John's Episcopal Church, 154 Sails, Clara, 592 Sails, Jane G., 592 Sails, Susan C., 592 Sails, Winfield T., 592 Sally Fish Development, 242 Saltonstall, Hon. Leverett, 538 Salvation Army, 166 Sanders, Lewis, 248 Sanders St., 247 Sanders St. Area, 221 Sanders Terrace, 253 Sanders, Zebina, 656 Sanderson, Rev. Alonzo, 621 Sanderson, Charles, 653 Sanderson, Dea. David, 271 Sanderson, Hon, Howard K., 57, 621 Sanderson, James J., 84 Sanderson, John, Farm, 150 Sanderson, Kendall A., 621 Sanderson, Sarah A., 84 Sanderson, Simeon, 578 Sanford, Rev. F. W., 156 Sanger, William B., 549 Sarqent, Ezra, 594 Sargent, Fred H., 363, 606 Sargent, Henry L., 601, 606 Sault, Carl E., 378, 644 Sault, Elton W., 644 Saunders, John, 514 Savage, Cyrus B., 337 Savage, Mrs. M. T., 359 Savage, T. W., 353 Sawtelle, Hattie E., 212, 540 Sawtelle, Henry (Startle) 103 Sawtelle, J. F., 1 53 Sawtelle, Jane, 1 53 Sawyer, Addison M., 133, 230,. 349, 563 Sawyer, Amos, 514 Sawyer, Burnside E., 303, 564 Sawyer, Everett, 597 Sawver, Jonathan W., 597 Sawyer Lester T., 564 Sawyer, Mary J., 597 Sawyer, Orrin, 597 Sawyer, Silas, 340 Sawyer Tool Co., 303 Scare of 1794, 264 Schaffer, Rev. Charles F., 147 736 INDEX Schmidt, Edward L., 628 Schoenfeldt, Rev. ArthurS., 161 School Committee Members, 680, 681, 682, 683 School House No. 2, 118 School Houses, 62, 63, 64, 65 School Superintendents, 684 Schuloff, Belle, 292 Scott, Alvin, 647 Scott, Rufus, 588 Scully, Wm. E., 231 Searle, Barnum F., 57 Sears, Charles M., 377 Sears, Roebuck & Co., 384 Seaver, Luther, 94 Second Advent Church, 120, 140, 152 Second Unitarian Church, 111, 125, 156 Secretary Land, 334 Sedgerly, Albert R., 522 Sedgwick, Homer G., 202 Segal, Rabbi S., 168, 459, 460 Selectmen's Office, 557 Sentinel Elm, 180, 650 Seventh Day Advent Church, 164 Sewers, 503, 541 Shatto, Rev. Charles A., 145, 147 Shattuck, Rev. Frank, 153 Shattuck, Maude H., 598 Shaw, Edward F., 321 Shaw, Rev. Linus, 112, 114 Shay, J. J. Mrs., 366 Shays, Daniel, 99 Shays, Hannah (Foster), 99 Shays' Rebellion, 98, 99 to 1 0 1 , 397 Shays, Seth, 99 Sheffer, Rev. Homer L.. 161 Sheldon, Ebenezer, 508 Sheldon, Frank, 515 Shepardson, Edmund C., 424 Shepardson, Emma L., 163 Sherman, Rev. David, D.D., 143 Sherwin, Sylvanus, 284 Shipman, Rev. John N., 127 Shirley, Governor, 29 Shore Drive, 246 Short Bridge, 197 Shrimpton, Rev. C. J., 155, 156 Shumway, Rufus T., 231 Shurtliff, Rev. Charles, 153 Sibley, Edward, 5 1 4 Sibley, Gibbs, 336 Sibley, Gideon, 300, 427, 507 Sibley, Dr. Marion B., 384, 573 Sibley, Paul, 300, 327 Sibley, Perley, 299, 327, 480, 507 Sibley, Willard, 300 Silver Lake, 24 Silver Lake Cemetery, 485 Silver Lake School, 81 Silver Lake St., 245 Simonds Block, 363, 364, 432, 544' Simonds, Lucius, 514 Simonds, Stillman, 285, 421, 424, 440 Simonds St., 251 Simonetti, Rev. Leon S., 162 Simpson, Joseph H., 662 Simpson, Robert J. O., 385 Singing, 1 1 6 Sisson, James G., 559 Skating Rink, 259, 540 Skinner, Benjamin C., 66, 283, 484 Skinner, Benjamin W., 593 Sklenis, August, 373 Slate, Bertha, 589 Slate, Ernest, 589 Slate, Fay, 589 Slate, Hollis M., 206,231, 351, 494, 557 Slate, Joseph, 589 Slate & Lord, 256,301,372,374 Slavery, 58 Slavs, 1 68 Sleighs, 283 Sloan, Jonothan W., 427 Sloan & King, 295 Sloan, J. Proctor, 380 Smallpox Epidemics, 544 Smargonsky, 1 67 Smeed, John, 10, 17, 20, 25, 220' Smeed, Mary, 25 Smith, Aaron, 24, 37, 44, 53, 91, 96, 101, 114, 425, 426, 480, 524, 633, 655 Smith, Abigail, 655 Smith, Abner, 67, 300, 308 Smith, Achsah, 655 Smith, Adin H„ 333, 383, 493, 597' Smith, Albee, 89, 410 Smith, Almond, 70, 289, 290, 422, 425, 514 Smith, Alice Louise, 592 Smith, Altemirah A., 591 Smith, Arline H., 519 Smith, Asa, 32,101,117,223 Smith, Benjamin, 624 Smith, Caleb, 32, 96, 101, 426, 524 Smith, Carl E., 592 Smith, Dr. Charles, 581 Smith, Charles F., 592 Smith, Clara E., 622 Smith, David, 143, 331 737 INDEX Smith, David & Co., 331 Smith, Davis, 487 Smith, E. M., 33 1 Smith, Ebenezer, 336 Smith, Edgar A„ 7 1, 203, 2C9, 392 Smith, Edward, 83 Smith, Ephriam, 17, 20, 37, 44, 53. 102, 270, 430 Smith, Ezekiel, 15, 171 Smith, Frank E., 162, 163 Smith, Fred U., 379, 556 Smith, Frederick, 592 Smith, Gamaliel, 284, 318, 595 Smith, George, 304, 621 Smith, H. Waldo, 333 Smith, Dr. Harold E., 582 Smith, Hattie, 595 Smith, Hattie E., 620 Smith, Dr. Horace C., 149, 157, 582 Smith, Ida, 646 Smith, James G., 608 Smith, Joel, 1 0 1 Smith, John, 3 1 9 Smith, Rev. John D., 130, 136 Smith, John M., 237 Smith, Joseph, 1 7 Smith, Dr. Joseph A., 559, 573, 640 Smith, Joshua, 597, Smith. Lenrra 597 Smith, Lemuel H., 597 Smith, Lois, 655 Smith, Lucy, 597, 607, 656 Smith, Malcolm, 515 Smith, Maria, 597, 620 Smith, Martha J., 597 . Smith, Mary J ., 162, 163 Smith, Mary S., 597 Smith, Miriam F., 163 Smith, Nancy, 655 Smith, Perry, 646 Smith, Polly B., 597 Smith, Rev. Preserved, 586 Smith, Rachel H., 597 Smith, Russell, 300, 327, 620 Smith, Russell Home, 166 Smith, Sally, 655 Smith, Sarah H., 420 Smith, Sarah L., 519 Smith, Hon. Sidney P.. 74, 215, 422, 424, 433, 578 Smith, Stanley S., 597 Smith, Dr. Sumner T., 573 Smith, Tirzah, 655 Smith, Wilson D., 206, 320, 323, 427, 428, 494 Sniveley, Rev. Alfred D., 1 56 Snow, C. B., 319 Snow, J. H., 325 Snow, Jesse, 664 Snow, Stephen A., 71 Snow, William H., 441 Snyder, Dr. Victor, 583 Soapstone, 305 Soldiers, American Revolution, 685 to 703 Sons of Union Veterans, 533 South Ashburnham, 1 85, 1 86 South Athol, 174,176,336, 419, 441 South Athol Church, 137, 138 South Athol Mfg. Co., 337 South Athol School, 83 South Brook, 270 South Park, 1 57 South Orange, 185, 187 South Royalston, 173, 311, 488 South St., 1 88, 483 Southard Gilbert, 271,272,331,427 Southardville, 271 Southland, Louise M., 366 Southworth, Thomas, 635 Spanish War, 442 Spanish War Veterans, 538 Sparhawk, Rev. Ebenezer, 104, 105 Spear, Albert G., 617 Spear, Mary E., 617 Spencer, Percy F., 406 Spokane Plan, 408, 558 Spooner, Alden, 282, 490, 508 Spooner, Alexander K., 284 Sponer, Allan C., 615 Spooner, Earl A., 615 Spooner, William A., 82 Spooner, William B., 274 Sportsmen's Club, 519 Sportsmen's Pond, 330 Sprague, Caleb, 336 Sprague, Ephraim, 1 10 Sprague, Erastus, 333 Sprague, George, 382 Sprague, Hon. Henry H., 69 Sprague, Israel, 1 03 Sprague, L. K., 487 Springfield, Athol & North¬ eastern R. R., 193, 210 Stage Coaches, 1 8 1 Standard Time, 192 Stanqvilla, Sophie 374 Stanhope, Dr. H. R., 583 Stanton Place, 549 Star Lodge, 365 Starr Hall, 157,258,436,540 Starr Hall Block, 167,370,377 738 INDEX Starrett, Arthur H.( 218, 310 408, 428, 561, 565, 566 Starrett Block, 263, 384, 394, 525 Starrett Co., 280 Starrett, Laroy S., 146, 170, 261, 263, 301, 307, 308, 309, 315, 317, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 362, 419, 540, 544 Starrett Memorial Methodist Church, 323 State Guards, 450, 534, 537 State (Rail)road, 192 Stearns, Henry A., 72, 73, 84 Stearns, Lizzie J., 74 Stearns, Dr. Oscar F., 583 Stearns, Oscar H., 71 Stearns, Samuel, 334 Stebbins, Rev. H. W„ 133,136 Stephenson Engine, 1 84 Stevens, Cortez, 588 Stevens, Helen, 599 Stevens House, 233 Stevens, Isaac, 191, 229, 282, 313, 402, 424, 427, 429, 431, 440, 578, 579 Stevens, J. T., 233 Stewart, Warren E., Rev., 127 Stiles, James A., 433 Still, Martha B., 605 Stinson, John, 175 Stinson, Richard, 303 Stockwell Block, 167,369,373,382 Stockwell, Chellis W., 662 Stockwell, Cyrus, 662 Stockwell, Diantha, 153 Stockwell, Eliza A., (Wheeler) 661 Stockwell, Elizabeth, 661 Stockwell, Capt. Ephriam, 91, 94, 96, 97, 101, 398, 422, 478, 661 Stockwell, Ethel, 662 Stockwell, Fred O., 662 Stockwell, Freeland, 513,662 Stockwell, George, 662 Stockwell, Gertrude M., 591 Stockwell, Harry L., 662 Stockwell, James, 661 Stockwell, Jane (Seaver) 120, 662 Stockwell, John, 270, 340, 661 Stockwell, Joseph, 427 Stockwell, Josiah, 661 Stockwell, Lena, 662 Stockwell, Lucy A., 661 Stockwell, Maria, 662 Stockwell, Mary, 662 Stockwell Milinery Store, 382 Stockwell, Minnie J., 66T Stockwell, Noah, 426 Stockwell, Noah, Jr., 662 Stockwell, Otis J., 661 Stockwell Place, 345 Stockwell, Polly (Briggs) 662 Stockwell, Sarah, 662 Stockwell, Simon, 299 Stockwell, Stillman, 120, 662 Stockwell, Stuart, 662 Stockwell, Sylvester, 283, 587, 595, 661 Stockwell, Sylvester J., 661 Stockwell, Wealthy J., 153 Stoddard, Rev. Darius H., 124, 125, 127 Stone, Dr. Anthony J., 573 Stone, John C., 231 Stone, Nathan, 281 Stone, O. H., 363 Stone, Ralph S., 428 Stowe, C. P., 155 Stowe, Mortimer E., 657 Stowell, Austin, 593 Stowell, Barbara, 593 Stowell, Ebenezer, 271, 336 Stowell, Henry R., 293, 433 Stowell, Jett E., 381 Stowell, Richard, 593 Stratton, Abel, 615 Stratton, Abner, 110, 271 Stratton, Abner G., 365, 427, 430 Stratton, Addison, 617 Stratton, Amos T., 594 Stratton, Andrew, 617 Stratton, Angelina, 84 Stratton, Betsy (Batchelor) 615 Stratton Bros. & Co., 283 Stratton, Carolina, 153 Stratton Cemetery, 484 Stratton, David P., 617 Stratton, Debora, 614 Stratton, Ebenezer, 484 Stratton, Eleanor, 595 Stratton, Elizabeth, 615 Stratton, Fannie M., 153 Stratton, Frank R., 283 Stratton, Fred A., 514 Stratton, Frederick A., 617 Stratton, Hannah, 153 Stratton, Harriet A., 84, 617 Stratton, Henry W., 153, 283 Stratton Homestead, 1 65 Stratton, James, 617 Stratton, James, Jr., 91, 92, 103, 425 Stratton, Jesse, 617 739 INDEX Stratton, Joel, 28 1 , 282, 284 Stratton, Jonothan, 1 1 4, 594 Stratton, Joseph, 334 Stratton, Josiah Henry, 595 Stratton, Laura, 85 Stratton, Laura M., 1 53 Stratton, Lois (Ward) 617 Stratton, Lucena, 595 Stratton, Mabel A., 594 Stratton, Marietta, 617 Stratton, Mary, 594 Stratton Meadow, 247 Stratton, Myra A., 595 Stratton, Myron A., 594 Stratton, Peleg 614, 617 Stratton, Reuben, 233, 340 Stratton, Sally (Ward) 617 Stratton, Sally (Wardsworth) 6 1 7 Stratton, Sarah R., 1 53 Stratton, Stephen, 271, 634 Stratton, Susanna (Ward) 617 Stratton, Thomas, 426, 429, 617 Stratton, Wilder, 513 Stratton, William, 615 Street Car Barn, 205 Street Lighting, 494, 540 Street Numbering, 240 Street Railways, 204 Streeter, George A., 153 Streeter, Mary E., 1 53 Streeter, Ruth M., 87 Strong, Solomon, 435, 439, 579 Strout, George M., 78 Sullivan, Wm. B., 388 Summit House, 229, 230 Sunset Terrace, 252, 254, 256 Sunshine Park, 255 Suntsman, 26 Sutherland, Marjorie L., 595 Sutherland, Ralph D., 207, 405 Sutton, Baptist Church at, 115 Sutton, Rev. W. S., 114 Swain, Dr. O. A. T., 574 Swan, Clyde H., 425 Swan, John M., 496 Swan, John's Market, 373 Swan, Willie L., 373 Swann, George, 3 1 3 Swanzey, N. H., 15 Sweetser, Abigail, 663 Sweetser, Caroline, 663 Sweetser, Hannah A., 663 Sweetser, Hannah (Moore) 662 Sweetser, Joseph A., 663 Sweetser, Luke, 663 Sweetser, Maria, 663 Sweetser, Mary, 663 Sweetser, Miranda, 663 Sweetser, Samuel, 106, 136, 224, 228, 269, 356, 423, 483, 662, 663 Sweetzer, Abel, 61, 663 Sweetzer, Samuel, Jr., 426, 427 Sweetzer's Tavern, 181 Sweezey, George, 657 Swift, Fred, 5 1 5 Swift, Parke B., 402, 542 Swift, Mrs. Parke B., 519 Swift River Box Co., 277 Swift River Valley, 194 Symonds, Henry A., 500 T Taft, Dr. Clarence M., 218, 582 Taft, Hannah, 608 Taft, Sarah M., 564 Taft, Tabitha, 596 Talbot, George, 1 0 1 Tandy, C. Eugene, 437, 591 Tandy, Charles F., 591 Tandy, Clifton W., 592 Tandy, Dana M., 592 Tandy, Feme C., 592 Tandry, Gladys L., 591 Tandy, Helen Mae, 592 Tandry, Huber W., 592 Tandy, John Robert, 592 Tandy, Marcia P., 592 Tandy, Marjorie Eveleen, 591 Tandy, Mildred S., 591 Tandy, Norman E., 592 Tandy, Ruth L., 592 Tandy, Spencer E., 592 Tandy, Thelma R., 592 Tandy, Thenis G., 592 Tandy, Wilbert C., 592 Tannery, 284 Taverns, 220 Taxpayers, Tax List of 1771, 677, 678 Tay, George A., 61 6 Taylor, Abraham, 336 Taylor, Leland B., 287 Taylor, Lucien E., 190, 642 Taylor, Sabra J., 301, 374, 642 Taylor, Dr. Vernon O., 392, 574, 642 Taylor, Gen Zachary, 410 Tebo, 249, 332 Telegraph, 208 Telephone, 210,211,212 Temperance, 120, 131, 229, 244 Temperance Hotel, 229 740 INDEX Temple, Dorothy (Upham) 648 Temple, Edwin C., 384, 648 Temple, Hattie E., 648 Temple of Honor Hall, 155, 262 Temple Israel, 1 68 Temple, John M., 381 Temple, Mildred E., 648 Temple, Roscoe R., 648 Temple, Vivian F. (Evarts) 648 Temple, Wayne A., 648 Templeton, 14, 186 Templeton Baptist Church, 1 17, Templeton St. Ry., 207 Templeton West Parish, 90, 173 Tenny, Samuel, 17, 22 Terrill, William H„ 76,513 Territorial Changes, 171 Terry, John A., 335 Thatcher. Wayne M. 218 Thayer, Emma R., 1 63 Thayer, Dr. Henry R., 574 Thayer, Jesse, 268, 281 Thayer, Nathan, 84 Thayer, Otis C., 251 Thayer, Phillip R., 164 Thomas, Rev. Byron H., 127 Thomas, Charles A., 369, 382 Thomas, E. A., 230 Thomas, Zebina, 620 Thompson, Andrew J., 163 Thompson, Clark, 618 Thompson, Dexter, 101 Eliza A., 618 Forrest H., 519,529 Georae B 296 Sewell, 235 Urania, 607 E., 415 110, 187, 191 Thompson, Thompson, Thompson, Thompson, Thompson, Thorpe, Mrs. E. J. Thorpe, Eliphalet, 229, 235, 300, 301, 327, 423, 426, 427, 431, 480, 507, 548 Thorpe, Fenno, 639 Thorpe, Ira, 1 10, 507 Thorpe, Lewis, 136,287,369,375 Thorpe, Mary E., 84 Thorpe & Parmenter, 376 Thorpe, Ruth (Fenno) 1 1 0 Thorpe & Simonds, 368 Thorpe, Walter, 331,486 Thorpe, Walter Block, 369 Thousand Acre Meadow Brook, Ticknor, Rev. J. A., 156 Ticonderoga Cannon 1 79 Tiger Engine, 190, 510 Tillotson, Rev. George J. , 111 114, 128, 136 Tiney, John H., 164 Titus, Joseph A., 579 Todd, Edward H., 363 Toll Gate, 1 80, 357 Tolman, Dr. L. F., 582 Tolman, Dr. Leon C., 582 Toothacher, Horace 68 Torchia, Gregorio, 362 Tories, 88, 89 Torrey, Rev. Archer, 156 Totman, Louis, 337 267 Tower, Albert R., 375 Tower, Francis E., 70 Tower, Kate L. (Pinney) 76 Tower, Dea. Samuel S., 296, 305 Towle, George B., 69 Town Hall, 108,111,257 Towne, Margie M., 564 Townsend, Benjamin, 16, 617 Townsend Club, 542 Townsend, David, 617 Townsend, Elizabeth, 615 Townsend, Harriet, 617 Townsend, James, 617 Townsend, Mary, 617 Townsend Road, 606 Townsend, Thomas, 617 Townsend, Col. Thomas, 1 10, 479 Townsend, William, 615 Tracey, Rev. Oren, 127 Transportation, 178 Transportation Junction, 181 Trask, Dr. Israel, 521, 574 Treadway, Hon. Allen T., 408 Tremont St., 229 Trenoweth, Roy W., 429 Trolleys to Millers Falls, Peter¬ sham, Worcester, 206 , Trumbore, Rev. Clarke R., 156 Trust Funds, 490 Tucker, William H., 579 Tully, 185,328 Tully, East, 1 6, 6 1 , 328, 329, 330 Tully, Jemima, 1 4 1 Tully Lodge, I.O.O.F., 368 Tully Meadow Bridge, 173 Tully Medical Society, 542 Tully, West, 16,328 Tunnel St., 2 1 6 Turner, A. K., barn, 239 Turner, Alice Tiney, 1 64 Turner, Frank E., 522 Turner, 'Fred, 595 Turner, Leonard E., 313 Turner, Mabel I., 595 Turner, Violet, 1 17, 505 Turnpikes, 173, 179 499 12, 741 INDEX Tweed, Elizabeths., 610 Twichell, Abigail, 593 Twichell, Abner, 1 16, 266 Twichell, Arthur L., 218 Twichell, Capt. Benjamin, 585 Twichell, Benjamin M., 268 Twichell, Benoni, 17 Twichell, Charles, 515 Twichell l~H : 47, 60, 83, 90, 114, 478 Twichell, Francis, 599 Twichell, Fred E., 376 Twichell, Ginerv, 202, 203, 237, 585, 599 Twichell, Harriet A., 595 Twichell, John, 268, 626 Twichell, Joseph, 478 Twichell, Marshall C., 586 Twichell, Mersylvia, 237, 378, 486, 490, 556 Twichell, N. Hastings, 428, 457, 628 Twichell, Priscilla A., 628 Twichell, Reuben, 514 Twichell, Sallee, 626 Twichell, Seth, 115, 116, 425 Twichell, Seth, Jr., 116 Twichell, Sylvanus E., 67, 170, 237, 430, 436. 490, 585, 5 Twichell, Uri, 585, 599 Tyler, A. F. Co., 187,296,316 Tyler, Albert W., 428, 431, 498 Tyler, Arthur F., 353, 408, 428, 449, 560 Tyler, Carlos W., 402, 408 Tyler, Charles H., 388, 486 Tyler, E. Warren, 207, 388, 406, 425, 428, 560 Tyler's Hall, 259, 525 Tyler, Pitts C., 198, 387 Tyler, Wallace C., 353 Tyrill, Jacob, 285 U Ucko, Rabbi Henry, 1 68, 566 Underpasses, R. R., 196 Underwood, Mendell, 177 Underwood, Sylvester, 514 Union Block, 345, 358, 527, 628 Union Furniture Co., 244, 290 Union Hall, 121,258,544 Union Store, 357, 388 Union Store Downtown, 386 Union Street, 242, 290, 315, 353 Union Twist Drill Co., 215 Union Twist Drill Glee Club, 566 United Drug, 359 Unity Hall, 160,259 Universalist Society, 105 Upham, A. N„ 295 Upham Machine Co., 295, 351, 353 Upham, N., 295 Utley, George D., 230 V Van Cott, 1 43 Van Vaulkenburg, Levi S., 320 322 Vermont & Massachusetts R. R., 185, 186, 190, 191, 200, 208 Veterans of Foreign Wars, 538 Vickery, Joan, 63 1 Vickery, Sarah, 631 Vickery, Victor D., 631 Vinton, Rev. P. M., 147 Virginia Canal, 1 78 Voluntown (Petersham) 175 W W Street, 249 Wade, Charles L., 346 Wagner Car, 203 Waite, Gad, 17,22,32 Waite, John H., 340 Waite, Josiah, 3 1 1 Waite, Lillian A., 1 63 Waite, Nathan, 17, 37 Waite, Ronald A., 628 Waite, Webster A., 639 Walker, Elias, 486 Walker, Eric D., 274 Walker, Joseph, 424 Walker, Moses, 101 Wallet Shop, 349,350.351,352 Wallingford, Ezekiel, 17, 22, 23, 31, 220, 479 Wallis, John, 17 Wallour, Chapin, 631 Walnut St., 242 Wannberg, Martin E., 616 War Historical Com., 460 War of 1812, 265,398 Warburton, Rev. Francis J., 149 Ward, Alpheus, 587 Ward, Anna Raymond, 587 Ward, Ansel T„ 373 Ward, Asa Albee, 323, 370, 637 Ward, Gen. Artemas, 89, 335 Ward, Beriah, 89, 221 Ward, Converse, 121, 21 1, 378. Ward, Daniel, 22JLr Ward, Edgar T., 317 742 INDEX Ward, Edward F., 617 Ward, Edward L., 640 Ward, Hannah, 221 Ward, Harry E„ 579 Ward, Henry, 3 1 8 Ward, Ithamer, 89, 335 Ward, Jabez, 61,110,174 Ward, Jabez, Jr., 221 Ward, Jonothan, 102 Ward, Leonard, 640 Ward, Lyman, 62 Ward, Mary A. (Pope) 640 Ward, Molly, 594 Ward, Nehemiah, 102, 424, 427 Ward, Capt. Ransom, 658 'Ward, Richard, 1 7 Ward, Stephen, 637 Ward, Trowbridge, 89 Ward, Walter, 335 Ward, Will, 637 Ward, Dr. William, 221 Ward, William L., 640 Ward, Winfield Scott, 81, 146 Ware Savings Bank, 239 Warfield, George R., 432, 433 Warner, Rev. James F., 130, 136 Warren, Daniel, 101 Warren, "Ed" 195 Warren, Howard P., 218, 560 Warren, Isaac, 1 95 Washburn, Emory, 400 Washburn, Sen. William B., 663 Washington Park, 252 Washingtonian Temperance Move¬ ment, 1 07 Water Cure, 571 Water Filters, 500 Water Gates, 324 Water Supply, 495 Waterman, R. William, 209, 390, 391 Waterman, Marshall B., 287 Waterman, Richard W., 342, 361 Waters, Asa, 22 1 Watson, Florence A., 610 Watson, William, 311 Wawalet, 1 2 Weatherhead, Douglas, 646 Weaver, Frank E., 515 Weaver, Lutheria, 153 Webb Block, 374,378,541,544 Webb, Elisha, 379 Webber, Rev. Frederick C., 127 Webber, Paul, 494 Webber, Wallace J., 494 Webster, George, 5 1 4 Webster, George H. Sole Co., 287 Weed, Jared, 386 Welch, Rev. Robert, 1 48 Welch, William, 328, 580 Welch, William M., 449 Welfare Department, 505 Wellington, Rev. Charles, 108, 109 Wellington Street, 245 Wellman & Blake, 378 Wellman, L. M., 514 Wells, Rev. E. P., 154 Wells, J. P. B„ 206 Wendell Depot, 494 Wenger, Fred, 363 Weslyn Place, 362 Wesson, Josiah, 270 West Brook, 1 5 West, George W., 498 West Hill, 60 West Royalston Baptist Church, 1 15 West, Warren G.( 500 Western Ave., 255 Western Union Telegraph Office 374 Westminster, 14 Westminster Center, 1 85, 1 86 Weston, Ephriam, 1 40 Weston, Roxanna, 1 40 Wetherbee, Chandler, 1 50 Wheaton, Dr. C. C., 574 Wheeler, Anna, 664 Wheeler, Betsy (Dexter), 66 4 Wheeler, Elizabeth (Haskins) 664 Wheeler, Emerald, 664 Wheeler, George A., 68 Wheeler, Hannah (Davis) Fisher, 664 Wheeler, Ira J ., 315 Wheeler, Jonothan, 1 10, 188, 312, 313, 330, 331, 410, 509, 664 Wheeler, Margaret, 664 Wheeler, Martha (Rice) 664 Wheeler, Mary, 664 Wheeler, Mary (Lombard) 664 Wheeler, Mary (Raymond) 664 Wheeler, Mercy, 664 Wheeler, Dr. 0. S., 574 Wheeler, Rachel, 664 Wheeler, Richard, 17 Wheeler, Silence, 664 Wheeler, Silence (Leland) 664 Wheeler, Sina, 664 Wheeler, Thomas S., 664 Wheeler, William, 625 Wheeler, William K., 428, 429 Wheeler, Zaccheus, 268, 329, 330, 331, 663, 664 Wheelerville 329 Whipple, Abbie S., 1 63 Whipple, George A., 231 743 INDEX Whipple, John R.( 336, 365 Whipple, Roswell L., 162 Whitcomb, Henry J., 640 Whitcomb, James F., 276, 440 Whitcomb, Col. John, 39 White Flag, 390 White, Capt. John, 16, 271 White, Joseph W., 369 White Mill, 305 White, Millard W., 276 White's Pond, 271 White, Sarah, 587 Whitman, Hannah, 153 Whitman, Dr. William F., 574 Whitney, Rev. Aaron, 36, 37 Whitney, Barzilla J., 282, 388 Whitney, Celia, 609 Whitney, Edwin B., 609 Whitney, Elsie, 609 Whitney, Ethel, 609 Whitney, Fanniebelle, 609 Whitney, Francis W., 609 Whitney, Frank W., 42 Whitney, Col. George, 191, 203, 424 Whitney, Rev. Herbert, 1 14 Whitney, Jonathan, 609 Whitney, L. J., 273 Whitney, Mildred, 609 Whitney, Nathan, 664 Whitney, Paul W., 609 Whitney, Rev. Peter, 89 Whitney's Restaurant, 383 Whitney, Rufus E., 609 Whitney, Ruth, 609 Whitney, Walter L., 418 Whitney, Wayne W., 609 Whitney, WilFam B., 339 Whittemore, W. B., 374 Whittemore, William K., 593 Wiggins, W. S., 486, 514 Wilbur, Frank, 622 Wilbur, Gladys Anna, 622 Wilbur, Ray A., 622 Wilcox, Joseph, 280, 286, 290 Wilcox, Joseph S., 218, 408 Wilder, Edward, 515 Wilder, Fisher A., 285 Wilder, George, 273 Wilder, Nathaniel, 508 Wilder, Peter, 508 Wilder, Philip E., 630 Wiley, Ira L„ 312 Wiley, Robert, 273 Wiley, Solon, 273 Wiley, Solon L., 493, 496 w ley, Susan, 608 w Ikie, Rev. Wil iam D., 160, 161 w Hard, Aaron, 26 w Hard, Horatio, 61 w Hard, Isaiah, 325 w Hard, Josiah, 362 w Hard, Samuel, 17 w lley, Clyde, .16 w lley, Fred S., 368 ''William Penn" 188 W Iliams , Dr. Alfred G., 574 Williams Emorv 641 W Iliams , John h ., 331, 359, 440, 582 Williams, Meredith G., 80 Williams, Dr. William H., 191, 359, 429, 431, 440, 574 Willis, Gladys, 646 Willis, May, 646 Willis, Willie F„ 646 Willmott, Rev. Benjamin A., 134, 135, 137, 520 Wilson Ave., 254 Wilson, Edgar Vinton, 80, 157, 240, 251, 254, 416, 431, 433, 556, 580, 581 Wilson, Frank W., 406 Winans, W. H., 234 Winchendon, 14, 185 Winchester, N. H., 185 Winchester, Reuben, 602 Windsor House, 373 Wing, Frank E„ 157,260 Winship, Rev. A. E., 78 Witt, Horace, 620 Witt, Capt. Oliver, 39 Wolper, Isaac. 1 67 Women's Alliance, 157 Women's Christian Temperance Union, 542 Wood, Albion R., 644 Wood, Calista S., (Morse) 645 Wood, Cynthia, 644 Wood, Dutton, 335 Wood, Rev. Frederick W., 145 Wood & Gates, 376, 644 Wood, George E., 644 Wood, George S., 644 Wood, George H., 376, 645 Wood, Glenna, 644 Wood, Grace E. (Hunkins) 644 Wood, Henry S., 644 Wood, Jeremiah, 279, 282 Wood, Joel, 663 Wood, John, 16,22,279, 624, 643, 645 Wood, Jonathan W., 644 744 INDEX Wood, Joseph, 101 Wood, Kimball, 279, 282, 342 Wood, Mabel, 643 Wood, Mary, 1 28 Wood, Moses, 543 Wood, Nancy L., 643 Wood, Rev. Percival A., 156 Wood, Sarah C. (Bemiss) 644 Wood Street, 253 Wood, Will C„ 544 Wood, William, 46 Wood, William E., 200 Wood, Winifred M., 644 Wood, Winifred (Wells), 644 Woodbridge, Rev. Timothy, 26, 37 Woodburners, 204 Woodis, John E., 283 Woodrow, William T., 536, 580 Woods, George, 589 Woodward, Bartholomew, 658 Woodward's "new" Block, 210, 370 Woodward, Charles W., 85, 193, 195, 340 Woodward, Rev. D. H., 153 Woodward, George W., 233, 427 Woodward, Hepzibah, 102 Woodward, Jonas, 101 Woodward Lumber Co., 373 Woodward, Winfield W., 193, 196, 207, 218, 219, 428, 449, 560 Woolett, Grace M., 441 Worcester County Electric Co., 495 Worcester N. W. Ag. & Mec. Soc. 542 Worcester West Chronicle, 390 World War I, 448 World War II, 457 Worrell, Hattie E., 368 Worrell, Hon. Thomas J., 368, 422, 425, 559 Worrick, Charles E., 560 Worrick, Emmett L., 261, 498 Worrick, Jesse C., 332 Worrick, Silas, 389 Wyatt, Royal E. Mrs., 366 Yates, Dr. Wilbur S., 574 Yeager, Joseph, 515 Yellow Day, 550 Y. M. C. A., 544 Y. M. C. A. Site, 325, 406 Y. P. S. C. E., 134 Y. W. C. A. 373 York Building, 407 York Theater, 262 Young, Abner, 228, 423, 586 Young, Anna, 603 Young, Catherine, 140 Young, Davis, Jr., 507, 524 Young, Rev. Edwin Booth, 160, 161 Young Family, 329 Young, James, 107, 187, 229, 232, 325, 365, 384, 423, 426, 431, 524 Young, Joel, 487 Young, Joseph, 108, 228 Young, Joshua, 620 Young, Mehitable (Marsh) 637 Young, Reuben, 637 Young, Robert, 22, 32, 53 Young, Lt. Samuel, 56, 423, 426, 637 Young, Sarah L., 590 Young's Tavern, 108 Young, William, 266, 426 Zack, Harry, 1 67 Zack, Hyman, 167 ERRATA Page 429 "Trenoworth" should be Trenoweth 350 "insistant" should be insistent 351 In second paragraph "it" should be its. 745