o**w>J*^ 'iaei DATE DUE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LIBEARY F 74 W43 W38 CA.aD GIFT TO UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS from LIBRARY THE FRIENDS of THE LIBRARY PROCEEDINGS IX COXXECTIOX WITH THE One Hundredth Anniversary Of the Incorporation OF THE TOWX OK West Boylston, Massachusetts HELD IX THE TOWX HALL, THITRSDAY JAXUARV 30th, 1908, AXD THlv Centennial Celebration HELD THURSDAY, JLLY 16TII, 190S ALSO DEDICATIOX OF THE TOWX HALL HELD .MOXDAY, LVXFARY ISth, 1904 PUBLISHED 1?Y THE CEXTEXXIAL COMMITTl-;]-: 19 10 INTRODUCTION The coniiiiittee a})i)()inted at the Town meeting held ^lan-h 25th. 1907, to Avhom was deh'gated the task of i)erfecting plans and carrying out a programme for celebrating the One Hun- dredth Anniversary of its incorporation; and to prepare, and publish in book form, the proceedings of the same, togethei" with an account of dtnlication of the Toa\ii liall in the year Take pleasure in presenting the I'esult of their Ud)ors and ask that it may receive charitable consideration. During the One Hundred years of West Boylston's existence as a Town, many men of intiuence and strength of character have appeared among its citizens to direct and guide public afifairs. Industries have been erected. ui)hchl and sustained Ihi-ough the skill and energy of able men. Citizens by the score could be selected who. for the important part they took in furthering the advancement and prosperity of the town, niei-il honorable inenlio]! in a summary of the achievements during llie past century. But it certainly is beyond the charge delegated to this committee to |)i'esent tile names 111' ;iny consiilerable number of liiose beiiefacloi's. It Was tliouglil. howex'ei-. Iliat a xci'V few iniLllll be selected, not becnuse (if |i;i\ing connection with the ofHcial business of the town alone and theii' identity with the material advancement of the connnunitw or bec:iuse thi'\- iMijoyed popularity to a gl'eat degl'ee. but more es])eci;illy t'of specific work- they left behind them. — Tlistmical data and in- 4 \\(si Uojil.ston formatiou which Avoukl uoav be ijraetieally lost, had it not been for the marks of their pen : and whieh must ])rove dnrino: the years to come of untold value to the student Avho would learn of the early life among the families of West Boylston. Centennial Committee : AV. B. WOOD LEON A. GOODALE DANIEL A. LYNCH WAKREN E. GAMMELL WALTER E. CHAP:\1AN. Uk£^^ MAJOR EZRA BEAMAN, THE FATHER OF WEST BOYLSTON. To ^lajor Ezra Beaman the inhabitants of "West Boylston are more deeply indebted than to any other individual for the public benefits they enjoy as a corporate body. Born in Bolton. Mass., October 16th. 1736 : his father. Jabez Beaman. having purchased a large tract of land in the westerly part of the town of Shrewsbury, situated on both sides of the Nashua River, removed thence with his family in 1746. The father. Capt. Jabez Beaman. died Sept. 22nd. 1 ('57. in his 53rd year: the mother. Dinah (^looret Beaman. died Dec. 5th. 1774. aged 60 years. 11 months. 5 days: date of marriage. Oct. 4th. 1732. Ezra, the eldest son. coming into possession of the home- stead, thought it necessary to take unto himself a wife, and Jmie 1st. 1758. he married Persis. daughter of Cyprian Keyes of Shrewsbury, by whom he had six children. His wife died Nov. 7th. 1788. and he married 2d. ]Mary. daughter of Richard Boylston. who survived him: but died June 6th. 1813. aged 62. iNlajor Beaman died June 4th. 1811. Having been endowed with a remarkable spirit of enterprise, reinforced by sufficient energy and resoluteness to enable him to surmount almost every obstacle that stood across his path- way to success; and having withal, an excellent foresight, made Major Beaman throughout his business life a successful leader of men : and he readily gained the confidence of his neighbore and the people who knew him generally : no public work of auy magnitude was undertaken in the town without first obtaining his approval. AVhen the clouds began to gather along the political horizon, threatening a coufiict Avith aims against the mother coiuitry. he was found on the side of the patriots and. The 1>f.ama.\ Oak kkfkkkki) to in ti i k kaki.y sihykys CnitcHiiidI 7 as L-aptiiiii. drilling;' a compaHy of militia in th(' North Parish of Shrewsbury; preparing' for the death struggle should it be forced upon the people. All through the war of the revolution he was faithful to the cause of ]il)erty and the independence of the colonies. At the ncAvs of the Lexington alarm he res- ponded to the call serving nine days as first lieutenant in the company from the 2d Parish of Shrewsbury, Robert Andrews, captain. On reenlisting. he Avas commissioned first lieutenant May 25th 1775, in captain Jol) Gushing 's company, and was present and took part in the battle of Bunker Hill. He was ever untiring in his efforts to supply demands for men and means for jirosecuting the war; serving as selectman, member of the committe(> of coi'i'espondence. safety and inspection, looking aftei- the welfai-e of the soldiers in the field and various other public affairs of the town. The dwelling house he built in 1764. which stood on the tract of land his father purchased, was a spacious, well appointed and well constructed building, known as the Beaman Tavern, which foi- a century served as a typical AYayside Inn. having been kept as a public house about that length of time by Ezra Beaman senior and his son Ezra. Sul)se(|uent to the l)attle of Bunker Hill and the construction of crude fortifications by the Ameri<'ans. there came a lull in the strenuous activities of that army, and lieutenant IJeaiuan sent colonel Ward the following connnunicat ion : "Doi'chestei'. Octobei' 27th. 1775. To Jonathan AYard. Esq.. Commander of a Regiment of Foot in the Continental Army at Dorchester. Sir: — iJeing requii'cMl by Gen'l. Orders to make i-etuiMi in this way of my Design whethei- to continue in said Coiilinental Ai-my oi- not and being first Lieutenant of a Company whereof .Ml-. Jolt Cushing is ('apt. in your Honors Regiment (5c therefore of little Importance, which is a strong argument for my being excused: notwithstanding am willing but Desirous to use and exei'cise the utmost of Liide;t\dui' to pi'eser\'e and Defend the l\iv;lits c^ 1 il)ert\' "s of iii\- ('ouiitrx' both Civil & Sacred : \-et the Cfiitcintiiil 9 many hicdiix (Miiciiccs cV: (iliimst liii|»nssihi]itie.s that attend my continuauee in Sd Aiiny urges in favor of my Dismission at the last of Uecem'i next. Reing- assui'cd that 1 can he ten fold more Servieeahh' to the Ai'my being in my usual Busiiu'ss than present with it. "' Am >Sr Your lioni's most Ubdt lV; lluml Servt. EZRA 15EAMAX."' It a|)i»ears that his i'ei|uest foi- dismissiun was granted as the roll of the company reports him in sei-\-i('e eight nu)uths from A]U'il lltth. 177'). And at the annual town nuMding in Slirews- bury, in 177(i. he was (dioseii one of its ('ommittee of Corres- pondence. Saf(dy and Inspeidion. It is our pleasure to call attentimi to his ohi(dal pronu)tion in the unlitary ser\'ice by the following orders. "To Samucd Andre\\s. ('orporal You are Iveipiii-ed foi'thwith Accurding to the Trust Reposed in me by Direction of tlu^ (Jomnumder of the Colony of the IMassaehusetts Bay. to .Xotifie & warn all the Soldiers under my Command Li\ing u|)oii the south^\ard side of the River above the Sear I^ridge So eaHed and I hence to the meeting house all to the Road leading to Woi-cester; But Not on Sd Road; to Ap})ear at the fleeting house in the Second Parish in Shrews- l)ury on Wednesday the oth Day of June 1776, at tAvo of the Clock in the After Noon with their Arms Compleat for exercise, there to attend further orders from myself or some one of their officers; hearof fail not & make Return of this warrant Avith your Doings thereon to myself or in my Absence to Lieut. FaA\cett at or Before the Hour mentioned. Given under my Hand and Se;d this 28 Day of 31ay. Anno. do. 1776. EZRA REA:\1AN. Capt." Tie Inning been commissioiK^l Captain April oth. 1776. To Capt. Ezra Deanuni or the Chief officer Present of said ('om- pany, Shrewsbury. You are Requireil forthwith to Inlist into the Colony Service or Di'aft e\-erv 2r)th m;in in tlie("ompan\- uiuh'r voui' Conuuand ('riifonnttl 11 Both of the ti'tiiniiif^' Baiul and of tlie Alann List aiul see that they are a(|uipt AVith Arms and annnunition according to law and Ready to march at the Shortest Notice to Dorchester Eights, according' to Resolve of Council of the Colony of the ^Massachusetts Bay at AVatertown July 22 and make a Return of their Names so Iidisted or Drafted to me -Inly 27 oi- on ]\Ionday morning July 2nth. (xix-eii under my hand at Crafton this 24th Day of July 177(i. •JOllX (iorLDlXG. COL. On Scplciiiher loih. 177(i. ('apt. Lzra Beaman was order(Hl through Col. John (iouhliiig. to mustei' the company under his command and draft cxcry fifth man according to a resolve of the Great and (lenei'al Court of the Colony of Afassachusetts Bay, and to make retui'n to him hy Tuesday night oi- Wednesday morning next. June IGth. 1777. i-a|i1ain Ezra l>eaman was commissioned a IMajor in the Sixth Worcester regiment, commanded I)y colonel Job Cushing of Shrewsltury. This i-eginuMit was sent forwai'd to reenforce the northern army and took part in the i>attle that resulted in the surrend(M' of general Burgoyne and his army. Tt setMus unn(M'essarv to ]")r(^sent further docuui'Mitarv pi'oof of the acti\'e pai't tak'en by Ezra Beanum in the sti'uggle for American independence. l)Ut we ar(^ (piite sure thai the public will more fully appreciati' his civic ser\-ices when the histoi'y of the incorporation of the town of West l)o\lston is fully undei'stoock Eor that I'eason the following (piotations on the subject are made : To the i]dial)itants of the toAvn of Boylston. Gentlemen : The petition of the Subscribers Humbly Sheweth. That your Petitioners \iew the time as being near at hand when circumstances will admit of their enjoying Ecclesiastical priv- ileges in a more conscientious, agreeable & in a much more con^■enient e^- eidarged manner than they have hitherto done. & being sensible that Religion, the basis of human happiness, is a natural concomitant of these privileges, we thiid\ it oui- duty to reEREZ .MORTON. Speaker. Tn Senate -lan'v 'JM. ISOT. IJead tfc Concurred. J. BACON. President. The Connnittee of both Houses appointed to consider tiu' ap- plication foi- the incorporation of Towns. &c.. on the Petition of Ezra lieaman and oth.ei's reported the following order which is submitted. SALEM TOAYNE. Pr. order. C()MAH)X\viv\i/ni OF AIassachusetts. Ordered : That the petitioners cause an attested Copy of their Petition witli this order thereon, to be served on the i-espective Town Clerks of the Towns of Boylston. Holden & Sterling. Forty days at least before the first Tuesday of the first session of the next Gener;d Court, that all persons may then appear and show cause (if any they havej why the prayer of said petition should not be granted. Tn Senate, dan'y 241 h. ISOT Read and i)assed. Sent down foi' ('(nieurreiice. •J. BACON. President. In House of JJepreseii1ati\-es -lan'y 26th, 1807. Read and Concui'red. PEREZ .MORTON, Speakei-. k I Centennial 15 A copy of this petition \v;is scr\('c coinpletely sid)\'<'i-ted, anew Project is deviseil jVc an attempt is now made, (with a spirit of obstinate perse\('j'ance for whi(di our leading' opponent is ]>arti- culai'lx" (list iii<^uislied 1 to c(iii\-ei't the Precinct into a district nu)re el'l'ect ually to Impaii' our j)ri\ileg('S and to acconi[)lish this systematic work of Destruction. Possessing advantages for an increase of popnlatiiin mueli superior to the first Precinct (fi-om the better (piality of their land (S: other local canses). it is calculated with confidence l)y the Petiticmers that the I'atable polls Avithin the intended district whitdi are now nearly etpial will soon exceed in mimber those Avitliin the Town of Poylston. \\\ thus bringing to their aid a small i)ortion of the Inhabitants of Sterling and Ilolden (who will coni])ose a })art of the district) it is intended by our enemies iidiabiting this disatit'eeted section to de|)rive the Town of the important privilege of Representation. Such will l)e the Inevitable consequence of incorporating the petitioners into a district. Pi-o\-ided su(di district is aftatdu'd to the ToAvn of Boylston. Siudi we know to be the object of their leaders because it has lie(Mi o])enly avowed, and all hough the i)etition is silent on the subject of annexation they have publicly declared thcui' in- tention to l)e aniu^xed to the Town of l)Oylston. With this impression, with an anxious desire to preserve our Corporate existance, to retain the i)rivilege of representation fully & earnestly to remonstrate against the prayer of said petition, provided the District thus to be incorporated is to be annexed to the Towu of Boylston of which we are Inhabitants. At the same time we wish to I)e explicitly understood that all opposition on our part is withdrawn if it be consented on the part of the petitioners or is found expedient by the Legis- lature to annex the intended district to Sterling, Ilolden or any other Toavii in the County. For although we have most sensibly felt the injury resulting to us from the partial dis- membeiment of this small but once united & flourishing Corpo- ration, yet our peace has been so incessantly disturbed by new projects of encroachment, ami we have encountered so much trouble and expense in op[)osing these projects that we are now fully persuaded we shall never be at rest ; that our existance as a (corporation will l)e in perpetual jeopardy until this trou- blesonu^ and offending member is totally severed from the boily which it thus threatens to destroy. 18 M'vsi Boijiston For the fourth time the Town of Boylston is iioav cited l)efore the Legislature to answer to the petition of Ezra Beaman and others. The object of each of these petitions has been most essentially to injure if not destroy us as a Corporation. Let Ezra Beaman and others become a Corporation totally detached from ns. & whatever may be the evil we Avill patiently submit. We trust with confidence in the wisdom of the Legislature to discern the object of the present petition, & we trust with equal confidence that they will be influenced by a desire of justice & a regard to the essential interests of a small but peaceable community, to refuse an act of incorporation annexing the pro- posed District to the Town of Boylston against the earnest wishes and settled opposition of every Individual who feels a solicitude to preserve our existance as a Corporation. Boylston, May 26, 1807. JA:\IES LONGLEY 1 Agents for ROBERT ANDREWS the town of AARON WHITE Bovlston. A remonstrance against annexation signed l)y Jonas Temple and sixty-one others was also presented to the Legislature, the principal argument being that it would affect the privilege of representation. Some time afterwards agents of the town of Boylstdii and of the precinct in Boylston. Ilolden and Sterling, met and signed articles of agreement. Article 1st of which was as follows : "It is agreed that the Precinct shall he incorporated into a town." In due course the Legislature granted 1lie prayei- of the petitioners and the following act of incorjjoral ion was issued. An act to incorporate a part of the towns of Boylston, Holden and Sterling, into a separate town, by the name of West Boyls- ton. Sect. 1. Be it enacft'd li\' the Senate and llonse of l\e])resen- tati\('s. in (lenei-al Court assend)led. and l)y the anthority of the same. That the tract of land, described witliin the folloAving ])oundaries. with the iidiahitanfs lliereon. he. and Ihey are Centennial 19 hereby iueorporated into a separate town, by the name of West Hoylston. viz. : — Beginning at a black birch tree. t)n Shrewsbury line, at the south end of the center line of Maiden farm, so called ; thence, on said center line, to a corner of the second precinct in Boylston, near the dwelling house of Reuben Dunton; from thence, following the line between the said first and second precincts in Boylston, to Sterling line ; thence, on Sterling line, to a heap of stone, a corner of said precinct ; thence angling as the line now runs, between the first and second precincts in said Sterling, to Holden line ; thence, from said Holden line, one hundred rods, to a heap of stones, a corner of said first and second precincts in Holden ; thence on the line between the said first and second precincts in Holden, to an apple tree, on Worcester line, near the dwelling house of Art- emas Bartlett; thence, angling on the town lines of Worcester and Shrewsbury, to the first mentioned bound; And the said towTi of West Boylston, shall have and exercise all the rights, powers and privileges, and be subject to all the duties which appertain to other towns, according to the constitution and laAvs of this Commonwealth. Sect. 2. And be it further enacted. That any persons, with their families and estates, w^ho dwell within the limits of the said town of West Boylston, and who were not originally incorporated in said second precinct, by the provisions in said act, and who shall choose to belong to the town to which such persons now belong, and shall certify such choice in writing, to the clerk of said town of West Boylston, within six months from the first ^londay in ]\Iarch next, such persons, who so certify, shall continue to ])e inhabitants of such towns respec- tivel}^ according to such choice. Sect. 3. Be it further enacted. That the inhabitants, dwelling within that part of the town of Sterling, which is by this act made part of the town of West Boylston, shall have their equal proportion of all the public property of the town of Sterling, (excepting real estate, weights and measures) and shall pay their proportionate part of all the state, county and toAvn taxes, and other taxes and debts due from the town of Sterling, pre- vious to the first Monday of March next, according to the proportions in w^hich they have heretofore paid all public taxes and town debts and the said inhabitants shall support their due proportion of the poor persons, who are now supported by the town of Sterling; And that any person who may have gained an inhabitancy at any time before the said first ^Fondav of JMarch next, within that part of either the said towns, whicli is by this act incorporated into the town of West Boylston. 20 West Boylston and Avho shall hereafter need to he supported as poor })ersons, shall he supported by the town of West Boylston. And in the future ])i'oportion of state taxes, \intil a new general valuation shall he made, twenty-seven cents shall he taken from the town of Sterling, as it stands in the aggregate, and set to the town of AYest lioylston ; and the pay of representatives shall be ad- justed in the same i)roportion, until this act shall be in force. Sect. 4. He it further enacted. That all that part of the town of Ilolden. which is by this act made part of the said town of AYest Boylston, shall not be entitled to any part of the public property of the town of Ilolden, nor chargeable with any part of the expense of supporting those poor persons who are now supported by said town ; and any person who hath, or Avho may hereafter gain an inhabitancy or settlement in that part of Holden. whi(di is l)y this act made part of the town of AYest Boylston, shall ])e supported by the said town of AVest Boylston : and all monies now raised, or which may be here- after raised, for public purposes, and all tax bills, which may be sent by legal authority, to said town, before the tirst Alonday in March next, shall be assessed and i)aid in the same manner as though this act had not passed. And in the future propor- tion of state taxes, previous to a n(Mv general \aluation, there shall be seventeen cents deductetl from the town of Ilolden, as it now stands in the aggregate, and set to the said town of AYest Boylston. And the exi)ense of representative, until this act shall l)e in forc(\ shall be paid by the said towns of Ilolden and AYest Boylston. in the same ])roportion which they have heretofore paid. Sect. 5. Be it further enacted. That the said toAvn of West Boylston shall receive and support four tenths of the poor persons now chargeable to the town of Boylston ; and that they shall receive the same proportion of all the military stores, and of all monies in the treasury of said town, excepting the dona- tion from AYard Nicholas Boylston, Esq.. as a fund for the support of schools in said toAvn. And the said town of AA'est Boylston shall pay their proportion of all debts and taxes now due. and owing by the said town of Boylston. previous to this act being in force; and until a general valuation shall take place, of the ])rop()rtion in the state tax. seventy-six cents shall be taken from the town of Boylston, as it stands in the aggre- gate, and set to the town of West Boylston; and the expense of representative, shall be paid in iiroporti(ni in which it has been heretofore ])ai(l. ('aldAvin. appointed Leon A. Goodale, AV. B. Wood. Wari'en P]. Gammell. Daniel A. Lynch. Walter E. Chapman. MEETING OF MARCH 2:5. 1908. Voted to appropriate One thousand dollars for the further celebration of the centennial of the town. th(^ money to be ex- pended by the Centennial committee some time in July. MEETING OF MARCH 22. 1909. Voted to leave the matter of pulilishing the ]n'oceedings con- nected Avith the centennial exercises in tli" hands of the Centen- nial committee, said connnittee to sell tlic coi)ies at its discre- tion, and Five hundred dollars was approjjriated for the same. Tlic Centennial committee organized Avith W. B. Wood, chair- man. Daniel A. T^ynch. secretary, the other members being Le(m A. Coochdc. AVarrcii E. (lammell. AValtcr L. Chajunan. ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY, TIU'R^iDAY. .TAXTWRY 30. 1908. The Town Hall had Ixmmi appi'oi)riately decorated, iindei* direction of ]\Ir. Daniel A. Lynch, and all things were in read- iness for the opening exercises. The Aveather Avas ch^ar and cold [M'oving rather severe for some of tln' flch'rly [)eople to face, allhongh there Avas a fair i'ej)r('S('iita1 ion of tlicni present at two o'clock in the afternoon Avhen the call to order came; iiotahly. .Mr. Gardner Emmons Goodell. of Worcester, fcn'merly of this lowii. also Thomas Lynch. Thomas N. K(\ves. Jonathan ^1. Keyes, AVilliam AY. Keyes. Ashley IL AVood. Cahin Warner, Jonas Alnzzy, Lovell A. Lesnre, Airs. Lncrelia Alorse. and Airs. Alartha XcAvton. all o\ov sev(Mity years of age. AVhen Air. AV. 1>. AA^ood. chairman of the t-ommittce arose to call 1lic assend)lage to ordci-. the hall was well filled: and after 1lii' 1 wo selections announced on 1lie pi-ogi-jinnne had been ren- ilei-ed hy the orchestra, prayer was offered hy Rev. Lrnest A. K'oy;d. pasfoi' of the First Baptisf chui-ch. and the succeeding nnmliei's on the official programme wei'e rendered as they ;i pheai'. Programme MARCH— "Colonel Donovan," . . . Strachan STRACHAN'S 9th REGIMENT ORCHESTRA, of Boston OVERTURE— "Piqne Danm/' .... Suppe ORCHESTRA PRAYER REV. ERNEST A. ROYAL ADDRESS OF WELCOME LEON A. GOODALE READING OF ACT OF INCORPORATION ROGER M. LOVELL CHORUS— "In Days of Old" HIGH SCHOOL ADDRESS HON. JOHN R. THAYER SONG — Shadow Song from "Dinorali" MRS. JEANNIE CROCKER FOLLETT SELECTION— "Mayor of Tokio," . . . Liidero ADDRESS JUSTICE ARTHUR P. RUGG SONGS— (a) "Christmas Carol of Birds/ ' ( liaiiiijiade (b) "Oh, that we two were Maying," Nezmt (c) "My Lovely Child," . \ Lrliuiau MRS. MARGARET GUCKENBERGER Programme ADDRESSES WARREN GOODALE HENRY F. HARRIS ZYLOPHONE SOLO HARRY F. CADE ADDRESS HON. EDWARD A. COWEE SONGS— (a) "Mattinata," Tosti (b) "Cradle Son.^," Gaynor (c) "April Morn," Batten MRS. FOLLETT ADDRESS JOHN S. LYNCH POPULAR SELECTION— "Shapiro's Hits," Shapiro ORCHESTRA SONG — "vScliwer liegt anf dem Herzen " MRS. GUCKENBERGER ADDRESS WALTER D. ROSS NATIONAL SELECTION— "Tone Pictures of the North and South," Brudix ORCHESTRA ADDRESS LOUIS CUTTING FINALE— "National Emblem," .... Baoley ORCHESTRA ADDRESS OF WELCOME BY LEON A. GOODALE. ]\1r. Chairman. Ladies and Gentlemen : We have met today to coiinnciiioi'atc 1lu' one huiitlrcdtli anniversary of tlie iiicorpoi-alioii of the Town of West l)oylston. In the celebration of a l)irth(lay it is customary to cordially fi'rcet the guests, to heartily Avelcome the visitors and to show hospitality to all the friends. AVe want to iiii[)r('ss upon each of you today that AVest J>oyls1(Hi sincerely extends these tokens to all who gather in her honor. And while this word of greeting is said to those of you who are gatlun'ed here to pai-tieipatc^ in these exercises, it is extended also to those who are prevented from hiMiig pi'cscut hut whose thoughts today are of their old home town. There are a few Avords whi<'li the Centennial committee Avonld like to say to you in regard to these exercises. AVe have planned todax's programme as a snitahle ohser- A'aiice of the ceiileiinial day. if is not intended to eox-er the largei" centennial ceiehrat ions \\hicli we shall recommend later to he cai'i'ied out at a more seasonable time of the year. We have li'ied. howe\-er. to set the standard so high that the excnt latei" "will exceed this in magnitude only. It is not my pui'pose at this time to indulge in any lengthy I'cmai'k's upon the histoiy of oni- town. In order, however, to ha\-e a proi)er understanding of today's significance thei'e are cci-tain features which I shall try to point out to you with a plain statciuent of facts. it is generally believed that the tci'iMtory now West Boylston was settled about 1720. that is. it had been inhabited in^arly a centni'y befoi-e it became this town. It embi-aced |)arts of the old towns of Lancastei'. Sln'cwshnrx' and Ilolden. Ilei-e the 30 Wesi Boi/lston early settlers established their homes in the wilderness far from the protection furnished by their home towns. The boundary lines, too, were changing so that in many cases it is difficult to say in just what town a man was residing at a given date. At the time of the Revolutionary War most of the town's area was embraced in the towns of Shrewsbury and Ilolden. The portion belonging to Shrewsbury was part of its North Parish which was later incorporated into the town of Boylston. We look therefore to Shrewsbury's North Parish, to Ilolden and to Lancaster to learn of the part our people pbiycd in this great contest. And it is with pride that we can point out a goodly number of our early inhabitants who not only responded as jMinute Men on April 19. 1775. but who thi-oughout the contest were staunch supporters of the cause of liberty. This was perhaps the more remarkable when we stop to consider that the Rev. Ebenezer ]Morse. pastor of our church, that is. of the Shrewsbury North Parish, was a staunch Tory and exer- cised all his great influence in behalf of the British king. So strong was the minister in his l)elief that it was not until a committee was appointed to disarm him and keep him from his pulpit that he finally subsided. During this exciting period one man stands out preeminent in our community. A selectman of Shrewsbury as well as an officer in the army, Ezra Beaman was the central figure around whom all gathered. Possessing all of the qualities of a leader as well as great wealth he became the determining factor in this vicinity. Largely through his eff'orts the North Parish of Shrewsbury was incorporated into the town of Boylston in 1786. and he became chairman of its first Board of Selectmen. A few^ years later the church in Boylston having burned, he advocated having a new one built a half mile nearer the future AVest Boylston. In this he was unsuccessful and thereupon rallied the inhabitants of the west part of Boylston and others from Sterling and Ilolden and built a churcli on our present common, which was dedicated Januarv 1st. 1795. CentcHuial SI The contest was tlicii start cd wliidi resulted in the formation of the Second Precinct of JJoylston. Sterling- and Ilolden and finally on January 30tli. 1808. in the incorporation of this town. Naturally we tind that Ezra l^eanian was chosen chairman of the first Board of S(M(M'tmen as well as town treasurer and representative. While it is prt)l)al)le that sooner or later the town of Boylston and \A'^est Boylston would have separated, on account of the natural division of the two, had there been no ^la.j. Beaman, yet he was the man to accomplish the result and to whom belongs the title of father of the toAvn. That you may more fully understand the nature of the document which created the town we will now ask one of our boys, Eoger ]\i. Lovell. a great-great-great grandson of Maj. Ezra Beaman to read the act of incorporation. The Act was tlicii read. Hon. John R. Tiiayek i'ohmer member of congress ADDRESS BY HON. JOHN R. THAYER. There are certain epochs in the history of nations, countries and states which ahva.ys attract to themselves a lasting interest. They fix a viewpoint in tlie progress or doctrine of state or empire at which w(^ inA'ohintarily pause to take the l)earings to look hack upon tlie past and to attempt to penetrate the veiled future. Our imaginations embody the time, the place, the circumstances, and fancy we breathe the air and spirit of the age itself. AVe gather up the fragments of facts as history or tradition has scattered them, around us. Of memorable events, few awaken a more lively interest or greater consideration than the origin of states and luitions. Eacii member of the human race is anxious and curious to know fi'om whence he sprung, from what particular race, unch'r Avhat circumstances, and for Avliat purpose in the order of the universe. He who may look back upon a long line of illustrious ancestors, cannot forget that the blood stirring in his own veins is drawn from a common soui-ce. and that the light, reflected by their virtues, casts ui)oii liis own ])ath a cheering radiance. Ami he. who may not claiiii kindi-ed with the illnslrions dead, yet feels that they are the conimon inheritance of his country, or state, and that he has the i-ight to share in their fame and Iriuinph in their achievements. And it should no1 be assumed that this propensity of our nature is attributable to the indul- gence of more pers(uial (U' local vanity. It is of a higlier and noblei' oi-igin ; it is closely interwovcni with the rexci-ence and affection with which we regard our parents and the ])ati"iarchs of our own time — the natural respect for and veneration of the aged. The toils, llie liardsliips, the inconvenience of (^arly settlements, the patience. Ilie i'orlilude and sagacity displayed. J4 TTV'.v/ BojiJsfoji these all funiish lessons which go far to help us in onr every- day life. One of these epochs to which I have referred, in miniature form I confess it may be. we have gathered here this day to consider and to study. In the multiplicity of events and activi- ties of a nation, or even of a state, the celebration of the centen- nial anniversary of the birth and founding of a small New England town attracts but little attention and little public comment, but to you sons and daughters of the founders of this town and you who, by adoption, have become, members of the common household, heirs and joint-heirs of the blessed inheritance of the last century, which has been handed down from generation to generation for these hundred years, look upon this centennial anniversary of the founding and incorpora- tion of your town of AVest Boylston as a red-letter day in your lives and as fi conspicuous and illustrious epoch in the history of this community. There is depicted upon your every countenance an earnest desire to hear and understand every fact, event and incident in detail which contribute to make up the history since the in- corporation of West Boylston an hundred years ago. It natu- rally requires a native of the toAvn. or one who has sprung from the loins of a first settler, to perform this task most acceptably, one who might recite much in your local history which may have been forgotten, recall incidents and events not generally laiown. and stimulate you to action and aspirations worthy of the memory of an honored ancestry. I cannot claim this much-coveted distinction. I am not of this manor born, despite the fact that some political wags have in- dustriously, in time past, circuhited the report that I have claimed to have been born in nearly every town in the Third Congressional District. If there ever was a time when I would be induced to so far trench upon fiction as to claim I was born anywhere but in old, rocky Douglas, this is the time and the occasion when I would attempt to palm myself off as having sprung from the Ezra Beaman stock, or some other of the oriu'iiijil founders of this town. CciifciniidI J J But I must t'oi'cgo this (list itictiou and this honor and openly confess that, instead of heino- a uative or an adopted son of AVest Boylston. I am sini])ly a stranger within liei- gates, and hut slightly aequainted Avith her people or the history of the found- ei's of the town, and the great progress and (hn-elopmeiit which lias heen witnessed here during the hundred yeai-s siuce the incorporation of your municipality. And. Avliile I cannot, as a son of West Boylston, enter with the same spirit of filial love, affection and reverence into the festivities of this day. as the native and adopted sons and daughters of West Boylston do. I can compliment and congratulate the inhabitants of the town upon their determination and purpose to fittingly celebrate this centennial anniversary. The average citizen, absorbed in strife for the possession of the present good and the present dollar, or in tireless pursuit of a better future for himself or his. too infrequently avails himself of the opportunity to look bacli into hy-gone days and acquaint himself with the conditions, the cause and effect out of which the present day came. He is like the runner referred to by St. Paul of old, "Forgetting those things which are l)ehind and reaching forth to those which are before, he presses toward the mark for the prize of his high calling." He is too l)usy in working and planning for the needs of the present and laying up stores for the future, to give a day. or even an hour, in retrospect, considering events, history and policies which can- not be changed. The realities, activities and demands of American life permit too few backward views. And yet, we must all concede that so truly and with such constancy does history repeat itself that there are no safe beacons for the future without light from the experience of the past. To what bettei' purpose then can the sons and daughters of this town better devote a brief time than to the earnest and thoughtful contemplation of the Avays and means, the thought and service, out of which the great present lias come, and to bring into lieitig again and into the mind and imaii'ination those 36 UV'.s/ lioi/l.sfon conrnsi'cons tii'st settlers — the lieroes. the stMtesmen. the tiUersof the soil, the preaehers of the .yospel. the teachers of the youth, tlie huihlei's of the highways, the mills, tin' selioolhouses and the churches in the first and early limes of this town — to i-e\iew and contemplate the customs, the ordinances, the polity and everyday life of that sturdy civilization which, not only laid the foundation deep and wide for the mighty growth and development of New England towns, and especially of this distinguished town, Init mingled with that of a similar nature in other towns and cities of the broad expanse of the American continent, subdued a country of Avild waste and barbarism, revealed the majestic resources of our country and advanced our free Republic abreast of those grand old nations of Europe, from whom it is our privilege to trace an honorable descent. These centemiial celelu'ations tend to hee]) united that thread of historic continuity which is imi)ortant in all civilized lands, not oiily among nations and countries. Imt among states, towns and families. AYest Boylston was incorporat<*d by Act of Legislature, Jaiuuiry 30th, 1808. Its population did not exceed 600 and it contained less than 100 houses, with ratable polls of less than 160, while it required 150 to entitle a town to a representative in the General Court. She had the vecpiii-ed number with six to spare. Her population consisted chiefly of farmers, either owning and operating farms, or engaged in the farming in- dustry for others. There were only about twelve mechanics, three merchants, one minister, one tavern-keeper and a few laborers in various occupations. There was one small cotton mill. tAvo grist-mills, two saw-mills, one cider mill, one tannery and four blacksmith shops. If I have read aright the history of AVest Boylston. the idea of equality among her people was one of the i)rominent corner- stones upon whicdi the toAvn was built, and upon which it rests CcutcniiidI 37 today. ]n some of the sister towns of jMassaehiisetts, an aristo- cracy both in church and state was iiot only asserted, but in hirge measure recognized. But not so in AVest Boylston. The people here in the earlier, as Avell as in the more recent times, ])elieved in the justice and necessity of securing" for themselves, and for those Avho should come after them, an equal right before the law in every essential phase of life, and the principle came to be a solemn article of faith. They insisted from the beginning that there should be no ''chosen people", that here there was no room for a self-assumed aristocracy. Whoever came to join those who had a few years preceded them were made to feel, and to realize, that here was the adopted home of the free-men, that the land, the rivers, the schools antl all the institutions, witli their sacred privileges, were not foi* the few. l)ut f(U' all. Tlie fathers, in their time, and the sons, in theirs, detected from afar the first approach of anything like an exclusive spirit and attempted monopoly in society or in business, or in any form of poAV(M' which tended in the least degree to subjugate one man to the will of another; but in honor only preferring one anotlier. Here was presented a good example of pure democ- racy, exeept in its political sens(\ and here it has remained to the present time. AYe linger to listen to the grand, though sim{)le, story of the first settlers. That fascinating touch of the mind, which ideal- izes and glorifies the past, made so intcMisely interesting by the toilsome, sacrificing, frugal, but dignified, life of those vene- rated fathers of this community, who lived in touch with the very heart-throb of nature, and because of that touch, it some- tinu-'s seems to us liiat we IcnoAV them better than Ave knoAV those of the ])resent. The siniple cottage, the crude and in- artistic home are more interesting to us than the more spacious mansions of today. The early Avindiiiill and water-wheel are iiioi-e interesting to recall than tiie air-shi|)s and steam-engines. AVe pi-efer to reproduce in our imagination the old stage-coacli. 38 irr.s/ Boijiston the wooden plough and saddle-bags than h)()k upon the steam and electric ears, the automobiles and telephone appliances. AVest Boylston is one of the younger towns of the state, and. while she put in an appearance rather late in the sisterhood of towns in this county, she lays claim to having sprung directly and indirectly from five other towns, and as having taken with licr from hei* many mothers, what was best and most useful for a prosperous toAvn out of each of the towns from which she sprung. West Boylston has within luu- boundaries, territory Avhich at one time belonged to Boylston. Ilolden. Sterling, Shrewsbury and Lancaster. Nature abundantly provided for West Boylston. Here when considered in connection with other NeAv England towns, she had more than avci-agc i-icli and j)roductiv(' soil, covered in many parts with large growth of valuable timber. The surface like most other towns in this ccninty. was diversified with hills, plains, valleys, well watered with springs. V)rooks and rivers. The Nashua. Quiiuipoxet and Stillwater Rivers, with their tri- butaries, furnished natural power for manufactories and other industries. e(|ua]led by that of few towns in The state. The citizens of the town eai'ly took advantage of the natural resources and estalilished u])on the l)anks of these streams many large and imi)ortant maiuifactories. which naturally contributed much to the Avealth and growth of the town. Alas, the day canu' when a ruthless Imnd swept them off the face of the land. When she was incorporated as a town in LSOS, with her 600 inhabitants, she was the pi-oud possessoi' of thi-ee school- houses, one tavern, one church, one minister, with a bounteous yearly salary of .$333. It is not my pur]>ose to allude to many of tbe prominent first settlers in youi- town and the part they tool\ in the first years of its incorpoi'ate existence. An occasion like this should not pass, liowexci-. without some uu^ntioii nf one whom liistory declares did nioi'e to bi'iiig about the iiicor[)ofat ion of the Centennial 39 town. ;iii(l more toward its maiiitenaiice in those early trying xcai-s of its existence, than any othci- one man. .Major Ezra Beaman, in his younger days, was a resident of Boylston and qnite a religions enthusiast. West Boylston, like many other towns, can trace the cause of her existence, back to a religions controversy. TIk^ time came in 1796, when a new church was to be l)uil1 in Boylston, and a controversy ai'ose as to certain tempts in the creed of the church. Tend- (Micies toward Calvinism and tcTidencies toward Unitarianism. w]ii(di then began to be felt in the one and only cburch in Boylston. were no more likely to assimilate then than they are now. Where the new sti'ueture should he located was another vital (|uestion. the decision of Avhich was destined to play a most important part in the founding of this town. The pious ])arishioners Avaxed warm in tlie contro\ersy. and being unable to agree upon either question in dispute, a poi'tion of the then tirst parish seceded and built tlieii- church on what is now known as the "Old Common", and took the name of the Second Parish of Boylston. Sterling and Ilolden. The ruling spii-it in the establishment of this Second Parish was Ezi'a Beaman. who Avas at that time one of the wealthiest iidiabitants in this \icinity. a man of rare judgment, upright chai-actcr and sti'ong will. ITe conti'ibuted most generously for the l)uiUling of the new church, took* the gtMieral superintend- ence and charge of the huilding and also took a deep satisfac- ti(»n in constant attendance Avith his f(dlow-Avoi'shippers there during the remaindei' of his life. ^Ir. Beaman 's opinion and judgment Avere sought upon all ([uestions of a public nature, and usually accepted. Many matters of the deepest interest might this day he recalled in comiection Avith .Major Ezra lieaiiiairs conspicuous position and |)()Aver in the early history of this town. For many yeai-s. he had the most important puhlic {)osition and office in the toAvn. represented it many times in the General Court, aiul Avas. in short, the one conspic- uous leadei' in the town during its first trving A'ears. 40 ~Wesi Boylston But tli(^ limited time allotted to me will not pei-mit me to go into these matters of history, although I cannot omit to recall the fact that not a Beaman springing from this old original stock is alive today. The illustrious name and all it stands for is only a blessed memory of the early history of the town. Next to him. T name the founder and author of the old Farmers Almanac. Eohert B. Thomas, who was another of the conspicuous and influential first settlers. Who of us past fifty cannot recall the advent every year of a new copy of Robert B. Thomas' "Old Farmers Almanac", our regular New Year's present — and those prophecies of the weather made, as of course they nuist have been, nearly a year in advance. 1 can now vividly recall one of the weather prob- abilities printed in italics on the right-hand side of the page, devoted to the month of July, beginning near the top opposite July 1st and ending nearly at the bottom opposite July 31st : "About this time, look out for heavy thunder showers." It was a little difficult to determine what day or week in the month we were to look out for thunder showers, but we accepted the warning with as much assurance and confidence as we do now the prophecies of I\Ir. Foster. Then too, later on, come the Bigelows, Erastus B. and Horatio N., inventors of looms, and afterwards extensive carpet manu- facturers. We might profitably s])end time in referring to the conspicuous services and untiring etforts to promote the growth of the town, to such names as Sawyer. Houghton. Dinsmore. Goodale, Fairbanks, jMoore. Pierce. Lovell. Brigham. ]\Iurdock. Wheeler, Pratt. ]\lason, Ilosmer. Kevins, Harris and Cowee. In ISIT). September 2.")d. occui'red tlu^ "great blow", as it has bet'ii called, uprooting trees, demolishing buildings and fences and carrying ruin and devastation in its train, and while great injury was caused by this tornado, the injury thus caused is nol 1o be compared Avith the ruin and devastation (/ciifciniidl 41 (•;iiis(m1 hy the " ' cyclDiic "" Avhicli sli'iick tliis town in 1895, when the L('g'isl;ituft' passed what is known as the "' .M('tro])olitan Water Act."' By the |)rovisions of this Ictiislativc act. authority was o^ix-cn for certain commissions to bnikl just l)ey()nd the boundary of your town an immense dam. which was estimated to cost ten millions dollars, hul did cost fifteen million, and to flow a greater pai-1 of the best and most fertile portion of your town. By that act. hundreds and thousands of acres nave been taken for a part of a basin, and its protection, to store water for the use and benefit of the cities and towns from here to the Atlantic. AYe can gather some idea of the spirit ami feeling whicli actuated those having in charge this great Avork of pro\iding for the necessities of those wh(j were located ui Boston and vicinity, and how thoughtful or thoughtless of your interest they were, hy referrijig to this statement contained in the report to the legislature of the .State Board of Health in 1895. "In considering the i)laces foi' the pro})osed resei-voir above the Lancaster ^lills. we ha\(' been impressed by the very serious changes which Avill be produced in the towns of Boyls- ton and West Boylston. It does not appear to us to be a very important objection to oui' plan that certain mill-sites will be 80 feet beneath the sui'face of the basin, nor that the homes of many industrious people de})en(lent upon these mills for their living will be also submerged, because all these can be paid for, and an equivalent will be gixcn — damages foi- which we have caused careful estimates to be made." It is not my i)uri)ose to enter into any discussion of the necessity for this act. nor do I intend to harrow up your fec^lings by a recital of the burdens you have borne, and contiinu' to bear ■ — the sacrifices you haxc nuide f(»r the benefit of your fellow- citizens of the great city of l^oston and its suri'ounding cities and towns. Sufficient it is for me to call your attention to the fact which this act most forcibly and huneiilably. for the interests of this town, exeiiiplilies. namely, that in this fi-ee America excry man avIio is the owiiei- of his home deceixes himself if he 42 Wv^i Hoijlsiou assuiucs ttijit he ciiii Idok dill ii\('i' his few or many ar-res and feel that he is ihc pfoud (•wiici- and possessor of the soil and Ids lioiiic. and that no one can (h'i>ri\c liiin of it Avitliont his consent. The secni'ity which we feel in tlie ownecsldp and control of our lainhnl possessions as coni|)ared with the land tenure in other countries lias been foi'cihly stated l)y another in these words: ""'rhe wind and rain may entei' the hunil)le home, hut the King cannot." You will hereafter look upon this statement as sim]ily a fisTTiri^ of speech, for it appears after all that we are oidy the owner's and ])ossessors subject always to a higher authority. — the sovereignty of the State. — that while we hold our land estates in f(M'-sim])!e. sonndimes a simple fee deprives us of them. Today, looking out over the southeastei'ii jxtrtion of your town. Avhei'e orn-e were many happy, flourishing farmers and tenants, where once w^ere large and flourishing manufactories and business enterprises, one now sees oidy a wide waste of trackless water, upon Avhose surface not a boat or sail or (»thei' evidence of life is permitted to a})pear. save the few minions of the law. who patrol the gravcdly shores of this lifeless waste of Avater in the hopes of apprehending some one who. per- chance, may pass beyond the (h^ad line and become a trespasser upon the realm of the "^leli-opolitan Basin.'* Not satisfled with de^poilinu' a large jtortion (d' the fairest part of youi' pi'oducti\-e land, they ha\'e added the teri'ors of the police officers and the jail if you xcnturc 1o pass over a rod of the sacred soil or rocks which form the shores and boundaries of the \"ast watei- waste. To he sure. I should not overlook tln^ fact that a fair compensation was 1o he paid to the oAvners Avhose homes Avere despoiled — the coni|)ensat ion to ])e determined 1»\' the hai'd and fast lines of a pui'cly husiness enterprise. The sentiment of the ohl home, the place (d' lii1h. the com- panionship of relatix'es and neighl)ors. llie scenes of (ddldhood, the home of adxancing and maturing yt-ars. \vent fiu' naught in this purely cuminci'cial en1ei-|)rise. -lusl so niuidi. \\\\k\ no ('('uictniidl 43 inoi'c. as a willinj/ huyn-. thouirh a s1 i-aiiLTci- from the IMiilip- l)in('s. wnuld i^ivc. and a williiitr si'llcr would accept, was the liard and fast nilc whicdi was to ](i-c\ail. ai)d did i)revail. in deciding tli(^ conipoiisation which youi- citizens received for lieinjr dcprix'ed of their homes, and all saciVMl association of home life. Hnt wht^thei' a fair and just amount was paid for the projx^rty taken, imjjaii'ed or destroyed, or not. the pros]>ei'ity and natural •rrowth and devidopment of the town was siM'ioiisly i-etarded and im]iaii'ed. The lar,ire and profitable nminifacturinj^: in- dustries wei'e substantially or etitii-ely desti-oyed for all time and till' most ])i'oductive ])()rtion of your town for agriciilture was drowned and blotted out of existence. As a thrifty and pi'osperous manufacturin.sr town, you are seriously and sadly affected. Your po]>ulation deci'cased fi'om fd)out 'lM)() in 1!)()() to about I.IOO in IfK)."). But 1h(^ i-esolutc and indomitable spirit Avhiidi characterizc^l the foundei-s of this town and which has pre- vailed through the generations since, would not i)ermit des- pondency, doubt and fear to long ]-(4ain an abiding place here. You would iKtt remain demoralized. You would not down. You determined that the town should not be destroyed, that obsta- cles in youi- ])athway of progress could, and should, be removed. You saw that, while youi' numy and \ai'ied manufactories wei'e gone, nevei" to return, and your agricultui'al industries had been most seriously in.jui-ed and largely destroyed, the question before you Avas Iioav to secui'(^ ot hei's to take i)laces of those who. dependent upon your many and flourishing nuinufactories. were forced to leave you and find business and emi)loyment in other places. You saw that there- yet remained most beautiful and inviting sites and locations foi- residences where those seeking honu-s away fi'om the din and sti-ife of a busy life could find (piiet and peaceful homes in an intelligent and law-abiding comnuniity. with none to molest or mak'e afi-aid. And so to(la\-. while the manufai-tories. mills. slio]>s. stores, schools and churches ha\'e (le[)arted. ncNcr to I'etui'n. and your fields. inea(lo\\-s. foi-ests. i'aniis and homes, ai'e now co\-ered b\- a 44 V\^esi Bojilsfon broad expanse of soulless. iiei'\'eless AvatiM'. there has sprung up in the western part of your tcwn many ncAV. comfortable and beautiful homes, inhabited by earnest, learned and cultured people, and in this Avay. Avith the ucaa- blood, youi' poi)ulation and your i-cvenues are increasing. There has been already a great change in the character and quality of your residents. This has become a beautiful residential toAvn. tlear to the towns- people and especially attractive for those in other cities and toAA^ns looking for a location for a home in a healthy, quiet and attractive sulnir])an toAvn. You haA'C proportionately excelled your sister toAvns in the last fcAV years in the number and quality of your churches, public buildings and private residences. Avhich lia\(^ been built here. AVest Boylston is destined, in the years to come, to be one of the most attractive and beautiful subui'ban toAvns in our county. What is the approju'iate lesson thi^ pres(Mit residents of this toAvn should draAV from this day's (^xercises and the eelebraticni of this centennial anruA'crsary ? We have seen the toAvn. Avith a beginning of less than 600 jieople. groAV to more than 2.")(ii) in eighty years, and in Avealth and material advancement, she has equalled her growth in popnlatioii. You nun4 today a united and prosjxM-ons people. You constitute a conspicuous component part of a thriving and prospei-ous county and gi-cat community. Your advancement lias been proportionate Avith the ad\'ancement of the state and nation. The old Puritan bb)<»d of the founders has commingled Avith that of the ncAV comer from foreign shcu'es. Amalganial ion has taken place here as (^Isewhere. throughout our Re})ublic. What a radical change has takeu plac(^ in your po[)ulation. and not only in your population, but as avcII in the trend of your industries and development, and yet in your groAvth. ful\an- cement and acquisitions, you have only kept step in a general way Avith all the other communities in this great country. You are jnslly proud of your to\\ii. \dui' stale and your country — their inslilutions and their |>eo OltU' CcnlonndJ 45 One Iniiidrcd ycai's a^o today, tlicrc was hut (Uic pci'son of foreign l)irtli in this town. Today, a majority of the iiilud)it- ants can traee tln-ir blood to foreign countries. History teaelies that great raees are made of the mixture of i-aces. The hi'avest and |)Ui'rs1 Itlood of the worhl's great race is mixed in the American, and I in no respect refer to the marriages of American Avealth and \anity with the crowned or uncrowned heads of the ()ld Worhl. You are a part of the great American Republic, the grandest country the sun shines upon. Our nation contains the most diversified and assiniihiti\e elements that ev(M" composed a great nation. It is the l)est k^cated. most compact and sym- metrical of all nations. North and South of us are friends, from whom there is nothing to fear. East and AVest. the ever- lasting seas our bulwark, if we stop meddling Avith the islands ami their people on the Pacific Ocean. We have risen to great- ness as a nation nioi'c rapidly than ever did a great nation before, and our ascendency is less endangered from without than was ever that of any other great nation. AVe have outrun the prophecy of our progenitors, and sur- passed the ideals of our founders. Our people understand each other better than they have heretofore, have more hearty feelings of friendship and sympathy for each other. At home and abroad, the princii)les of and the flag of the American Union Avere never more res])ected. This is our country, of which this state and this toA\ n compose a definite part. All this vastly rich inhei-itance which we in common Avith f)() million of American ])co])lc this day enjoy, has been made possible, in large measure, by the efforts, judgment, trial, sacrifice and suffering of the fouiidei's and defenders of this town ami other towns throughout th.e states. mal\ing up this magnificent country. These are some of the thoughts Avhich come to you today, just passing the first centemiial mile-stone. AYho can penetrate the future to foretell Avhat shall be the hai-\'est of the next hundi-cd years? Ts it possil)le that those who come aftei" us shall Avitiu^ss the same deerree of advanccnuent and de\-eloMiiient that 46 TTf.vf Boylston you have witnessed as the result of the evolutions of the last century? Will telephones, electric ears. autom«.' ^ ■ the thousand and one uses to which electricity has ^ ^iied. become obsolete and out of use. and if so. what will have taken their places? One hundred years ago there was not a steamboat in exist- ence and the application of steam to maehineiy was unknown. In 1S<>7. Fulton launched the first steamboat- At that time. there was not a single railroad in this country or any other. The nrsr I. ..-'motive in our cotmtry was built in ISoO. The first electric telegraph was installed in 1S43. We read in our local . \ .ig what transpired in the countries of Europe -r ^ : next? What can our posterity do to add to these mighty achievements* We cannot now imagine unless - ' utilize some aerial vehicle which will 7 _.^ _ _ space in safety, at a speed exceeding the r ailr oad cars, and p<^sibly the telescope will be so far per- fected that it can be clearly •" -d just what, if anything, is transpiring on the planets, i — — i-d stars. But. whatever the future has in store for West Boylstou. may those who come after res«:»lve to emulate whatever they find ff«X!d in those who have gone before. — their courage, their sell-denial, their indtistry and their thoughtfulness for every- thing which works for the uplift of the town so that those who come after you to celebrate the second centennial anniversary of West Boylston may see around them the results of your efforts, trophies of your energies and usefulness and may hold yorLT names in affect: "-' ' : ' •" reverent remembrance, which you this day s - vingly pay to the sacred memorr of vour ancestors. ADDRESS BY JUSTICE ARTHUR P. RUGG. The anniversary celebration of the founding of a town is an rveut of surpassing interest. "Age cannot wither nor custom stale" the sentiments with which mankind regards the recur- ring periotis v.hieh commemorate the establishment of civil institutions and their preservation through times of darkness and struggle. Our national birthday has always been observed with universal rejoicing, and the memorial requiem for those who fought and have died that " " government of the people, by the people and for the people might not perish from the earth" commands the hushed reverence of a reunited people. If the day shall ever come when these national holy days no longer hold the attention of a country of intelligent and patriotic citizens, then will the eyes of Freedom be dimmed with tears, and her head be shrc>uded with dread apprehensions for the future. A people which forgets the traditions of their liberty ceases to prize liberty at its true value. When compared with the hoary antiquity of the cities of other countries, the oldest of our American municipalities seem scarcely to have com- menced a career. Not to speak of some of the remains of oriental civilization whose history stretches back before the beginning of the Christian era many centuries more than have elapsed since the birth of the Saviour, there are towns in the fatherland of England, whose recorded existence is at least <-.^eval with the lirst of the Csesars. But among the towns of ^Eassachusetts none have more hon- orable or inspiring annals than that group which trace their lineage directly or more remotely to Fair Lancaster by the Xashaway. The oldest town in Worcester county, dating her corporate existence from 1653. her pioneers were as resotircefi:! and skilful and brave as anv that ever --i^ .i^i— i -^ -^'vasre IIox. Airnii i: P. Uvcc, of \\'oi{cester JUSTICE .SUTREJIE .ILDU lAJ. rorirr OK .MASiSAClIUSETTS ^vil(l('l•n('ss. and turned it into paths of i)leasantness and peace. IMidMiix-liUe she i'. Lynch. Boston: Henry F. Harris. Wor- cester: Hon. John R. Thayer. AVorcester; Justice Arthur P. Rugg. AVorcester; County Commissioner AA'arren Goodale, Clinton : and Roger AI. Lovell. Rev. Ernest A. Royal. Leon A. Goodale. AA". B. AYood. Daniel S. Lynch. AValter E. Chapman, AYarren E. Gammell. all of AYest Boylston. and Hon. Edward A. Cowee and Louis Cutting of AA'orcester. For the evening entertainment the chief feature was a grand concert and the centennial ball. Straehan's 9th regiment orchestra of Boston played for the concert and the dancing. The march was led l)y tloor manager and AH's. AA". B. AYood, and dance orders wei'e distributed by AListers Dwight AI. Gocul- ale and Tracv S. AVood. CeNTEN NIAL Ball OF THE TOW N O F West Boylston THURSDAY EVENING JANUARY 30th. 1908 TOWN HALL /EST BOVLSTON : : MASSACHUSETTS Concert Programme FROM 8 TO 9 O'CLOCK 1. MARCH— "The Fightins Ninth" Snacluui 2. OVERTURE— "Poet and Peasant ' Sitpp,- 3. SELECTION— "Red Mill" He)be>i 4. CORNET SOLO Mr. Ernest S. Williams 5. MEDLEY SELECTION— "School Days' 6. FINALE — "American Republic F.cl -wards Thirle Strachan's 9th Regiment Orchestra of Boston Eight Pieces Centennial Committee W. B. Wood lyeon A Goodale Daniel A. L.vnch Warren E. Cammell Walter E. Chapman Floor Director W. B. Wood Al DS Daniel A. Lynch William E- Storms Carleton A. Cook Arthur Ward Walter E. Chapman Myron D. Potter Joseph H. Cavanaugh Dr. H. W. Trask William J. McGinnis H. Fay Baldwin Arthur H. Sawyer Reception Committee Frank H. Baldwin John S. Lynch D. Frank Frescott W. Clifford Scarlett Charles C. Landy Parker M. Banning D. Clifford Lord Harry E. Lowe Walter G. Boynton ORDER OF DANCES C RAN D MARCH I. WALTZ One Hundred Years Ago 2. QUADRILLE Maj. Erza Beaman 3. TWO-STEP Our Former Citizens 4. PORTLAND FANCY The Old Valley 5. WALTZ Our Mother Towns 6. OUARDRILLE Robert B. Thomas 7. TWO-STEP G. A. R. 8. WALTZ— German The Ladies 9. QUADRILLE Benjamin F. Keyes 10. SCHOTTISCHE Our Visiting Friends 11. CONTRA Sergeant Plunkett 12, WALTZ Our Silent Water Wheels '3s£^^ A MEMOIR OF ROBERT BAILEY THOMAS. WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. (This narrative was started in tlie Almanac of ]S;>8 and continued through several succeeding nuniliers.) My grandfather, William Thomas, was a native of Wales, (Eng.) and l)orn there of an ojiulent family, and received a liberal education, at Christ's College, Cambridge. It seems he emigrated to this country, somewhere about the year 171S. Tradition says, he with other brothers came first to Stonington, Conn.; of this, I shall not undertake to say; it is well known that he came to Marlborough, (Mass.) sometime about the year 1720, and married Lydia Eager, a daughter of a respectable farmer of Shrewsbury, and resided in Marlborough until he died in 1733. Two years after which, my grandmother died. He had two sons and four daughters. My father. William, was the eldest son, who w^as born in Marlborough, March 17:2."); he losing his i)arents at so tender an age, had but a very imi)erfect recollection of them. After his mother's death, he went to Shrewsbury to live with his grandmother Eager; where, and at Jonas Morse's of Mai Ibordugh, he resided some years. He attend- ed the town school in the winter, the limited time it k'ept. Being of a studious turn of mind, and fond of reading, he purchased numy books, and soon became quite a scliolar for those days. In the year 1744, he commenced school keeping at Brookfield, at the age of 19 years, which he followed winters. nu)re or less for upward of forty years. The same year, commenced in llardwiclv, being the first school master in that town. In April 1747, he left this country for England, to obtain a patrimony justly belonging to his father in Wales. And on the 8th of May, in going north about was taken by a French privateer out of Dunkirk, and stripped of all. Afterwards w^as ransomed, and arrived at Boston in October. In August 1749, he made another voyage to London, where he stayed sometime, and visited Wales, with the expectaticm of obtain- ing the right of inheritance, but was unsuccessful, on account of the lai)se of time since my grandfather left Whales. ■y- Centennial 59 It would be (lilliciilt. not lo say impossible, to follow step by step his various avocations and employments for a j^eriod of 14 years; I would merely reniark, in this time he received a lieutenant's commission in the army, not pleased with a soldier's life, he left the army, and followed his former avocation at intervals, of school keeping, and as an assistant in a store, and finally, went into a small way of trade himself, until tlio year 1 7(i4, wlion ho bought a small farm situated in tiie north parisli in Slivcwslinry. In 176.") he married Azubah Goodale, daughter of Joseph Coodale, a respectable farmer of the town of Grafton; at whose house, the subject of these memoirs w^as born, April 24th, 1766. I removed with my parents, while quite an infant, from Grafton to the farm in Shrewsbury, north ])arish, now West Boylston. The farm was situated in that district then locally known l)y the name of Shrewsbury-leg.* (It is rather paradoxical, but no less a fact, that I have resided in four incori)orated towns, and two distinct parishes, and one precinct, yet never moved from the same farm.) I had one brother only, born .Tune 1768, named Aaion. We were the only children my father ever had. In our youth we were brought up to farming. Our father, who was thought to be quite a scholar for those days, instructed us at home, and sent us to the winter school. I had, when a boy, more of a mechanical than a literary turn of mind, though my father never indulged me much in it, wishing, rather, as he said, to make me a scholar, giving me tlie offer of a lilieral education, which I foolishly declined. In 1781, I lost my mother, who died in an apoplectic fit. She was naturally of a feeble constitution. My father married, the second time, Esther Whitney, a maiden lady, in 178-, but had no issue. In the winter of 1783-4, my father sent me to Spencer, with Major E. Beaman 's two sons, to improve my hand in penmanshij), (which he was very fond of.) with Dr. 1. Allen, who, at that time, wrote the most superior and beautiful copy hand of any person in the country. I boarded with him at Mr. J. Stebbing's; and when his term was out, I followed him to Sterling, and continued with him till April, and much im]iroved my handwriting. The succeeding winter, T was agreeably and closely occupied in the study of arithmetic, under my father's inspection, who was w^ell versed in this science, but had never before allowed me to pay it any attention, saying he could "learn me figures at any time." My father was a great reader, and ]iossessed a larger miscellaneous library than was generally to be met with in a country town; of conse- quence, I sjient most of my leisure hours in reading. Among many scientific works, no one engrossed more of my attention than l^'erguson 's *This strip of land, usually called Shrewsbury-leg, was united to Lancaster, second parish, by an act of incorporation, February, ITfiS. And in 1781, said parisli was incor- porated into a town, by tlie name of Sterling. In 179(i, certain inliabitants of Boylston, Sterling, and Holden, obtaineci an act to form themselves into a precinct, by the name of the Second Parish in Boylston, Sterling, and Holden; ami, in 1808, thev obtained an act of incorporation by the name of West Boylston. 60 Wesi Boylston Astronomy, from which 1 derived much jileasure and satisfaction, from the plain and familiar manner in which he treated the subject; and from the pleasing study of this work, I first imbibed the idea of calcu- lating an almanack. Previoush% I had made a number of calculations of new and full moon, and taken out the elements, and projected several eclipses, but found it impracticable to make all the necessary calcula- tions for an almanack. In 1786, I had an application to keep school, in my native town, in the Fairbank district, so called. I kept out the town 's money, satisfactorily, I believe, (though many of my scholars were older than myself,) and engaged to keep three or four weeks more, by subscription. I boarded principally at Deacon Israel Moor's, and agreed to go about in the district. 1 returned home in April, and worked on the farm through the summer. In the succeeding winter, I attended a singing school, under the instruction of a Mr. Manning, in the town of Sterling. In the fall of 1787, I had an invitation to keep school in the westerly part of Princeton, near the house of Eichard Baxter, with whom I boarded, he being a sober, worthy man. I continued in the school until the first of April, 1788, embracing a term of three months or more, when I returned to my father's in Sterling and continued on the farm through the summer, alternately studying and laboring on the farm. In the fall of the same year I was applied to, to keep school in the easterly part of Sterling. The school house was located on the old road leading from Sterling to Lancaster, and near the house of Dr. J. Barnard, in whose family I boarded very agreeably, he having rather a facetious turn of mind; his familj^ of children being young and sprightly, I si)ent one of the pleasantest winters of my life. In April 1789, I returned to my father's and pursued my favourite study of astronomy, occasionally laboring on the farm, and busying myself with book-binding which business I had been partially fond of for years — binding up manuscripts and account books, and repairing other old books, for m_y neighbours. T found, with all my reading, the want of a }>ractical knowledge of the calculations of an Almanack, which I could not obtain by reading — this was my hobby. In September I made a journey into Vermont, to see the then famous Dr. S. Sternes, who for many years calculated Isaiah Thomas' Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hamp- shire and Vermont Almanack, but failed of seeing him. I passed through the towns of Athol and Warwick; in the latter, I had two uncles on my mother's side then living, and in the former, an aunt, whom I visited. The ensuing winter I agreed to keep school in Boylston, (now West Boylston) near my place of residence. But the district disagreed, respect- ing the price of my services, as they could have another teacher for a little more than half what I asked them. It was however, agreed that I should begin and kec]! one half the nuiney, and the other should close, Cciitonnal 61 wliieh terminated soon after i left, the other kept IniT about two weeks, when all his scholars left him. F l)oar(led iu Cajjt. ,1. Bigelow's family near the school-house. At the tin.e I engaged at Boylston, I agreed to open a school in Sterling in the district known by the name of Square- shire: where I oi)ened the next day after leaving Boylston; my school here was very numerous and a large pro])ortion of them men and women grown — my school went on in the full tide of success for a few weeks, when all at once tiie whole school was taken down with the measles, and was dismissed. I pursued ni\- former avocations throujili tlie sunnuer. in tlie course of the season 1 agreed with X. ('overly, a }irinter in Boston, to print for me 1000 of Perry's Spelling Book (being used exclusively in this section of the state) which I bound up. and other school books, and commenced Bookseller. There being Init few books in the country, I found a good sale, to the storekeepers, schoolmasters, &c. Some time in the fall, I called on Mr. Isaiah Thon.as of Worcester, (no relation of mine, as I know of,) to purchase KM) of his Alnuuiacks in sheets, but he refused to let me have them, saying he did not sell in sheets only to those of the trade. I confess I was mortified, and came home with a determination to have an Almanack of my own. I very well knew, that there were many things in his, that were not generally approved of, and which I knew I could remedy. In the fall of the year 1790, I had a jiressing invitation, by one of the committee, D. Goodale, to keep school in Boylston, the same district in which I kept the winter previous; it seemed they had become recon- ciled to the price I had asked, as he made no ado, as heretofore, about it. I comuiienced my school sometime in the month of December, and con tinned it through the winter. I now boarded with Mr. T. Keyes, a man of steady habits and good character. His wife was a very pleasant and agreeable woman; the family was small, having an only daughter and the two youngest sons at home, excepting an adopted daughter, who was a niece of Mrs. Keyes'; they being young and social, I enjoyed (piite a pleasant winter. In the spring of 1791, 1 returned home to my father's and pursued book-binding, except a few weeks in hay time, when I assisted in hay- making. Early in the fall I had several applications to keep school, but 1 gave no encouragement to any applicant, till at last ('apt. E. Allen, one of the school committee iu the north-east jiart of Princeton, who was very solicitous to have me keep school in their district, and, to accommodate me, agreed to postpone the school until the first of January, 1792; at which time T commenced Uiy school, and at first boarded with J, Beanian for six or seven weeks.* I then agreed to continue the school *He married, November 17, 1803, Hannah Beaman at the house of Phinehas Beaman of Princeton. Probably the daughter of Phinehas and Hannah (Buss) Beaman. .* m t^»w*-*>.« 62 V^cHi Boylston in ;i more easterly part of the district, near Capt. Allen's, and to board with him.* Capt. Allen was a man of strong passions, though humane and affable in his family; he sustained the office of deputy-sheriff while I was in his family, and had for many years previous, with reputation — was kind, it was said, and an obliging neighbour. Mrs. Allen and the family were friendly and agreeable. I continued the school for five or six weeks longer; and cultivated quite an acquaintance with the young people of the place, often visiting at their houses, and spending many a social evening. And while I resided here I formed an acquaintance in a family, of which, some years afterwards, I married one of the daughters. At the close of the town school, Mr. A. Herington engaged me to keep a private school in his house for some weeks, for the benefit of his son and two daughters. After finishing n.y school, I returned to my father's sometime in April, with a full determination never to resume it again. The business never was very congenial to my feelings; I had pursued it for want of some better employment. I had now made up my mind to follow the binding business, there being a call from Boston and other places at this time for binding. My brother, whose health was not good, concluded to go into business with me; we contracted with a carpenter to build us a bindery and store adjoining, in the course of the following summer, near my father's; prior to which we had carried it on in a chamber in our father's dwelling house. Still I could not relinquish the idea of publishing an Almanack of my own. The last of June or the first of July 1792, I went to Boston and agreed with Osgood Carlton, then a teacher of mathematics in Boston, to instruct me in astronomy, so far as related to the practical part of calculating an almanack; which he readily consented to do, for a stipulated consideration. I continued at Mr. Carlton's school, kept in an unfinished building in Merchant's Eow, till the latter part of August, and made all the calculations for an Almanack for the year 1793, being my first numbsr. Before T left town, I disposed of my copy to two young printers, long since deceased — Joseph Belknap and Thomas Hall — for a certain per centage on all those that should be sold; which, with a very trifling exception, has continued ever since though the copy-right has been repeat- edly transferred. While at Mr. Carlton's school, I boarded in Milk street, with J. Allen, a Scotchman. Ilis wife was a young Englishwom'an, with whom I enjoyed many a social hour; Mr. Allen was bred a gardener in Scotland, and at this time had the sole care of the then noted Lady Hayley's garden, sitiuited on Pemberton TTill, later the estate of G. Creen, but now entirelv eradicated. *At this time, the noted Sam. Frost, whose singuhir gestures and odd motions attracted so much notice, supposed by many to be an idiot, lived with Capt. Allen, whom Frost afterwards, in July, 1793, murdered by striking him with a lioe on the back of his head, while he was stooping, setting plants. He was taken, tried, condemned, and executed at Worcester. He had killed his father some years previous, with a stake from the fence. He was then tried for murder, but was acquitted on account of insanity. ('ciifcmnal 63 Mr. Thdinas avjis elected the tiist Town Clerk of West Boylston. Served as Selectman antl was for three years Chair- man of the l>oard. also sei-ved the town as Assessor and as ]\loderatt)r. For five years he i-epresented the district in the General Court, and was a Uelejiate to the State Convention in 1820, for revising the Constitution of ]\Iassachnsetts. Mr. Thomas died in West Boylston May 10. 184(), and, with his wife. Avho died Septenilx'r 28. 18-35, is buried in the Leg Cemeterv. Sterling. CEXTEXXIAL CELEBRATION OF THE TOWN OF WTST BOVLSTOX AL\SSACHUSFTTS THURSDAY, JULY 16. 1908 m- Hi • V 1 T 1 l|^ZfiPaB >* ^ ''■ \.-^ '■^ ' " W;-^ ; v^' ^ iHiHB K^m.^^^ TV^^bL^^SH f:.. - V. ■ ^sS^m^im R K " J^ ^ !UBb^ •54V^ MMto. ' -' - ■ B**^- Aaro^; (tOodai.k. Chairman op" Selectmen Hon. John R. Thayer ("OXORE.S.SMAN ("HAKLES G. WaSHBLRX MaVOR JaXIES L()(iAX OF WoRCESTEK ^4jJ«4*— * T. Frank Hickey t llAUniAN OK THE SEI.PXTMEX OE SHREWSIURY CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. Tlic luoniiiig of tli(^ sixteenth (»f July nshered in an ideal summer day ; the cooling shower during the night before having cleared the atmosphere and the pealing of the bells at six of the clock ; also the firing of a salute of one hundred guns, stirred the villagers to a high sense of the importance of the occasion, and many of them were in the early part of the day kept actively engaged in greeting old friends, acquaintances and relatives who came to enjoy, with the people of West Boylston. the festivities of the day. There was a little delay in mustering the players to form the rival clubs for a game of ball which was played on the Goodale field ; some of the old-timers at the bat evoking considerable applause as they gave evidence of their former skill in twirling the ball and SAvinging the bat. The contesting clubs for the ball game were made up as follows: West Boylston A. A., who were the winners. Ryan, Potter, Marsh, Day, J. i\r. :\IcQuillan. Fearigo. ^IcCurdy. Snow. Howe and Ivory. Old Timers. J. McQuillan. Jr.. J. Bcllcvue. J. .Mc(^)nillan. Sr.. ^larsalis. iMallett, Murphy, St. Onge. 'Toole and (\ Bellevue. Next in order came the Coaching Parade. Some of the parti- cipants started from Oakdale and then proceeded to the High School, where the line was formed headed l\v Strachan's f)th Regiment Band of Boston. The route was then by the way of Crescent. Central and AVorcester Streets to ^Maple Street, thence countermai'ching to the Cominon. where the route was con- tiinied down Worcestei- Street to ]*rospect Sti'cet. U]) Prospect St reel to .Xcwton. and thence out Xewton Street to the Com- 4> ^^^f^ Uakdale Lauies V ' West Boylsto.n IIkjii Sciiooi, ('riifcniiial 69 iiKMi. Avlici'c t he Jnducs. Harry W". Smith of Worccsl ci'. Warren Goodale of Clinton, and Louis .M. llanff of JJutland. awarded prizes foi' llic most attractive (Miiiipa^'c For the liest 4 and (Miorse float oi' decorated coach, brake or drag, Lst prize of .+20 was given to Senator p]. A. Cowee, of Worcester. avIio had a (i-hoi'se stage coach decorated in yellow and white with Senator Cowee driving. Second prize, $10. was given to the Oakdale ladies, who had a 4-horse stage coach decorated in piid\ and white. Third prize, $5, Ladies' ■Tiide]iendent Relief ('orps. of AVest Boylston. who had a 4-horse float decorated in hhie and white. For the best decorated Hoat or coacdi. 2 horses: Fii-st prize, $1."). to The .^^aples, of AVest Boylston. a laui-el decorated coach; 2nd prize, $10, to West Boylston lieading (Uub, in white Hoat. trimmed with green ; 8rd jn-ize. $5, to a lanrel- decorated barge from The ^laples. of Oakdale. For best decorated 1-horse float : First prize to the sopho- mores of W^est Boylston high scdiool. who had a float decorated in red and white. Foi' best decorated Idioi'se c()a(di or hit(di : First prize. $10. to Miss Josie Wihler. of Stei'ling. in a butterfly surrey decor- ated in piidv and wliite; 2nd prize. .Mrs. .Alyron I). Potter, of AVest Boylston, in an nmbrella ])ha?ton decorated in green and white .'^rd pi'ize. Miss ILden E. 3Iixter, of AVest Boylston, in an nmbrella plueton decorated in pink and white. Foi- the handsomest 2-horse hitch not decorated: F. W. Blancdiai'd. of Worcestei'. Foi' the handsomest 1-horse liitch not decoi-atiMl : ^Mrs. F. N. Goddard. of Princeton. For the handsomest horse and trappings ridden by a lady: First prize, Aliss Alary E. Ivobbins. of West Boylston; 2nd prize. Miss Blanche E. Kobbins. of West Ijoylston. For the handsomest horse and trappings I'idden by a man: First prize. Dr. AVarren S. Thayei'. of Worcester. P^or the Arm or coinpany making the biggest and most attractive ad\ ci't ising display: Ivoss Bros., of Worcester. Mi.s.s Mak.iorie Cowee •'«• •VJiW- WKST I'.dVI.SKiN KEAIlIXCi ("LUIS Cenfoinidl 71 For tlir most iKH'i'ihlc lookiim team: A. J. Scarlett, Jr., of West Boy] si on. Special prizes : Hon. C'hai'les (t. Washburn, of Worcester, made a special award of thi'ee ])rizes as follows : First, to E. P. Rice. motluM' and sistei-. of Sterling Junction, who appeared in a pink and white suri-ev; 2nd. to the AVor- cester County training school, for a green and wliite carryall; 8rd. to Charles L. Tupper, of AVorcester. for a pink and white depot-cart. Mr. Harry AV. Smith awarded a special i)rize to Aliss ^larjorie CoM-ee. for tlie best appearing tandem-team. Hon. E. A. Cowee also awarded a special prize to Tracy S. AVood. of AVest Boylston, for the smartest pony-t(^am. Other participants in the coaching parade, aside from the prize Avinners and those of wliom xicws ai'e given, were: Carriage containing Albci-t W. Minds, ("luiii'nian Kece])tion Connnitte(\ with Aiajoi- h-a A'a\igliii and .Major IMiilip S. Sears of the GrO\('rnoi'"s Stalt'. r('])i'('scnting the State. Carriage i-ontaininu' Ihc ( '(MitiMinial ( 'oininitlcc and teams of D. A. Putnam. Worcestiu": .Mi's, .lames Allen. Sterling; Airs. Albei-t Al. Tyler. Oahdale. and .Mrs. Ai-thur II. Sawyer. AA'est Boylston. The vi(MVs selected of the Coaching Parade \\-ei'e chosen, not because they wei'e prize winners alone, but on ac<-ount of the • piality of the \iews and the fact that they seemed io best repre- sent the e\"(Mit. At noon, dinnei' Avas served in the dining tent, while the invited guests Avere entertained at The Alaph^s. Mrs. Ai.MiitA K. Kice and Familv The Maple 6.00 A. M. 8.30 A. M. 10.30 A. M. Centennial 73 Programme. SALUTE AND KJNGING OF BELLS. BALL CAME. Goodale's Field. COACHING PARADE. 1 Four or Six-IIorse Float or Decorated Coach, Brake or Drag. 2 Decorated Float or Coach (Two-Horse). 3 Decorated Float or Coach (One-Horse). 4 Handsomest Two-Horse Hitch, not decorated, ■l Handsomest One-Horse Hitch, not decorated. 6 Handsomest Jlorse and Trappings. Ridden by a Lady. 7 Handsomest Horse and Trappings, Ridden by a Gentle- man. 8 Firm or Company making the Biggest and Most Attract- ive Advertising Display. 9 Most Horrible Looldng Team. 12 M. DINNER. Served on the Grounds by the Ideal Lunch Co., of Worcester. 1.30 P. M. AFTERNOON EXERCISES. PRAYER, - - - Rev. George H. Cummings ADDRESS OF WELCOME, - Warren E. Gammell HISTORICAL ADDRESS, - - Leon A. Goodale ADDRESS, - - - . Hon. Herbert Parker 3.00 P. M. BAND CONCERT, CONCERT PROGRAMME. : MARCH— "Col. Donovan." - ... Strachan 2 OVERTURE— "Poet and Peasant," - - - Suppe 3 SELECTION— " Red Mill," .... Herbert ■i CORNET SOLO— "Cliftonian Polka," - - Williams Mr. Ernest S. Williams. .5 MEDLEY SELECTION— " IHts of New York," - Helf 6 CONCERT WALTZ— "Golden Sunset," - - Hall 7 AMERICAN FANTASIA— "North and South," - Bendix S FINALE— "National Emblem," .... Bagley SPORTS 1 Tug of War between Oakdale and West Boylstou. 8 men on a side. Best 2 out of :!. 2 Running High .Tuni|i. 3 Ega' Race. WdiiuMi o\er 18 vears. Tracy 8. AVoon Miss Hklkx E. Mixter M. 1'ai;ki:k Hannixc; Centennial 75 4 100-yai-(l I):isli. Koys uii.ler Ki. ~i 3-Legged Eace. 6 Fat Man 's Race. 50 yards. 7 100-yard Dash. 8 Tug of War between Oakdalc and West Boylston Boys under 16 years. 12 on a side. 9 Potato Race. Girls under 1(J. 10 Running Broad .lumii. 11 Sack Race, "id yards. Sack to be not over 3 feet wide, to tie around the necl\ and to lie furnished liy contestants. 12 Half-n.ile Run. Handicap. 13 Catch the Greased Pig. EVENING. 8.00 P. :\r. BAND CONGE Wr AND JLLUMIXATIOX. EVENING CONCERT. 1 MARCH— "The Fighting Ninth," - - Strachan 2 SELECTION— "O 'Neil of Derry. " - Chauncy Olcott 3 XYLOPHONE SOLO— "The Elks," - - - Snow Mr. Harry F. Cade. 4 MEDLEY OVERTURE— "Remick No. 5," - - Remiek .1 IXTERMEZZO— "Ivanhoe." - - - Van Alstine (i SELECTrON—"Fifty Miles from Boston." - - Cohen 7 COMIQUE— "The Two Thomas Cats," - - - Clark 8 FINALE— "Our Commander." - - - R. B. Hall Auld Lan"- Svne. CHIEF MARSHAL Frank 11. Baldwin AIDS Harry E. Lowe W. Clifford Scarlett .Myr(.n D. Potter Oscar Burns Harry \Y. Trask Aaron Goodale, .Ir. SPORTS COMMITTEE Edward A. Waters Walter G. Boynton Frederick R. Ivory HISTORICAL LOAN EXHIBIT COMMITTEE Albert ^Y. Hinds KlJa L. Sawyer .Mary L. Waite Warren E. (iamniell D. Frank Prescott Luna F. Parker Centenmal 77 RECEPTION COMMITTEE Albert W. Ilimls Aaidii (ioodale Waldo B. Howe (ieoigo W. Reed George D. Lawrence Joseph M. Lord Charles II. Baldwin G. Harvey Keyes Thomas Lyiu-h William P. Chase Harry E. Lowe .leieiiiiali Fisher Albert B. Pierce 'riidiiias W. Shepard George F. Keyes Edward Lovell W. M. Huntington ( harles R. Huntley Edward A. Newton William C. Pierce Bernard F. Moran M. I'arker Banning Robert W. Morrill George A. Barker Franklin Sargent William C. Oveiiden Arthur Ward USHERS Frank H. Baldwin William T. lldlmes Arthur H. Sawyer Arthur L. Bosworth Carleton A. Cook William .1. Burns George M. Lawrence Charles AV. Reed Edward Bond Joseph H. Cavanaugh Archibald R. Davis AFTERNOON EXERCISES. The afterniion exercises were held in the huge tent erected for the occasion on the common. INir. W. B. Wooil, chairman of the Centennial < 'nmmittee. presiding. Those occupying seats on the platform: Maj. Ira A'aughn, Maj. Philip S. Sears, of Boston, both members of the Governor's Staff; Congressman Charles G. AVashburn, Mayor James Logan, Justice Arthur P. Rugg, Hon. Jidiu R. Thayer, Louis Cutting, John AV. Sheehan. AValtcr D. Ross, David A. Alatthews, of Worcester; Hon. Henry O. Sawyer, of I'itchburg; AVarren Goodale, Chairnum of the <'ounty (.'oiuniissionei s, of ('linton; George L. Wright, of Boylston; George F. Pjuttrick. of Sterling; J. Wintlirop Holt, of Holden; Select iiicu .\ar(ui (ioodale and Walter E. Cha]iman; Albert W. Hinds, and Tlioni;is Lviich. together with the s})eakers. Prayer was olfered liy li'e\-. (ieorge II. <'uininjngs, pastoi- of the First Congregational ('limcli. following which S(>lectman Warren E. Gammell was introduced and g:i\e the woi.ls of welcome, subsl ant iall \- as follows: 78 ^Vest Boj/Iston ADDRESS BY SELECTMAN WARREN E. GAMMELL. Ladies and Gentlemen, It hardly seems fitting that a native of another town should l)e called npon to welcome yon to the birthplace from whence so many that I see before me. have g-onc forth to try their for- tunes in the world. In the year 1850. while in my l)oyhood days. 1 came to AVest Boylston. and with the exception of oiu^ year, this town has been my home. Here I found my helpmate, and as we have walked in and out among the citizens of the town, strong attachments have l)een formed, not only for the place, hut for the people as well. And I feel that I can extend a most hearty welcome to every person within the sound of my voice, to this our Centennial day. The coming together, the exchanging friendly greetings, helps to strengthen the ties that bind us into a community of townsmen and friends, and stimulates our love for the home and the town in which we have a common interest. Many of you can recall the scene of the once prosperous village of nearly fifty years ago. Avith its Avorkshops, where the hum of the machinery was heard early and late; the beautiful river in the \-alley. the old red cotton mill, the saw- mill with its up and down saw. the old i)lacksmith sho]) A\ith its trii)-hammer. the grist mill with its dusty miller, the old valley stores, or the farmers and the ox teams, and various other signs of an active prosperous town: Avith its increase in traffic following the closing yeai's of tlie war; of the increase in population; but with all this many of yon are familiar, and I will not weary you Avith furthei- citations. In behalf of the Centennial Committee, in the name of the officers of the toAvn. avc give you a most cordial, hearty and heartfelt welcome. J3fe^^ HISTORICAL ADDRESS BY LEON A. GOODALE. There Mi'e eei'taiii f(^atui'(\s which stand out [)i'e-eiiiineiitly ill tlu' hist(»r\" nt' {'\^'ry [)ei)ph\ and each nuuiicipality lias some historical chai'actei'istics \vhi(di nioi'e or less distinj^iiish it from others. To think of Monnt X'ernon is to think of the toml) and iniinortal name of \Vasliiimt(»n. The history of Boston is intimately associated with P'aneiiil Hall. Charles- town is meaningless withont her Bunker Hill and her monu- ment. Coneord has her minute man keeping wat(di where was fired that famous shot lieartl around the world, and the story of American lihei'tx- centers around Iiulependeuee Hall in old J'hiladelphia. Names and places these ai'e. i)recious to every loyal heart. They are inseparahly linked with American history. They are shrines of freedom. From their altar fires have leaped the flames that have kindled the fires of patriotism and loyalty in millions of hearts. To the native born, they make real and \ivid those early scenes and awaken anew veneration anil lo\e foi" our country's flag and institutions. To the stranger, they hear silent tt^stimony to the grMiuleui' of our principles and the gi-eafness of our fathers. They are a priceless heritage. Their value is beyond that of finest .jewels. .Money could nol Imy them. Rivers of i)atriot blood woiiKl riow ere alien hands should desecrate or defile. "Breatlies tlierc tlic iii;iii with soul so dcail. Who ne\er t(i liiinsclf liath said. This is my nwii. my native land! Whose iieart iiatii ne'er within hiiii Vmnied, As home his footsteps he hath turned i'lnm wanderings on a foreign strand!'' (Seott. Lay of the Last Minstrel) Centennial SI The native of AVest Boylston who returns to his childhood's home is confronted with a strange situation. The old, historic landmarks are gone. Beaman Tavern, the famous old oak, Thomas Hall, the mills, canal, pond, have disappeared. Not only are his old friends and neighliors scattered, but his very birthi)lace is gone; the streets that teemed with business and resounded with tread of mill workers is now a lake of blue, tossing waters. Barred out from fields and Avood where his childish feet strayed l)y flaring signs, "No Trespassing", it seems a strange land. Stores, streets, railroads, houses, schools swept away, even the solemn rest of the dead disturbed and their ashes gathered from familiar cemeteries and placed elsewhere. In fifteen years the very face of nature has undergone more startling transformation than usually takes place during the sloAv sAveej) of almost endless geological ages. No wonder a feeling of bewilderment comes over him. He feels like a man Avithouf a birthplace, barred ruthlessly from the hearts of his childhood, cast out into the Avorld. Ilis home is gone. Tlis West Boylston is no more. The ties that bound him to this spot have been rudely severed. They are but a menu)ry fading with the passing years. AYe talk of the changes of the past hundred years, yet greater ones have taken ])lace in the last ten years. The old latidniark's that stirred local pride and kept alive local respect and loyalty have been obliterated. No town in our country has ever suffered more severely in pro])oi'tion to its size than West Boylston. Tt was no idle statement made by an attorney that the destruction of West Boylston Avas Avithout precedent, and that llic only i)arallel case Avas told by the i)oet LongfelloAV in the dramatic classic Evangeline. This extraordinary condition imposes unusual duties. Today a generation is living that has seen the historical places, and is familiar witii their story. To-morroAV a ncAV generation Avill be here, and the memory of early events Avill be but dim. The duty devolves u{>on us by every means in our poAver of making Vcnicun'ml 83 the coming generations familiar with past achievement and story. The facts of onr history must be put on record, the story of former days and i)laces must he often tolcf. Charts and maps and photographs must be carefully preserved. Such a course is necessary to awaken local pride, to stimulate loyalty to local traditions and aspirations, to arouse and encourage that energy and co-operation that shall insure a future as prosperous and honorable as the past has been. As a river is sometimes formed by the junction of two or more streams that pour their currents into one, so West Boylston has been formed by the union of peoples from several towns, lioylston, Shrewsbury, Holden and Sterling have each contril)uted their share, and these in turn have sprimg from the parentage of Lancaster, AVorcester and Marlborough. The territory now included in the town of AVest Boylston was the outskii'ts of these surrounding towns, and the people were left largely to their own defence and resources. It soon attracted the sturdy pioneers by its natural advantages. Its scenery was varied and in many jilaees romantic. Here were the forests furnishing in lavish abundance timber for their dwellings and their fires. Its soil in the fertile valleys and intervales provided plentiful subsistence, while the streams with their foaming rapids furnished water power for sawing tim])er and grinding grain. It was a place well favored by Alother Nature, and was well adapted to become the center in future years of a busy, prosperous, contented maiuifaeturing commu- nity. Here, in 1720, came the earliest settler, Joseph Hinds. Others soon followed. From Alarlborough came Nathaniel and AVilliam Davenport. Benjamin BigeloAV, Edward Goodale, Micah Ilar- than, and many others. From AA^oburn came Jonathan Fair- b'anks; from Medford, Jonathan Lovell; from Boylston, Simeon and Thomas Keyes. From far and near they came. These early settlers were a hardy, vigorous race; social and benevo- li'iit : kind ;ind gcnei'ous to each other; hospitable to strangers. They were strongly attached to princii)les and customs of the Pilgrim Fathers, carefully sustaining the institutions of religion Cenicnnial 85 and leai'iiiiij?. They were conscientious and faithful in their attendance on public Avorship on the Lord's day, and taught their children to cherish the principles and to adhere to the customs of their ancestors. The Indians gave them comparatively little troul^le. though for many years the settlers were ajiprehensive of attack from tomahawk and scalping knife. A block liouse was built in the south part of the town and kept as a place of refuge. The natives formerly were numerous and powerful, but disease and war reduced their numbers. John Eliot, the great apostle to the Indians, had visited Quinsigamond in 1674 and met with some success in Christianizing the red man. There were other dangers, however, beside the Indians. It is told that Jonathan Lovell used to come to his place in the springtime with a yoke of oxen and return in the fall. He built his cabin on posts and when he retired for the night would pull the ladder up after him. In the darkness the wolves would come out and eat the scraps of food that might have been left below. The settlers bore their part in the patriotic and religious movements of the several townships. They were represented among the soldiers of the French and Indian wars, and these had no sooner ceased than the war of the Revolution broke out. taxing the patriotic community to its utmost. The record of West Boylston is an honoralile one. Although it was not then a separate town or parish, the men living within its present boundaries were not lacking in patriotism or devotion. Be- cause their citizenship belonged in dift'erent towns the name of West Boylston does not appear in the Revolutionary annals; yet the men who won fame and honor in that glorious struggle were among the founders of our town, and their descendants are still with us. They had already learned the art and spirit of self-defense. They did not shrink from self-assertion. Their zeal and activity in securing, for themselves and the colonies, liberty and independence, are all the more remarkable when we remember that communities and neighborhoods were divided by that struggle. Some of the leading citizens and families remained loyal to the crown. At the present time we can CeiiicHnidl S7 rcadil.N' ^I'.'iiit llif sincerity. I)i-;i\('r>- and \V(iftli oT the Tories of those days as well as Ihc [)a1 riots. Vuv our aneestors the ex- perience Avas a tryiiiii' diic for it meant for them a strno;p;le M-itli a loved pastoi" after Iwcnly-Hve yeai's oi' ix-accfnl and happ.x' rehitions. Re\'. Ehenezei' .Morse "was the ]>astor of the Shre'ws- hnry North Parish, lie was a eultured, ediiealed, able man, and staiineh and iuiniovahic in liis loyalty t(^ his king. In spite of the opposition of his ix'ojtlc he insisted on in-aying in public for the king'. (|ueen and Royal family. They could not drive him away, so at a Shrewsbury toAvn meeting in ITTo. a commit- tee was a])poinlcd to examine him and sex'ei'al otliers suspected of Toryism. Un their report that the minister had in sundry instances, "appeared not to lie so friendly to the common cause as we could wish, but rather in some instances, unfriendly." it Avas voted that he be deprived of his arms and ammunition and wai'like implements of all kinds and that he be not allowed to pass oA'er the lines of the Second or North Parish in which lie lived without a |)ermit from two or more of the committed'. As one has said. "All the more stril^ing is the patriotism of these men. Avho did theii' duty, although the red line of excision ran through theii' oA\ti ])ulpit." — (IT. M. Smith. P>oylston Cen- tennial. I In 1774 it had been Aotecl to lia\'e two militia companies in the Sjii'ewsiiury South Parish. th(^ Xt)rth Parish already having a comijany. whose officers' lunnes sound familiar to us. They were Ezra l^eaman. ("a]itain: Ephraim Peaman and Jonathan Fassett. Lieutenants; ami Solomon I^iigelow. Ensign. On February IS. 177."). a letter was received by ('apt. Ezra Beaman from John Axcry of the Committee of Donations at Poston. acknowledging the receipt of '>'■) busluds of rye and corn .sent by North Parish of Shrewsbury "'for the distressed in- habitants of that poor devoted town, M'ho were groaning under the rod of despotism." The dawning of the memorable l!)th of April. 1775. found the ]\Iinute nu'u prepared. Those Avho lived within the present limits of oui- town Avere far fi'om the cent^M's of the towns of wiiicli they wei-e citizens. The s1oi-\- of how the ci-v. "To 88 ^Nest Boylston Arms," was carried over the hills and through the vales of West Boylston till it reached the home of Serg. Ingalsbe on the banks of the Qiiinepoxet River may never be told. Whether by horsemen from Shrewsbury on the south, by spurring rider from Lancaster on the north, or by galloping messenger from Ilolden on the west, we may never know. The poet in his immortal lines has left us the thrilling story of the ride of Paul Revere. ITndoubtedly during that night and the following day that ride was duplicated by scores of fleeting horsemen. It is on record that on the morning of the 19th, a post rider came galloping in hot haste through the town of Lancaster, shouting to every one he saw, that the red coats were coming out of Boston. Instantly booming cannon summoned the ^Minute men. ^Mounted messengers spread the tiding far and wide. Undoubt- edly that call to arms resounded by many a AVest Boylston fire- side and field that day. Work was left, hurried farewells were spoken, the powder horn and bullet pouch with the old flint lock musket were thrown over the shoulder and the patriot hurried away to the scene of conflict. To Ilolden, to the Company of Captain Paul Raymond went Asa Lovell, Amos Lovell, William Raymond. With the Company of Capt. James Davis went Isaac Temple, Paul Goodale. Some undoubtedly marched with one of the six companies that went from Lancaster, perhaps in the Company of Capt. Joseph White. By far the greater number marched with the Company of Capt. Robert Andrews from Shrewsbury North Parish. Among the number appear the names of Ezra Beaman, Lieut., who might be called the founder and father of our town ; Jonas Temjile, Lieut., whose son, John Temple, long served as chairman of our selectmen ; Sergt. Eben- ezer Ingalsbe ; Corporal Thomas Keyes, grandfather of historian Benj. F. Keyes; Corporal Aaron Goodale, the first of five gene- rations to bear that name ; private Abel Bigelow, grandfather of the great inventor and carpet manufacturer ; privates, Peter Goodale, Abel Holt, Oliver Densmore. William Winn, and others. Besides these minute men many more served at some time during the war. Israel Keyes, Jonathan Gale, Ebenezer Ingalsbe, Jr.. William Eames. Stephen Brigham, Abel Bigelow, CodcnniaJ 89 Thomas Keyes. Aaron Goodale. were among those who marched to Uadley in 1777. Other names are given by historian Keyes: John Rixhy. Joseph Bixby. Zaehariah Child, Joseph Dwelly, AVilliain Fairhaiik. Oliver Glazier. Benjamin Hinds, Jr., Jason Hinds. Ebenezer Pike. Isaae Smith, John Temple, Nathan Wilder. These names constitute a roll of honor of "Brave and patriotic men of whom we may well feel prond. Their memories will ever l)e cherished by a grateful people with feelings of respect and veneration. ^lention should also be made of the fact that one of our citizens. Benjamin Hinds, loaned .$60,000 to the Continental Congress. The circumstances which led to the formation of a precinct and ultimately the town are too well known to be dwelt upon at length. Shrewsbury North Parish had become incorporated as the town of Boylston on ^larch 1st, 1786, taking its name from the eminent Boylston families of Boston. It was necessary to build a new meeting house. In those days the meeting house was the center from which radiated the religious, political, edu- cational and social life of the community. Perhaps for this rea- son it Avas customary to locate it in the geographical center of the town as well. The majority proposed to build the new church near the old one. The minority, headed by the resolute Ezra Beaman, demanded that it be located in the center, which was half a mile nearer the residents in the west part of the new town. The majority persisting in carrying out their wishes, the minority turned itself into a majority. l)y the time-honored custom of withdrawing and starting over again all by them- selves. They built the new church with commendable zeal and rapidity on a piece of land given l)y Abel Bigelow, Joseph Bige- low, and John White, now known as the West Boylston Com- mon, on which historic spot these exercises are now taking place. The meeting house was completed and dedicated in 1795 and a petition for incorporation as a town was forwarded to the General Court, signed by ninety inhabitants of Boylston, Sterling and Iloldcn. This petition was refused, but another was granted, incorporating them as the Second Precinct of Boylston. Sterling and Ilolden, in June, 1796. ('eiitciinial 91 111 aliout twelve years, steps were taken which, though (ijiposed. resulted in the incorporation of the town of AVest Boylstoii oil .January .SO, 1808. At the time of iiicoi'jioration there were ahout !)8 dwellino- houses, with a little less than 600 inhabitants in the new towii. There were 60 farmers, about a dozen mechanics, one clergyman, no physician, but one ])erson of foreign birtji. and ai)iiai'(Mitly there was no need of an under- taker. There was said to be one cotton mill, two grist mills, two s:iw mills, one clotliier's mill, one tannery, four blacksmiths' shops, one ca])inet maker's shop, two book binderies. There Avere thi-ee schools and three stores, one church and one tavern. The land composing the town in shape resembles an Indian toraahawdv Avithout a handle. The history of the various land changes is somewhat confused and complicated. It is a matter of history that James Tst made a grant to the Plymouth Com- pany of all the land between the 41st and 45th parallels of lati- tude, and that later its successor, the Ccnincil of Plymoutli. in 1620. received a grant of all land Itetween the 40th and 48th parallels of latitude and extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It can be readily seen that many grants made in this generous off-hand way must, by the limitati(ni of the size of our contim^nt. result in overlapping boundaries, disputes as to titles aiul changing ownership. In 1655 the first grant of land in this vicinity was nmde liy the General Court to the town or church of IMalden. This grant contained about one thousand acres. A memorial of that grant is still found in the name of ]\Ialden Hill. In 165!) a grant of land was made to Ri(diard Davenport, a commander at Castle Island in Boston Ilarboi'. It comprised about 650 acres and extended north to the old stone bridge. In 1658 Lancaster was incorporated as a town, and included the territory within the boundaries of Sterling and part of West Boylston. In 1660 Marlborough was incorporated and in 1727, Shrewsbury was set off from .Marlborough. In 1722 Worcester was incorporated, including the territory set off as Holden in 1740. The boundarv between Lancaster and Shrews- jKAj^ a 41 'd k 92 M^esi Boylston bury was several times changed. x\ sti'ip of land between the two about four miles long and one wide was known as the Shrewsbury Leg. It belonged first to one town, and then the other. In 1781, Sterling was incorporated and covered all the territory belonging to Lancaster now lying within the limits of "West Boylston. In 1786, Boylston, formerly the North Parish of Shrewsbury, w'as incorporated and al)sorbed that portion of "The Leg" not covered by Sterling. Then in 1796, the Second Precinct was incorporated, including a portion of Ilolden, Sterling and Boylston, and in 1808 followed its incorporation as the town of West Boylston. These changes resulted in a certain portion of the Shrewsbury Leg being at one time or another within the limits of five towns. Other portions of our town have been within the limits of four towns, and no portion of it but what has been within the limits of three tow^ns. Robert B. Thomas, who lived in that district known as the Shrewsbury Leg, said in the famous Farmer's Almanac of 1834: "It is rather paradoxical, but no less a fact, that I have resided in four incorporated towns, and two parishes and one precinct, and yet never moved from the same place." At the Bi-Centen- nial Celebration of the town of Lancaster in 1858, the toast was offered to the town of Boylston : ' ' Boylston took to herself Shrewsbury Leg and ran away from her mother." AVest Boylston took to herself the same Shrewsbury Leg and ran away from her mother and grandmother. At the first election in West Boylston, held ]\larch 1. 1808, Silas Beaman was chosen jModerator, Robert B. Thomas, Clerk. Ezra Beaman, Jonathan Plympton, AYilliam Fairbank, Silas Beaman and Amos Lovell, Selectmen, and Ezra Beaman, Treas- urer. There were about 150 ratable polls. The legal voters numbered 105. It is a matter of record that during the first year of the town's existence warrants were issued for twelve town meet- ings. We may feel sure that toAvn affairs that year occupied a prominent place of interest and were well eared for. The same spirit of zeal was seen in the business affairs of the town. Its character as a farming community soon changed and it became Centennial 93 •A iii;iimf;icturiii<:' \illa,iic. In fifty years the iiuinl)er of farmers increased fi'oin (iO to 70, a liaiii of only 10 in half a century. Some of the fii'st cotton mills in the country were located here. The Slatei's. those i)ioneei's of cotton manufacturing in this c(uuitry. were interested in property in this vicinity. The ex- cellent water power furnished by the junction of the Quina- poxet and Stillwater Rivers in forming' the Nashua, made it certain that the greatest development would be along manu- facturing lines. At first, saw mills and grist mills were multi- [)licd. A clothier's mill and a scythe factory, with the first trip liammer used in this section of the country, gave the town a distinction that attracted strangers from a distance. The chief industries of the town have been the bottoming of boots, ami cottcui manufacturing. At one time, 2000 pairs of boots were finished and sent to Worcester daily, giving lucra- tive employment to many ]ieople. Six cotton mills gave em- ployment to hundreds, so that in ISO.') the population had in- creased to about 8000. Those who ha\'e seen the town in the valley k'liow and Avill cvcm- reuKMulxM- th(^ beauty of the natural scenery for which it was famed. From the beginning attention has been ])aid to schools and education. At the time of incorporation there were three schools. Almost the first business of the \'oters M'as to organize the schools. The to^^■n records contain the following interesting item under date of XoNcniber 8. 1808: "After much debate respecting districting this town into school districts, a motion was made by ]Mr. Paul Goodale to rescind all former votes for districting the town into school districts, which was ])ut and declared in the afiii'mative. A motion Avas then made by ]\Ir. Goodale in substance that the town build four schoolhouses. two on the west aiul two on the east of the Quinapoxet River, and that a committee be chosen fi'om the east sid(^ to place the schoolhouse on the west side, and vice versa, and lastly that tlie school money be divided into four equal parts and be schooled out into each s(dioolhouse. which was voted." The number of districts was increased the following year to eight and remained at that number till 1868, after which the Centennial ^j Dnmber var . eleven to nft*-en until 1^*J2. -^h&i &s & result o" - " - ^ - . •rentTci! " _- " " ■ -r seh- ns- 1S6S- It reads: ""The eharaeter of a town mav be very eor- reetij' ir — - and ^rell famished, the ehildien interested and c»>i]istant in liieir atten- ■lan«:-e. the t^-^ -^ ~- ' " -v :« _ --- ^ - -well - '-^ ' ' '""? in morals ai. - ie gwgV :s as anxions to improve their seho«:»is as they are their farms mar"" * ~-s or their mer ' ~ - ~" "" ~ i> tru-' ihat that toTm - _ - _ — - f the age and eontains a reading, thmkmg. virtuous and patriotie people." In 1S70. two high schools were established, one at akdale and one at West Bc»ylston. thus showing how aneient is that ISSO and it has sinee done most exeellent work. The town library was es^ - in 1S7S. In that 7 legacy by David Chiltis. & _:_i: ; Ms widow. Lydia ii^: .. Childs. a well-known writer, and an appropriatioD of several hundred dollars gave it a g iav it numbers over 7. _ „. > and supplier .. . __^ . ^ with magazines and periodicals. It is fast outgrc^w-ing its T'lvsent quarters and today is in the p^»sition of a coy your - easting areh glances and waiting the - - - - - -: w..-. __ ._e form of some public spirited pers«>il - i^rr his ^rid" ?. home in a new. attractive library buiidmg. When the Civil War broke out. West Boylst - the high standard of loyalty and devotion of : - Lincoln's call for volunteers found rea«Jy and geneivus res- ponse. T^-- - ' ut 25iX\ she sent t. - ' : 96 We-s/ BoijJsfon 252 men, ten per cent, of her inhabitants. Of the able-bodied men between the ages of 16 and 60, one in every three enlisted under their country's banner. Of this number twelve were commissioned officers, and two werc^ surgeons. They gained their honors liy bravery at the front, and while the privates and non-commissioned officers were as l)rave as any who wore the blue, the name of Sergt. Pluidvctt will ever he a household tiame in our country and a synonym of bravery and faithful- ness even unto death. Thirty-one gave up their lives during the war, on the field of battle, in the hospitals for the wounded and in prison pens. That fast diminishing number of veterans who yet remain with us shall be honored as long as Providence spares their earthly lives. Those who remained at home were not lacking in loyalty, nor love for their country. Their patriotism was manifested in various ways. Many maintained liberty ])()les from which by night hung a light and by day waved the glorious stars and stripes, the flag of a united land and the greatest and best nation of the earth. It may not be amiss in passing to call attention to the fact that for every man between the ages of 15 and (iO who remained at home, there Avere two and seven-tenths women. Their pre- dominance and prominence has outlasted the Avar. It has resulted in making so deep a religious impression upon this community that though it came through the devastation Avrought hy the ]Metropolitan Water Hoard. Avith the loss of mills, stores, houses and tAvo-thirds of its people, it came out of that crisis Avithout the loss of a church, having just the same number as before. The coming of the Metropolitan AVater Board, backed l)y all the sovereign poAver of the state, still remains to some t)f our people as a hidecms nightmare, and it takes long years to realize that it Avas no dream, but a stern reality. In 1895 a bbud^ om- inous cloud Avas seen rising over the state house at Boston, tliat great center of wind storms and fiery eruptions, and moxed toAvard the peaceful valley of the Nashua. As it grcAv. a fun- nel-shaped cloud appeared Avhose eartlnvard end reached the ('(':t I en II '((I 97 •iToiiiid ,'is il iicircd West I mivIsI (in. \\yv 11ic 1 ciToi'-st ricl^cii iiilialiiljiiit s had I'aiily rccoxci-cd their senses. Ihe toi-nado liad ])assed. Sidi'es. mills. Iionies and (dnil'(dies were seattel'ed in I'uins, while the hui'st itm of the watei spout Avas tilling- ihe Forniei' heaulirul \alley with a lake eii;-lit and one-half miles lonu' tVcnii tile ( "1 i lit on dam. t wo miles -wide in the broadest part, the aica siihmei'u'ed ahout si.\ and onedialf s(|uare miles, with a cireumt'erence of ;].") miles, a (h'pth of llO feet at the (him. Avilli a caiiaeity of fiM.OOO.OOO.OOO i;-allons. and costing' forty millions of (hillars. h'rom West IJoylston it too]\ six mills, eio'ht sehool- hovises. four (dmreiles. M(K) dwellinii' houses occupied Ity upward of 17(H) peo|)le. Of course they [laid for it. hut money cannot huy the feelinu' of atta(diment. the sentiment that (ding's to the iioiiie of (diildhoo(h ( )f necessity the old West l>o\dston has Lione f(n'e\-er. ()f necessity a new West l)oylst(ni has ariscMi without e\'en the solace of heiiii;' a hie to say. that ' " PlKeiiixdike it has sprunu' from the ashes of the old." It is difticiilt for stranii'ers and \isitors to realize the complete (dianu'c that has lieeii Avrouii'ht. ()iie single illustration may help us to i-ealize it. Near the spot Avliere a hundred years at>'o oxen were uiivoked and the old-time sta*;'e coa(di daslK^l up to the old lieaiiiaii TaAcrn with ci'a(d';iiii;\ii i; Ai toh.m:'! <;k.nkkai, <)|- .massa( u i.setts ^rs^K ADDRESS BY THE HON. HERBERT PARKER. The spcjikci- (if llic (I;iy wji.s the Ilmi. Ilci'licrl r;ii'kcr of Ij;iii- castcf. .Mr. I'jirkci' di-cw his picture of |);is1 jiiid cxisliiiii- coii- (litioiis in the Inwn in ;i clcnii cut nnd iniistcrl'ul nuinncr. rcfcr- riiig to the li(innr;i l)|c jind |)r;i iscworl liv pjirl 1li;i1 1hc town and her citizens luid ;d\\;iys 1;d. Thomas of K;i i uiei-"s Almnnac fame, bid I doubt it." The ('entennial ('onimittee regrets that it is able to present su(di a meager re|)oi't of Mr. Parker's address. Had th(^ ('om- mittee foreseen that it would l;e i-iMpiested to |tl;ice the events of the Centeiniial n\)nu pennanent I'eeord. 1liis misfortune eould have been o\-ercome. Se\-eral efforts ha\(' been made to secure a i'epi-oduct ion of the oriii'inal address, but these h;i\'e been unsuccessful on account of the bud'; of ade(pi;ite ne\\sp;i pel' l('|)oi-ts. 'Pile following extr;ict from a letter from .\lr. Pari^er is self- explanat oi'y : "it is my f;iull . or misfort line, eiil ircdy. that my piibl ic s|)eiik- iiig is ill most \\holl\- exl emp:M-;i neons. ;ind that I liaxc not and did not h;i\-e ;i sci'ap of p;i|)er in the form of notes. I use this method, not from ind ifVereiice. but solely liec;iuse it is the only iiiethod I can use. since any pre|)ared discourse is xcry distali-ful 1" aie and I cannot present it wit h a n\- eiit husiasm or force. 102 Vsvxi J>(>!iJst(>ii ■■ ! (l(t ii;i1 now I'ccall ('\'(Mi tlic sul)s1;iiic(' of 'wliat I sMitl. niid it is iiii|i( ssililc. 1 licrcl'oi'e. for me to make any I'c prod net ion of t lie addii'ss. If tlicrc is any n(Mvsi)ai)ei- i-cpoi't which Avonld aid my nicm 11 y. I niiuhl he ahlc. if you dcsii'c it. to attempt a r('])i'odiic- tion : otherwise, of course, you wouhl ha\'e to cnm])h'te the recoi'd Avithout iiicoi-poratiny what 1 have said. ■"T thaid< you Ncry much for your cousideratiou. and your kindly I'eference to my couti'ihution to the occasion, whicli. <-er- tainly. in e\-ei'y othcu- respect was most successful." SPORTS. After tlip foriDul mldiesses came the sports. Running High Jumps. — Won l\v C 11. C'ummiiiiis; Andrew J. Scarlett. Jr., 2n.l: Frank H. Evan, 3d. In the Egg Race. — Mrs. Charles W. Reed captured tirst ribbon; Mrs. Arthur 11. Sawyer, 2<1; ?i[rs. Fred R. Tvory, 3d. Three-Legged Race. — Andrew .T. Scarlett, Jr. and Robert E. Lamb made the pair that came in first; Oscar Burns and Dr. TTarry "W. Trask, 2d; Tracy Wood and Allen Luce, 3rd. Fat Man's Race. — Frank Noble, 1st; Charles T. Lamb, 2d; William L. s.-;irictt, ;;d. Tug-of-War. — Won by Robert E. Lauil), .loiin li. Moran, James E. ]\Ioran, Ell)ert II. Boynton, Chester Smith and Charles Johnson. Clothespin Race. — ^liss Mildred Preseott awarded the blue; Miss Xellie Lovcll, tlie red; Miss Lena Bowen, the yellow. Running Broad Jump. — Robert E. Lamb won, coverinj: 14 ft. 5 in.; Franl\ IT. Ryan, 2d; Andrew J. Scarlett. Jr., 3d. Sack Race. — Frank N. Luce, 1st; James E. ^NToran. 2d; Robert E. Lamli, 3d. Half-Mile Race. — Won by Andrew .t. Scarlett, Jr.; Charles TT. CumminjiS, 2d; Robert F. L;ni,b. :id. 100 Yards Dash for Boys— Won by h'obcrt E. l^auib; Barton E. Ciiiu- mings, 2d; R. W. Smitli, ;'h1; Elbert If. Boynton, 4th. Time. 13% seconds. 100 Yards Dash for Men. — Frank II. Hyan crossc'd the tape first; C. 11. Cummin-s. 2d: Andrew J. Scarlett, Jr., :'.ccially those connected witli tlie Ezra Beainan and I.'obert B. Thomas families. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN KEYES. Boii,i;nniii I'. Kcycs. son of 'rimnias and Lydia ( llarthaii ) Keyes, was liorn .\|iiil 1-1. 17M-'l. His liuyliood days were passed upon the home farm, and as lie i^rew to maiiliood early displayed an unusual interest in the affairs of the town, becominji an ac-tive, efficient official, serving as Town <.'Ierk, Seleetuian and Representative. At the annual town meetings he was repeatedly chosen as Moderator, a position which bears the weight of more or less lionor. ovou at tlie present liMi;i I'I'cinplci Dnvis. He tillt'd t lie (illicc of Town Olork iiio.st acccjitJilply for t li iit y four ncjiis, li;i\iiiu hccn chosen a ii iiiuil 1\- to succeed liiniself twciitN' li\ t* NC.-irs. A I tlioiiiili not iiossessini; ;i sti'on^i;, rol)nst natnic, he w'lis in exci y \\:\\ ([n;i I i fied fin- ;i nioilel town clerk; very (•oni]ietent, nnusn.-illy well infoiiiie(l not onl\- witli reL;ni(l to the annals of the town ot' West lioylston, lint on ;:(>nei-al snl)jects in conn(»ction \vith iiis ollice. II<' had within him the ([naliti(>s of accuracy, i-oni'teonsness and alVaiiility, whitrh of tlie town, covering' fifteen printed i)ages, for Messrs. ( '. I", .lewett tV: ('onijiany of Boston, who, at tliat time, ])ul)lished a two xolnme Avork entitled, ''His- tory of Worci^ster ('onnty.'" ^fr. Ilon.i^hton was no doubt limited to the s|i;ice he was to occnpN' in the implication, but ne\'ertlieless those two (diajiters |iresent a remarkably ;^ood e.xjiosition of his subject. 'I'en yeais later ( iSSi)), he |ire]iared aiiotiiei- sUetcIi of the town, coxer- ini; tw(Mity two l:J-n.'o. |ia.i;es for .\ressrs. .1. W, Lewis & ('omjiany of Phila- delj)hia. who also |iublished a history of Worcester ('lumty. in two vob nmes. As nn.Liht be reasonablx- expecteil, iiis second effort far exceeds the first in \olnni(> and in importance, haviny been allowecl more than double the s]iace than that <;i\en him in the fornuM' work, and the reader must certainly acknowledjzf that Mi'. Ilonuhton im]iro\('(l the o|i|iortunity allowed him to the best adx-.-intaue. lie was also assessor for th(> town (1850-1 8o7), ami (derk of the Conure.Liational Chnrcii ten years (IS.l.S- 1868). Tie died in West lioylston dune i:i, istn;. REV. JAMES HILLS FITTS. Another jierson to whom the |>eo]ile of West l>oylston are indebted is Eev. .lames II. l-'itts, many years pastor of the ( 'oniircLiat ional ('hui'ch. from September :;, jstii', to December :;, 1S7(I; was born in Candia, N. II.. .March .1, 1SL".>, died in .Vewfields, N. 11., N()vend)er 1'2, 1900. Son of John ami Abi.Liail (Laru-i Fitts. Durin.u the little more than ei,;:lit years he nia (d' the peojde, but was .i:atheri ni; data rela- ting to the town, the ( lini'(di, and the iidiabitants iionerally. for the benefit of those imnu'diatcdy interested, .-iml allowing it to be |iassed down tliroui^h the years, from ,L:eneration to iienera t ion, thioui^h the medium of till' piinteil pa-e. His story of life in tlu> chnrcdi, ;ind inidnding that important liraucdi of the idiurcdi, the Sabbath Scho(d. is a nnist interesting one. 106 We6'f Boylston His object in prepariiiji- 1lie address was, as lie stated to tliose who asked for its publication (and Ave quote from liis own lines), "Messrs. A. F. Knight, Lyman I'ierce and others, it was a desire to preserve from oblivion these fast fading mementos of a former generation which first led to the preparation and delivery of the address, and the same desire does not permit Ui'e to withold it from ])uhlication now.'' No person at all familiar with the topography of the town but what in reading that historical diseouise must he impressed with the clearness of his pen-pictures as he leads the reader up and down the roads and streets in the town and points out the homes occupied by the various towns- people fifty to eighty j'ears ago. In fact, the three pamphlets bearing his name, entitled, "Commemorative Services of the Semi-Centennial Anni- versary of the Sabbath School," "Manual of the Congregational Church," and the "Historical Address delivered at the Re-Dedication of the Brick Meeting House, West Boylston,'" are exceedingly valuable con- tributions to the local history of the town, including a large portion of her inhabitants past and present. Venicunidl 107 DEDICATION of the WEST BOYLSTON TOWN HALI. YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITEID TO ATTEIND THE DEDICATION OF THE WEIST BOYLSTON TOWN HALL ON iyiONDA.Y. January the EIighteenth NINETEEN HUNDRED AND FOUR AT T'WO O'CLOCK, P. M. LEION A. GOODALE A.LBERT W^. HINDS EDGAR P. NEAL COMMITTEE! WEST BOYLSTON, MASS. JANUARY SIXTH, 1<504 DEDICATION OF THE TOWN HALL WEST BOYLSTON MASSACHUSETTS MONDAY, JANUARY THE EIGHTEENTH AT TWO O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON 19 4 The Brick Meeti\(, llui sk Centennial 111 Building" Committee Artemas C. Smitlr-' Andrew J. Scarlett Alexander Snow AVillie B. AVood Dedication Committee The Selectmen : Andrew J. Scarlett Alexander Snow AYillic P.. AVood Programme Committee Leon A. Goodale Albert AV. Hinds Edsar P. Xeal Reception Committee John C. Hastings Jeremiah Fishei" Charles E. Alerrifield Charles AY. Reed Arthur A. Caldwell 'Died December 10, 1902. PROGRAMME Mi'Sic, ScJunnaiiu Male Quartette Prayer, Rev. John E. Dodge Address of Welcome, Andrezu J. Scarlett Alusic Historical Address, Re:\ Julius B. Robinson Music Address, Dr. G. Stanley Hall Music Greetings from Former Citizexs ]\Iusic At eight o'clock there icill be a concert and social in the Toiun Hall. DEDICATION OF TOWN HALL, MONDAY, JANUARY 18th, 1904. "With clear skies and bracing air. with a good attendance of old friends and residents of the town, the new town hall in AVest Boylston was dedicated today. The exercises were marked for the old home spirit that they stimulated, the Avords of former residents bringing forth hc^arty a])planse. In view of the fact that the hall had no clock. EdAvard A. Cowee. a former n^sidcnt and business man of the toAvn. noAv of AVorcester. said that he Avould ])resent the toAAui a clock. This is the only gift that the toAvn has receiA^ed for the ncAV hall. The guest of honoi' for the day Avas Dr. G. Stanley ITall of Worcester, president of CUark UniA'ersity. His address AA'as on "Good citizenshi])."' and AA-as an exhaustive and comprehensive treatise on that subject. Rev. Julius P>. Rolunson, pastor of the Baptist church, Avho made the historical address, also came in for a great share of the applause. His essay, Avhich was com- pleted under adverse circumstances, Avas a model of its kind, and Avas attentively listened to. As Avas expected, there Avas not a larg(^ attendance, the exer- cises in the e^•elling draAving thc^ larger croAvd. The afternoon gathei'ing Avas a representative body, and the younger element Avas not as Avell represented as it Avas at the dedication ball in th(^ (telling. The i^xercises began a1 2 u'cl()cl<. AndreAv J. Scarlett. Chair- man (»f the Board of Selectmen. ])residiiig. The tirst number on the ])r(igi-ani Avas singing by tlie Sehnmaini (juartet of Worces- ter, coinjxjsed of Walter S. KnoAvles. W. K. Little, B. A. Barber and II. ('. Robinson. Their first selection Avas "Loyal," by Sr. Anthony's Catholic Chukch Ceiifeiuiial IIS KiR-kcii. I'r;i\i'i- wris tluMi offered l)y Rev. Jolin E. Dodge, pastor of the West I>()\ls1(»n Congregational church. Chairman Scarlett made a short address of welcome, telling of the work of tlie huihling committee, and spoke of the death of Artemas C. Smith, ^vllo died December 10. 1!)02. ]\Ir. Smith Avas one of tlie meudx-rs of the Iniilding committee. Mr. Searlett heartily welcomed all the former residents of West Boylston and referred with pride to the sons of the town who had gone out and made a name for themselves, thus reflect- ing credit on the town and the community. ^Ir. Scarlett's address was greeted with applause. Following this the Schu- mann quartet sang '"Xight AVitchery.'' Chairman Scarlett then introduced Rev. Julius B. Robinson who delivered the followins- Historical Address. (^^^^ HISTORICAL ADDRESS BY REV. J. B. ROBINSON. After a century of existence lacking hari^ly four years, this town dedicates today its tirst town hall. Not always has it been a homeless vagrant heretofore, for after alternating be- tween the Baptist Vestry and Thomas Hall — owned and occu- pied by the Congregational Society — from 184H to exactly the middle of the century, it held all meetings for the remaining half century in that Hall. From 1902, when the Baptist Church left its building in order to occupy a new (Uie near the Common, all town nu^etings have been held in the Baptist Vestry again. Associations inseparable from the two places where public busi- ness was transacted have thus been api)ropriately moral and dignified. Another suitable association atta(dies to the location of this new building, reinforced in interest by inclusion of the Public Library, for on this ground the IMurdock public school has long contributed to the intelligence of successive accessions of fresh citizenshi]). Surely, such a building, replacing those long used, and standing on this ground, is the natural home of seriousness, earnestness, dignity, and maintenance of high ideals of ])ublic life and service. To the Congregational church the town owes its political origin, and the geographical centre of its history is. therefore, the Common, broadly laid out for church location and occupied by an elegant edifice a year and a half before ecclesiastical organization was efifected. Attem])ting to make the ucav i)arish a town, the people of this region succeeded only in obtaining from the Legislature incori)orfition as the second precinct oi Boylston, Holden. and Sterling. The Act was signed June 14. 1796. l)v Governor Samuel Adams. Twelve years later the Ccutenmal 117 l)rpciii('1 w;is (M-cctcd iiilo Jill iiidcpciKlciil lowii. 'riiouyh its limits (li'cw ill ;in fjistcni section of Iloldt'ii. as Avell as a seg- 111,. lit of Stcrliiii:-. |)afish secession had l)een from IJoylston and the clnifcli common had been within that town. Naturally the old desiiiiiat ion passed o\ ei' into llie new name. The Ilohh-ii line, thus carried westward to the outer edge of the new town, ran pei'haps half a mile or so west of this hall. Sterling furnished the noiilieast section, IJoylstoii all the rest. T.efore becoming a separate town. Ilolden had heen the north part of Worcester. Sterling was at first a west part of Lan- caster, while Boylston had itself been set off froni Shrewslniry. AVhile. therefore. West IJoylston Avas tlireetly made up from Boylston. Sterling, and Ilolden. it oeeui)ied territory Avhich. before these intermediate towns began their separate existence, was Lancaster. AYorcester. and Shrewsbury. This building stands on ground that was first in Shrewsbury, then in Boyls- ton. and the same is ti-iie of tln^ other public buildings. Boun- dary lines were shifted and nanu-s were changed a good deal in the early times. In his autobiography Kobert B. Thomas said he had •• resided in four incorporated towns and two distinct parishes and one precinct, yet never moved from the same farm." lie did not mention living in tw(» countries. Great Britain and the I'nited States. In yet earlier tinu^s there were, probably. Indian Ikuucs. The soil has been somewhat fei'tile in arrow heads antl other Indian relics, some (d' which seem to suggest more than hunting ex- cursions and appear to indicate settled residence. Wdiere the reservoir IxmI widens, the level intervale may have invited settlenuuit. with ample corn fields near at hand, and surround- ing hills wlier<' deer and wild turkeys tempted foraging arrows of dusky huntsmen. (Certain it is that a Kutlaiul trail from the heacbpuirters of the X-ishaway tribe at Lake AVaushakum crossed Still ii\-er and passed near where the Methodist (duirch now stands. .\s three towns parted with territory to make West IJoylston, whi(di. ill tnrn. were sections lost from three eai'lier and larger (Mies, so were there three yet earlier cessions of liitliaii territory. Centennial 119 Sliohin. sadieiii ol' llic XasliawMv ti-il)(\ wliosc scat ol' g'oveni- ineiit and foyal I'csidciicc was at Lal^c Waiisliakuiu. made a ^rraiit of tci'ritory to 'I'lioiiias l\iim- in \<\\'.\. less than a quarter of a eeiitury after PlyinouHi Laiuliiiu'. Tliis warx Xashawogg or Xashua. which, liciiig inach^ a town, was named Lancaster Georg-e Tahanto. Indian Saganioi-c and nephew of Sholan, en- larged this grant 1)\- a tract west of the other, whicli included Chocksett noAv called Sterling. Other Indians present and setting their mark on the ch^^d whi(di Sagamore George Ta- hanto signed with liis mai'lv. were ^Fary Annsocamaiig. John AVons(|non. .lojui A(]nitticns. and Teter Puekataugh. Ont of Qninsigamon. now AV()rcest(M'. Sagamoi'c ())ninr(onassett. who lived at Packachoag Hill, sold a ti'act to Danitd Gookin and others Jnly 13. KiT-t. Tln-ee triads of Indian territory, eai'ly township, and ncAvei' town. Avent successively to form this con- glomerate unit with the dually composite name. AVelded and annealed the I'csnlting product lu'eaks up hard. We have lu'ought (Uir nine lixcs out of ttie wre(dc of the once charming but now desolated \alley and huilded hetter on the highland. ••After us the deluge." Earliest white settlement is credited to Jacob Hinds, and dated 1720. one hundred yc^ars after settlement at Plymouth. Within ten or fift(M-n years other settlers began to come, aiul slow immigration ap])ears to hav(^ continued through the eight- eenth centui'y. Nearly one hundred families Avere here, and not (piite 600 people living in !>8 houses. wIkmi the toAvn Avas incor- porated in 1808. ]\Iore than LIO i-atabh^ polls, then lUMpiii-ed for town incoi-po- ration. incduded oiily 105 legal voters. Among those debarred the franchise Avere nine heads of families. It is easy to suspect the disci-epancy partly due to that union of church and state nevei" fully dissolvcnl U)itil exactly a (piarter of a century after- Avard. in IS.'!:], a date Avcdl within the memory of men iioav living. Like men. toA\ns have persoiudity and distinetixc (diai-actei", though simple, unified ])ersonality may s(ddom appeal' in a man or a toAvn. Geography seems a deternnning factoi' in the ])i-ob- 120 V^Gst Boylston lem of every grejit i»e(»])le"s develoi)iuent. and often operates even in restricted local limits. A salient feature here is the river, Avhich, to this day. has played an olivions part. But for the river there would have l)een no town hall dedication, and rivers, like town halls, are not sure to prove always pure and unmixed blessings. The once beautiful valley has its river still, but. f(n' that river, is at last shorn of its charms and denuded. Still River stole away from ^It. Wachusett to uum^ (^uina- poxet here and form the south branch of the Nashua ; this joiiKMl its north mate just below Lancaster's Colonial burying ground, and they went on together to the ]\[errimac where busy Nashua was yet to be. The oMerrimac system is throughout industrious despite the idling disposition of the ('Oncord dreaming ])hil()So- phic and historic di-eams. Along these ri\er lines, from Pena- cook and beyond down to Lowell and beyond, is an incessant hum; unnumbered turbines churn the exuberant flood into golil- en product, hi every act and feature the ^Mei-rimac system is like a group of busy, thrifty, enterprising women. New P]ngland born and brecL Hardly anywhere in the country was there a cotton mill before a "West Boylston spindle was Avhirring and a West Boylston power loom turning miles of river current into yards of cotton fabric. Enterprise has always spurred the in- dustrious town : a saw mill would be re})laced by a scythe manu- factory ; a grist mill grew into a lousiness having salesrooms in Worcester and requiring a private spur track for shipment here; two book-binders, one of whom was a [)ul)lisher, were already here when the precinct became a township; the cabinet maker, shoe manufacturer, machinist, and clothier, the florist, the organ builder, these and more, have manifested the enter- prising tendency which began before the life of the town. A farm develops into a dairy; physicians reared or practising here go as specialists elsewhere or hold wide practice at home; teachers from our schools go to positions in city schools or col- leges; their pupils keep an eye out beyond pul)lic school bound- aries toward institutions of collegiate grade. This tendency has not come l\v sh»w de\elo[nnent and is not characteristic of later times ah»iie. hiil can be traced i'l-oiu the site of the lower CrufoiuUil 121 fea- iiiaii. The largest [)roi)erty holder haj^pened to ])ossess the ])er- sonal endowments of a leader of men. In Keyes' Biographical sketch he is nsuall>- gi\-eii his niililary title of .Major. l)nt in one place a mis])rint makes him Ma\'or Heamaii. \Voi-se mistakes occur, for whatev<'r. and howex'er important, his militaiy and numerous ci\'il offices, no one donhts that Ezra Beaman was ]\Iayor of West Pxjylston. As a citizen of Shrewsbury when this was Shrewsbury, then of Boylston for the setting apart of Avhich he was head petitioner, ami afterAvard of AVest l>oyls- ton of which he was the father, he was an efficient leadei'. Ten times elected as one of the Selectmen of Shrewsbui'y. he was Chairman of the Board first in Boylston then in West Boylston. Nothing was more natural than that he should be first town treasurer first chairman of the selectmen and. without «»ne opposing \()te. first representatix'e to the Legislature where h(^ remained until he dietl. To trace highways, note |)rominent buildings, and track ])rogressive businc^ss enterprises, would be to encounter vestiges of the judgment and efficitMit acti\ity of this remarkable man. Followed as a leader while lie li\(Ml. when buried he was attended by a funeral procession whi(di. return- ing from Beaman burying gi'ound. i-(-a(died batdv to his house before the last of the long column had started toward the grave. As a soldier he had been at Bunker Hill when his townsman General W'ard was connnander in chief at Cam- bridge, as a citizen he had been at the froid in every new enter- prise and taken the brunt of e\ crN battle. If he is better known by deeds than words, no lack of either was left by Kobert B. Thomas, first town clerk, several times chairman of the selectmen, repeatedly a nu-mbci- of the Legisla- ture, as well as i'epresentati\-e of the town in the Con\-en- tion of 1820 Avhich revised the Massachusetts State Constitution of 1780. lie was a large propei'ty lioldci-. and conducted a book 122 TFe.s/ Boylston l)in(lery out of which developed the Old Fanners' Almanac which he founded in 1798 and edited more than half a century. lie was the larg-est contributor to Thomas Hall, named for liim, in Avhicli a t(»\vn meetinti' was fii'st held four months and four days after his death in 1S4(). Tf these and men associated with them set the pace for this Town, and if its river naturally ])ore their influence alono' on an nni'nilin.u- current, its business enter- prise does not ^\ holly lack a ]. " ' J)K. <;. ST.VM.KY IIaIJ. Ol- \V()l!t ISTKU I'KKSIDK.NT OF CLAHK f M \ KKSITV 'W^^. ADDRESS BY DR. G. STANLEY HALL. "Although pcrsoiuilly a sti'aiig'ci' to many of yon. Ave are not only neioiilxirs. but h;i\e today one conimon bond of synij)athy, for in a peculiar sense 1 regret with you the absence from this program of the Ex-Seeretary of the Navy,*an illustrious patriot, statesman and orator, who is liound to you by loeal ties that made him your logical spokesman to bring out the lessons of the day, and whose words would make even a less occasion memorable. The recollections of the dedication of our own City Hall are so fresh in the minds of "Worcester citizens that I know^ I may present their hearty congratulations, as well as my own. for we know something of the satisfaction you mast all feel. "AVhile our edifice Avas Imilding, and still more just after- ward, we experienced something of a revival of loeal pride and interest in good citizenship. AVe revised and improved our charter, and there Avas a marked aAvakening of zest in public affairs. Positions in the city government became more dignified, Avere filled, on tlic Avhole. by l)etter men. and there Avas especial- ly in the community at lai-ge a broader and more intelligent vicAV of local problems. It is this that suggests to me that I can choose no titter theme than to try roughly and briefly to in- dicate a fcAv of the ti'aits that mark the good citizen. ■'But 1)efore entering upon this topic. 1 must make one pre- mise, it is on(^ duty of the academic teacher to everyAvhere seek to cultivate idealism, so if as T proceed it shall occur to any of you that the good citizen I descril)e may live in Plato's ideal state or in the Xcav -lerusalem, but not in Worcester or in West Boylst<»n. and perhaps not aiiywiiei-e. i begin Avith a fraidv con- fession tiiat this is ti'ue. and that my oAvn practice is not up to my theory, and that as I proceeded in preparing this address I realized more and more that in maiiv of the foUoAving items I *JIoii. .Idlin ]). Ijoiiy. 126 VCesi Boylsfo)! have lint niNsclf in the past l)eeii a very good eitizeii. and that from this tini(^ on I am resolved at legist to try to be a better one. "There ha\c hecni times and i)laees in the past when citizen- ship was an honor reserved for the few. Plato would have it conferred almost like a university degree. It has involved oaths, consecrations and qualifications of birth, wealth and in- telligence now quite olisolete. Indeed Ave have now gone quite to the opposite extreme and its prerogatives have been so chea})- ened that instead of being a special boon it has become so com- mon-place and matter of course that its h(»meliest duties and obligations are often forgotten. So far has this gone that some eminent students of government have deli1)erately advanced not only a progressively higher scale of educational qualifications and probationary tests. l)ut have even proposed to insist upon moral standards by disfranchisement not only for all those con- victed of certain crimes — 1n-ibery. corruption and vote selling — but for quite a list of dishonorable acts. By these means they have hoped slowly to raise the standard of full membership in the ])ody politic and to invest it with more dignity and honor. Let us try then to count off a few of the attriluites of an ideal good citizen. "1 — He should know something of the laws under Avhicli he lives ; should have read and studied the charter of his own city : should know personally something of its institutions, its lil)rary. hospitals, houses of detention and correction, its provisions to insure the public health, and all that immediately jiertains to his own rights and duties. In our early New England commu- nities many men. as they advance in years. ])ec(ime squires who were authorities even in the smallest communities on all minor and most local matters. This does not mean that every man can become his own lawyer, still less that he should know the con- tents of the tons of law books a recent writer says are necessary in a large, model law oi!ice. but he should know what pertains to all local chai'ities. and should consider lioth local economies and deficiencies and their metlutds. To this end I have long urged instruction in what is often termed civics in our schools. Centennial 127 jxn'haps with A'isits to institutions ns object lessons in onler to make the duty to the coinniunity a moral obligation, and also to make it intelligent, llo-w many of ns here today have satis- fied this requirement? Certainly I foi- one have ]iot lived np to the full measure of this ideal. "2 — The good citizen will do all in his power to obey and to help enforce the letter and the spirit of the hiws. He will not seek to evade them in his individual or in Ids corporate capa- city. Of course. Ave must not carry this so far as tt) disallow the right of revolt or e\en re\-olution against laws that are really iniquitous. This is always a sacred palladium of liberty in the community and of the individual conscience. Even defective la^vs should be ti'eated with respect, and when in doubt the decision should ahvays be conformity and not violation. (3ur statute books are full of inoperative laAvs that are a dead letter, and the enforcement of some has never been seriously attempt- ed, but Ave have often, especially since Roosevelt tried it as police commissioner of Xcav York, learned that the best Avay of securing the repeal of unjust laAvs is to enforce them literally. "Man is a iiolitical animal, and liy his very nature must Iioav to the collective Avill, because not only in general everybody is AA^iser than anybody, but because bad laAvs are often the fault of the citizens' lack of vigilance. Even Jesus, the founder of our faith, submitted to injustice. When Socrates Avas imprison- ed and aAvaiting the fatal hemlock, and friends paved the Avay for his escape and urged the gross injustice of his sentence, in a vision a veiled figure of the hiAA's of Greece stood before him at night and said : " I hav(^ nurtured you from infancy. I protected and educated you so that in a spiritual sense you are my child and OAA'e me allegiance." and thus he preferred to die rather than to violate even an unrighteous decree. In this sense, then, the good citizen. knoAving Avell the laAV, Avill respect not only its letter, but its spirit. "3 — The good citizen Avill pay his taxes cheerfully, promptly and completely. lie Avill Avish to reserve nothing from the appraisal list. This. too. he Avill make a matter of civic honor. He Avill reflect that he profits to the full extent bv the roads. 128 ^Vest Boy 1st on the {protection of the laws, schools and other pulilie institutions. and will desire to do his full share to support them. The very term taxes and tax collector is sometimes obnoxious, especially in these days of increasing rates, but here again, under the great law of division of labor there is probably no investment that brings a larger return than for taxes. To shirk or evade these and thus throAv our burden upon others, especially for the rich to throw the expenses of local government upon the poor in a community, is bad citizenship. We must probably expect that tax rates will increase, and Ave must do all in our jiower to ensure their more and more equitable distribution. '•4 — Next to this duty I should place that of attending the caucus. This in wards and precincts has inherited not a iew of th(- functions of the old-fashioned town meeting — the palladium of liberty in the early rural communities. A voice here is often far more effective than a vote in elections. The chief business of the caucus is to steer good men in and bad men out of can- didacies. The briefless lawyers, the men out of a job. petty l)osses with their still pettier henchmen, boodlers and chronic office seekers. $800 men seeking $3000 places, schemers with their slates, those who trade and dicker with patronage — some or all of these exist in most communities, large and even small, and they are best antagonized in the caucus, which is often the storm center of the fight for good local government. Every- thing here ought to be free and questions and candidacies open, but now we sometimes have even the prelimiiiary caucus, and wherever this is held the good citizen will ])i^netrate and let his voice be heard. "5 — The good citizen will have it on his conscience to vote at ever}' election. Every real vote involves intelligent and moral purpose. It is our duty to know something of the candidates whose names appear upon our ticket and. if possible, to be able to give an intelligent and truthful reason for our choice. The effects of weather upon elections is not an edifying topic to n truly democratic republican. He woukl brave a storm and penetrate to the farthest corner of a gerrvmandered district if Centennial 129 his pcisotijil husincss were at stake: \\\\\ not all tlie more wlieii tliat of the pnljlic is concerned? •One of the most impressive facts to me has always been that of the i)resitlent of the United States, often journeying far. to cast his singh^ vote, although he knows that some unlettered and unwashed renegade, just naturalized and l)rihed with a dollar, can mniti'alize his vote. There is a good ohl ring in the well- woni phrase, "the freeman easting Avith unpurchased hand the vote that shakes the turrets of the land." AVe should reflect more upon the fact that each individual does count for one than ni)on th(^ fact that he counts for only one. ■■fj — My ideal citizen, if sought for an office, will accept it. however humble, and Avill not let it go begging. lie will feel that the voice of the people in this respect is the call of God. The ideal office holder in (Uir smaller communities will be a nmn with a business of his own aiul not dependent on the public crib for his daily food, and In- will gladly bear some personal incon- venience and make some sacrifice of personal interest if he is called to do so. Sometimes I have even thought that the Euro- pean Avay of man. who knows he is fit. announcing his candida- cy wnth no secret overtures, pledges or backers, would in some cases make for both the dignity and efficiency of an office. All these public functions should be exercised by people known to the community at large that the voter may be freed from the suspicion that unknown men are unworthy and also relieved from th(^ onerous duty of investigating each name upon his ticket. China and Germany, under two very different systems, may be said to almost confer the degree of fit for office. Every position has its educational qualifications. As the student goes up the grades each opens more offices to him. Alayors are edu- cated and have a diploma. Their function is a profession, and cities sometimes rival each other in bidding for those of proved efficiency. "AVhen the Niagara Improvement Company advertised for the best physicist in the land to tell them how they could overcome the enormous fi-iction of a stream of water 12 feet wide, falling l^Ofect on a tnrl)ine. Avith a 12-inch sliaft of the same weiglit. a 130 VCesi Boylston friction that involved great loss of" power. Professoc Kowlaiul of the John Hopkins University came forward with the sinii)l(^ plan of having the stream curve around at the bottom and strike the turbine from below upward, thus almost exactly uvcrconiing the friction. He wrought the scheme out in a few raimites and charged $10,000. at which the Company, which could easily have afforded to pay twenty times that amount, demurred, and in the trial the professor was asked whom he regarded as the most eminent physicist in the country. He replied. 'I am.' Avhich everybody would have admitted was true. AVhen afterwards his friends remonstrated with him for this reply, which seemed to them egotistic, he replied. 'But I was under oath and had to tell the truth.' Thus a just sense of one's qualifications for any duty, office or function, justifies seeking it. but this alone. I have tried to study education for 3'ears but I never sought office and do not believe I could be elected on a "Worcester school board in my own ward, but what troubles my conscience is that if I were elected I fear I should not have the virtue to serve because of the sacrifice, and I think it would not be ego- tistic to confess that I would be a bad citizen. ''7 — Another duty of the citizen is to speak out when things go wrong. I have no sympathy with the chronic grumbler and critic who finds everything rotten in our civic life, who is always scenting corruption where it does not exist, who accepts no explanations but the worst : but I have no whit more respect for the citizen whose maxim is. 'Make no enemies.' I believe it is everyone's duty to make enemies and to let his virtue be known by the kind of enemies he makes. There is enough virtue in every town to keep it ])ur('. if it would only come for- ward and be patent and not latent. I love to hear the pulpit sometimes speak out with emphasis where moral questions are involved or to see signed letters of remonstrance in the press. I deem it cowardly to let evil go un rebuked. The strenuous life demands that the individual should judge and judge intensely and vigorously. Gossip at its best is a potent psychological engine. Centennial 131 The good citizen should also feel it his duty to let no good act go unpraised. Quintillian declared that one of the chief offices of the orator was to eulogize every good and great deed done in the community, and Beecher said that no funeral sermon should be preached that did not discriminatingly sum up and award its meed of praise to the best qualities of the dead. Tacitus tells us. if I remember aright, that the ancient Scythians had a large chair upholstered with the leather made from the skins of judges who had pronounced unjust judgments, and in this chair, as an awful warning, every judge must sit when he ren- dered a verdict. But it is much better for us as we sit in our untanned hides to remember the moral of this custom when we are tempted to violate the Bible adage. ^Judge not, lest ye be judged. ' "8 — Local pride and even patriotism begins in each man's dooryard. It is the very kindergarten duty of good citizenship to keep this tidy and to make it add something to the beauty of the street, to adorn it with flowers and shrubs, to perform the homely function of shoveling our paths promptly after storms and scatter ashes on the ice. Like everything else, the best virtues begin at home. Zeal for good roads, drinking fountains and watering troughs, numbers on the houses, street signs, and I would even add public latrines, every monument, inscription on an old site or dwelling, or on a stone to mark an historic spot, every act of village improvement — all these are items of signifi- cance and tend to make even the smallest localities attractive to the young, who are too prone to leave them, and also to create a wholesome local pride. "0 — I M'ill even venture to add another duty with which you may not all agree. I believe that the good citizen and voter, unless there is some special reason to the contrary, will marry, have a home of his own. be the head of a household and the father of children. I am no faddist on this theme. I recognize that there are exceptions. I am not ready to vote a progressive tax on all bachelors after the age of thirty, but I do believe that public opinion is now slowly beginning to set in this direction and that in the future it is liable to ask more and more insist- ingly of every able-bodied, intelligent man. who can earn the 132 West BoijIsto7i means of supixu't, and who does not marry, why! Not only is the home the heart of the town, the state, the country, the world, and lieredity the most aneient form of wealth and worth, but the science of hiology is urging with more and more in- sistence that the best test of an individual or the race, is the power to In-ing healthy children into the world and to rear them to full and complete maturity. The promise to Abraham of old was that if he kept covenant with God, his seed should be as the stars of heaven for multitude, and the enormous growth of the Jews in all lands seems like a fulfillment of this prophecy. If this be true, the decay of American families and the increase of abandoned farms is a sad commentary upon our solution of per- haps the greatest of all the tests of pulilie and private well- being. "10 — Once more, and wnth some hesitation. I w^ould raise here the question whether it is not the duty of every man of means, wh.o makes a will, to becpieath in it something for the benefit of the community in which that wealth was acquired. ]\[any laws, ancient and modern, not only tax inheritance, but by years of jubilee and in other ways sequester large fortunes for the good of the public. 1 know the dangers of mortmain or the dead hand and how in older countries large properties are tied up by conditions of donors generations and centuries ago. who in- sisted on attaching conditions that in later generations were fomid to actually violate the purpose had in mind. Next to the virtue of being ashamed to die rich, however, is that of so making one's last will and testament that it shall bring relief to suffering, service to the i)ublic. advantage to higher educa- tion, oi' in some other way recognize the great fact that no man liveth or dieth to himself. In those communities sure to in- crease with tlie progress of years in a country like ours, where the living thus profit l\y the thoughtfulness of the dead. 1 would have their memories kept green. "We need not worship ancestors like the Chinese, but we should rciiicnihci- with gratitude all those great and thoughtful souls that liave attempted to make the world that was to come after them bett(M- and riclnn- in o]>i>oi'tunities than it would Centennial 133 otherwise have been. 1 wouhl have something of the lives of all great local benefactors piously tanght in the schools, that their purpose be kept living and their names known and respected by the yonng. "11 — In times of great crisis, when vital national issues are at stake, no one need to be reminded that the good citizen will fight, and. if need be, lay down his life for his country. War is, alas, sometimes a stern necessity, and Avhile most men in most times can bt^st serve righteousness by their lives, they are some- times called to die for what they live for. There is no nobler exhibition of man's profoundly social and gregarious nature than that he is ready for great causes to make this supreme sacrifice. The lives of those who have answered thus the call of the state make the purest, best, reddest blood of heroism, on which the souls of youth grow to be themselves heroic. 1 have little faith in the programs of universal peace and I am not sure that in the present estate of men the wager of battle is not sometimes necessary to weed out the unfit and to bring to the front the power of higher motives that slumber through the entire lives of most of us. "12 — Have we not nearly reached a point where municipali- ties, large and small, should be administered on business prin- ciples? I l)elieve in parties and belong to one, but I have for years felt it my duty in local afifairs to vote for the best man irrespective of party as Avell as creed. This is not mugwumpery. Everyone knows that if any man's private affairs w^ere admin- istered with the same loose and uneconomic methods as those with which most towns are managed, his business would fail. Is this right? Is it necessary? ]\Iust there be, should there be jobs, soft snaps, precious franchises freely given for long ten- ures, uniu^cessary work provided to keep the unemployed busy, or high wages for poor work ? "Here is the weakest point in our whole American system, and one in which we may well hang our heads in shame when we compare our local government with that in most European lands. I lielieve there is progress, however, even here, very slow though it be. Boards of trade have done something to 134 Vi'est Boy 1st on stimulate better methods, but the public purse is rarely safe- guarded and a quid pro quo, dollar for dollar, rarely exacted, such as we would all require in private expenditures. Business is an immense machine, the laws of which no one knows, not even the political economist. It is more and more controlling. Its methods are pervading church, school, public life, giving us new ideals of art and even manners and absorbing the best young talent of the world. Init it is not yet recognized that the city is only a big corporation and should be administered with severe and rigid enforcement of every principle of economy and efficiency. Ideally, it should set fashions in these respects to every business in it. "13 — Finally, the school and its administration is a civic duty. Xo institution is so world-wide in its extent or so influen- tial. Comprehensive school systems are found in Africa. North and South, and in India, and Professor Fitch has told us that one of the l)est in the world is in iMadagascar. open there to the savage ]\Iaori. There has prol)ably never l)een such a universal consensus as that which supports education today. ]Men differ in everything else, but believe enthusiastically in the schools. The world goes to school. In very many smaller communities school buildings are the largest and best in town, and this is well. The condition of the schoolyard is, I believe, a matter of civic pride, and I have heard it called an index of the vigor of local patriotism. School boards of communities often have charge of the largest of all expenditures. These boards should be small and given great responsibility, and held to commen- surate accountability. I am inclined to agree with our governor that on these matters women, who constitute today more than three-fourths of the teachers of the country, should have a vote if they want it, and should want it. Its members should always be the best and wisest men in town. Into their hands the future is committed. "President White has told us of a school board somewhere in New York state, where some matters of school hygiene it had passed upon were brought into court, and it occurred to a young lawyer to ask one of the mem])ers of this sapient school Centennial US lioard what hy^iciic was. ami he r('|)li('(l tliat it Avas a sta<;iiant, slimy pool of water with a green film over it. ••Yon remember a few years ago. when in one of the largest cities of the eonntry the school board was discussing a motion to place twel\-e gondolas n|)oii a sliallow pond in the i)ark for the delectation of the children, a new member gravely ai'ose and. said that he wished his first word in that board to be for econo- my, and that ihercfoi-e instead of twehc gomloias he would suggest one male and one fetUfde gondola, •nid trusl natnre to make it twelve. ''A colleague of mine tells the story of a southei-n s(juire. who, as he grew old and tii-ed of judging tedious problems, told his son. who succeeded him in office, that he had adopted the prin- ciple of only hearing one side of the eases brought before him for decision, because hearing the other side confused his mind. School matters should more and more come into the hands of experts, but hei-e. too. 1 am no pessimist, for I Ixdieve at any rate that in our smaller counnunitii^s the best men usnally serve in this office. "You will all thiidv of nmny more traits of the ideal citizen. The gi'eat enemy of ninnicipal life in this country toda>' is absorption in individual gain and neglect of public duties. This has been pointed out a thousand times, but there is no real remedy except to lay the matter upon our consci'ence on every occasion. Some compensate^ for the neglect of near duties by entluisiasm fo)- those that ai'e afar. I have read of a lady in N(nv York attending a missionary meeting and Aveeping over the sutfering and death of Alexander Mackay. the hero of Uganda, while her coatdnnan Avas frozen to death Avaiting for her outside. I Avas invited to dine Avith half a dozen others at the house of a prominent lady. Avho kept us Avaiting and hungry for half an hour Avhile she Avas attending a meeting of a Avoman's (dub. Avhi(di Avas worked up to a Avhite heat over the question whcthei' Hepresentati\-e Smoot of Utah had one Avife or tAVo. ■■()ui- philanthro|)y in these days of expansion is xcry lial)le to diffuse its(df to cosmic dntics and nmke us foi'gct the neai-est 136 IFf'-s/ Boylston duties for those tliat are farthest. The |)r(>l)lenis of eitizenship are many aiul great. In Russia I onee attended a meeting of the mir. It was a town meeting of those who a little more than a generation ago were serfs. It was held out of doors on the common. A city hall is the slow evolution of the old trihal house of the primitive elans of savage men. It ought to he the citadel of all local civic virtue kept pure from every touch of corruption and be forever sacred to the highest interests of the town. As it is dedicated today, let us all rededicate ourselves to the cause of good local government, to doing the nearest civic duty and to subordination, wherever it is necessary, of personal to communal well-being." The address was jiieeted with prolonged applause. The remainder of tlie afternoon was taken np with sliort addresses by fornier residents of the town. The first ealled upon was Henry F. Harris of Worcester, formerly a nienil)er of the West Boylston Manufacturing Company, and now one of tlie leading attorneys of Worcester. Mr. Harris said that he was proud to be a native of the town, and that he had taken part in the town affairs for many years. He expressed his sorrow of learning of the demolition of the town, but added that he was glad to see that it had arisen from tlie ruins and become a town of progress and industry. In closing he ]>redicted a l)ri]liant future for the town with a clianco of liecoming one of the leading towns of the commonwealth. Warren Goodale of Clinton, recently elected county commissioner, was next called upon by Selectman Scarlett. Mr. Goodale had been asked to speak of his early reminiscences of the town. In his address he paid a tribute to Miss Sarah J. Brown, for many years a teacher in the public schools, and one of the teachers that were responsible for Mr. Goodale 's education. "She gave up nearly her whole life for teacliing, " added Mr. Goodale. ''and was one of tlie liest teachers that the town ever had.'' Mr. Goodale spoke of his former associations and brought liack old scenes and recollections. Rev. P. A. McQuillian, S. .1., a member of the faculty of Holy Cross college, Worcester, addressed the meeting. He had been asked to speak on the town as it was. First he congratulated the town on its hall and greeted the townspeople cordially. Fr. McQuillian, in the course of his address, congratulated Henry O. Sawyer upon his recent election as mayor of Fitchburg. This gratulation elicited long and hearty ajiplause. Fr. McQuillian spoke touchingly of the scenes and reminiscences of his (diildhood and closed with heartv wishes for the success of the town. Centennial 137 Mayor llcniv C). Sawyer of Fitclibiir*;, recently of West Boylston, was preetod with jir(il(ni<:cenezer Paine 1815 John Temple, Chairman Joseph Hinds Ezra Bigelow Caleb Sweney Jonathan Plim})ton 1821 Ezra Bigelow, Chairman Silas Newton Paul Gerrish Levi Goodale Francis Davis 1816 John Tem])le, Chairman Joseph Hinds Ezra Bigelow Barnabas Davis William Fairbank 1822 Ezra Bigelow, Chairman Silas Newton Levi Goodale Simon Plimpton Oliver Moore 1817 John Temjile, Chairman Joseph Hinds Ezra Bigelow Ezra Beaman (Jr.) Will in m FairV)ank 1823- '24 Robert B. Thomas, Chairman Ezra Beaman (Jr.) Levi Goodale Jacob Pierce Abel Goodale Centennial 141 1825-'26 Joseph Hinds, Chainnaii Barnabas Davis Thomas Keyes Brigham Prescott Silas Newton 1832 Asa Bigelow, ('hairniaii Ezekiel Pierce Aaron Goodale John M. Smith Samuel Brown 1827 Joseph Hinds, Chairman Thomas Keyes Silas Newton Seth White Levi Pierce, Jr. 1833 .I(ise]>li White, Cliairman Ejyhraim Bigelow Aaron Goodale Dennis Harthan Charles Nash 1828 Francis Davis, Chairman Joseph White Ezekiel Pierce Thomas Holmes Dennis Harthan 1834 Dennis Harthan, Chairman Benjamin F. Keyes James H. Moore John Lees ■riidiims White, Jr. 1829 1835 Joseph Hinds, Chairman Asa Bigelow Ezekiel Pierce Thomas Holmes Dennis Harthan 1830 Joseph White, ('hairnmn Francis Davis Thomas Holmes Aaron Goodale Silas Walker 1831 Silas Newton, Chairinan Asa Bigelow Ezekiel Pierce Levi Pierce, Jr. Amos Lovell Dennis Harthan, Chairman Thomas White, Jr. Cicero Hinds 1836 Benjamin F. Keyes, Chairman Thomas Holmes Amos Lovell 1837 Thomas Ilolnies, Chairman Amos Lovell Ebenezer M. Hosmor 1838-'39 Ebenezer M. Hosmor, Chairman Moses Brigham Levi Pierce 142 ^\esi Boylston 1840 18i7 Joseph White, Chairman Levi Pierce Ezekiel Pierce Lotan Cleveland, Chairman Eli W. Holbrook Addison Lovell 1841 Joseph White. Chairman Ezekiel Pierce James H. Moore 1842 Ebenezer M. Ilosmer. Chairman Lotan Cleveland Ward B. Harthan Samuel Brown Edmund F. Brigham 1843 Lotan Cleveland. Chairman Ward B. Harthan Samuel Brown Edmund F. Brigham David C. Murdoek 1844 David C. Murdoch, Chairman James H. Moore Samuel Lawrence 1845 David C. Murdoch, Chairman James H. Moore John May 1846 Lotan Cleveland. Chairman James H. Moore John Mav 1848 Lotan Cleveland, Chairman Addison Lovell John D. Lovell 1849 David C. Murdoch, Chairman John D. Lovell Lemuel D. Newton 1850 David C. Murdoch. Chairman I>eruuel D. Newton .liiliii Lawrence 1851 David C. Murdoch. Chairman Benjamin F. Keyes Lemuel D. Newton 1852 Benjamin F. Keyes. Chairmau Addison Lovell Jonathan Pierce 1853 Addison Lovell. Chairman Jonathan Pierce Linus M. Harris 1854 Jonathan Pien-e. Chairman Linus M. Harris Jnlui Prentiss Ccuicnnial 143 1855 Limis M. llairis. ( li;iiiiii;in John I'vt'nti.ss George F. Howe 1856 ,Iohn Trentisis, (liainnaii George F. Howe Samuel Lawrence 1857- '58 Samuel Lawrence, (hairmau I-evi Goss Ilenrv F. Holt 1865 David C. Murdock. Chairman Edmund F. Brigham J-afayette Hawes 1866 Edmund F. Brigham, Chairman John Lawrence Wallace McFarland 1867 Wallace McFarland, Chairmau David P. Waite Linus AL Harris 1859 Levi Goss, Chairman Henry F. Holt "Windsor N. White 1868 David C. Murdock, Chairman Linus M. Harris .Albert Hinds 1860 Windsor X. White, Chairman Linus M. Harris John May 1861 Charles H. Baldwin, Chairman Levi Goss William Thomas 1862-'63 David C. Murdock. Chairman Nahuni Hastings James H. Moore 1864 David C. Murdock, Chairman Nahiun Hastings John S. Cutting 1869 Albert Hinds. Cliairman Linus M. Harris Stephen Holt 1870-'71 Whipple B. Harris, Chairman Edward Howe Stephen Holt 1872 Stephen Holt, Chairmau Linus M. Harris Thomas Harlow 1873-'74-'75 Stephen Holt. Chairman Linus M. Harris Henry Pierce 144 Wr.s/ Boylston 1876 Linus M. Harris, Chairman Henry Pierce Stejiben 11. Smith 1885-'86 Stephen H. Smith, Chairman Harrison E. Morton Samuel P. Halloclv 1877 Stephen H. Smith, Chairman Samuel S. Russell John F. Knio-ht 1887 Harrison E. Morton, Cluiiriiiaii Samuel P. Hallock David P. Waite 1878 Stephen H. Smith, Chairman Stephen F. Hemenway David P. Waite 1888 Harrison E. Morton, Chairman J. Edward Pierce David P. Waite 1879 Stephen IT. Smith, Chairman Stephen F. Hemenway Henry O. Sawyer 1889 Harrison E. Morton, Chairman J. Edward Pierce Samuel P. Hallock 1880-'81 Stephen F. ITeinenway, Chairmai Aaron Good ale William R. Walker 1890 J. Edward Pierce, Chairman Henry O. Sawyer Louis Cutting' 1882 1891 Aaron Goodule, Chairman William R. Walker John C. Hastiui-s .1. Edward Pierce, Chairman Louis ('utting' Samuel P. Hallock 1883 Stephen 11. Smith, Chairman Jdliii ( '. Hastings Ashley H. Wood 1884 1892 .1. Kdward Pierce, Chairman S;niiuel P. Hallock .\rteiiias ('. Smith 1893-'91-'95 Stephen H. Smith, Chairihau Ashley H. Wood Harrison E. ^lortdii S.-iiimcl P. Hallock, ('hairman Arteinas C. Smith -Charles H. Baldwin ('('HtcHHial 145 1896 1905 Andrew .1. Scai'lott. ( 'Imi riiuin riuxrles TI. Baldwin -^"l^" ^'- Hastings, Chainn.-n,, :! yrs Edward A. Co woe 1897 Edward A. ('i)wee, Chairnian diaries II. Baldwin .l()se])h L. llowc Warren E. Ganimell Aaron (ioodale* 1906 Aariiii CiMiilale. < 'hairnian. .'! yrs. Warren 10. (laniniell^ Andrew J. Scarlett. ('Iiairniai Charles II. Baldwin John C. Ilastiniis 1898 A\'altor E. ("'hajmian, 2 yis. 1907 Aaron (iondale.' (hairnian 1899 Walter Iv < 'hapnian* Wan-en E. (ianunell. •"! yrs. Andrew J. Scailett. (iiainnan 1908 John C. Hastinjjs Aaron (ioodale .Varon (ioodale.* Chaii man 1900-"01-'02-'03 Warren H (Jainnieir Walter H. ('hajnnan, I! yrs. l£Oi Andrew J. Scarlett. < 'hairnian Alexander Snow 1909 Willie B. Wood WaltiM' Vj. ( 'liajiinan," ('iiainnan Warren E. (ianunell' John C. Ilastiii.ijs, ( liai iinan, I yr. William C. Pierce. .'! yrs. Warren E. fianin.ell. .'1 yrs. ■ Aaron Coodale. 2 vrs. *lIo]d oxer. TOWN TREASURERS. Ezra Beaman, iSQS— ISl 1 Ezra Beamau (Jr.), 1811—1814 Barnabas Davis, 181.")— 1816 Ezra Beaman (Jr.), 1817 .lonathan Plimpton, 1818 E/ra Beaman (Jr.). 1819 — 1820 Haiiial.as Havis, 3821—1822 Andre Tafr. 182:5—1824 I'rancis I)a\is. 182.1 — 1827 Seth ^\■llit(■. 1828 — 1S29 '^ll^ma^ Ihilines. IS.'iO — 1 s;52 146 irr.s/ Boylston Ezjkel Pierce, 1833- -1837 Aaron E. Winter, 1838 Andre Taft, 1839 Ezra B. Newton, 1840- -1841 Moses Brigliam, 1842 Saninel Brown, 1843 Tliomas Holmes, 1844- -1848 Oliver B. Sawyer, 1849 Eli W. llolbrook, 1850 Dennis llartlian, 18.)1- -1 Sor^ Oliver B. Sawyer, 1856- -1 861 George F. Howe, 1862- -1879 Henry 0. Sawyer, 1880- -1883 George F. Howe, 1884- -180!) A]l>ert W. Hinds, 1 000- -10. . MODERATORS AT ANNUAL TOWN MEETINGS. Silas Beanian, Silas Newton, Paul Goodale, AVilliani Fairbanl^, Silas Newton, Bobert B. Thomas, John M. Smith, Silas Newton, John M. Smith, Andre Taft, John F. Fay, Ebenezer M. Hosmer, Andre Taft, Ebenezer M. Hosmer, David C. Mnrdoek, Benjamin F. Keyes, David C. Mnrdoek. Benjamin F. Keyes, Ebenezer M. Hosmer, David C. Mnrdoek, Benjamin F. Keyes, Joseph C. Lovell, Benjamin F. Keyes, David C. Mnrdoek, Ebenezer M. Hosmer, Joseph C. Lovell, ISdS 1 soo- -isn 1812 1813- -1818 1810- -1821 1822- -1 823 1824- -1 825 1826- -18oU 1831- -1 833 1834 1835- -1836 1837- -1 838 1839 1840- -1844 1 845- -1848 1849 1850- -1851 1 852- -1853 1854 1855 1 856 1S57 1858 1 859- -1860 1861 1 862- -1864 Centennial 147 Ceorye F. Howe. I860 — 1882 George II. .lefts, 18S3 Georji-e F. Howe, 1884—1899 Edward A. Cowee, 1900— l!)()i: Warren J. Merriani, 1903—1904 .h.hn A. Lowe. 1905—1906 Frank II. Baldwin, 1907—1909 REPRESENTATIVES TO LEGISLATURE. Ezra Keaman. 1808—1811 Barnalias Davis, 1812—1817 Joseph Hinds, "-1818— 1819 No representative sent, 1820—1824 .Tose])li Hinds, 1825 No representative sent, 1826 Joseph Hinds, 1827 No representative sent, 1828 Joseph Hinds, 1829 No rejiresentative sent, 1830 Kobert B. Thomas, 1831—1836 Thomas White, Jr., 1837 No choice, 1838 1839 Benjamin F. Keyes Silas WaHier, Levi Pierce, ' 1840 Dennis Harthan, 1841 Samuel Brown, 1842 Brio ham Prescott, 184.3—1845 Addison Lovell, 1846 Amos Child, 1847 Eli W. Holbrook, 1848—1849 Ebenezer M. Hosmer, 1850 — 1851 Oliver B. Sawyer, 1852 David C. Murdoek, 1853—1854 Amos Childs, 18.5.5—1856 Since 1857 West Boylston has been districted with other townis for the election of a representative. Windsor N. White, 1859 Linus :\r. Harris, 1862 David <'. Murdoek, 1864 Wallace McFarland, 1867 148 West Boylston Stoi)hen ITolt, 1870 .Jose])h W. Cross, ]872 (ieorge F. Howe, 187o Henry Pierce, L876 Henry O. Sawyer, 1880 Horatio Houghton, 1884 Harrison E. Morton, 188(5—1887 Edward A. Cowee, 189."i— 180(1 \V;irron E. Oaninirdl. lP(^o SCHOOL COMMITTEE. Until the year 1892 the Scliool ("oininittec varied in mniibers. For some years ])revi(nis to that date it had heen composed of twelve members, a imml)er too large to insert foi- each year in this work. It should be remembered, however, that the duties of the School Committee in the earlier days were more exacting than at present, and West Boylston was particularly fortunate during that period to have a number of clergymen and physi- cians to direct the course of study, a duty now largely delegated to the superintendent of schools. A list of those who served actively on the school committee prinious to 1892 for any considerable length of time follows: Francis Davis, 1S2()-1824, '2(i, '29, '8(5 Rev. Leonard Tracy, 1838-1849 Rev. Joseph W. Cross. 1840-1859, '(52- '6(5, '(59- '80 Dr. George W. Warren, 1847-lSoO, '5.5, '57, '59- '(51, '66- '69 Joseph C. Lovell, 1868-1869, '74- '82 David C. Mnrdock. 1868-1887 George F. Howe, 1868-1890 David R. Lamson, 1870-1878 Joseph M. Lord, 1872-1890 Rev. William W. Parker, 1880-1888 1892 1893 Thomas Harlow,* Chairman Tliomas Harlow, Chairman, 3 yrs Samuel S. Russell'" Samuel S. Russell* Albert W. Hinds, 3 vrs. Albert W. Hinds* Centennial 149 1894 1902 Tlioiiias 1 l;iil()\v, " ( li;ii iiii;in \\;in(Mi .1. Mcniiiiii. < 'liai ininii Albert W. lliiuls" Albeit W. Hinds, ;J yrs. Dr. David B. Lovell, :> yrs. Eev. Julius \\. Robinson* 1895 1903 Tlionias ilailow, <'hairniaii Warren .1. Merviain, Chairman Dr. David I'.. Lnv(dl^ Albert W. Hinds* William K. WalUei-. :'. yrs. Kev. . I alius 11. IvN.bi iisdii. ?. yrs. 1896 1904 Dr. David P.. Lovell."- Cliairnian Kev. .Tulius P>. Ifobinson,- Chairman William H. Walker* Arthur A. Cahlwell, .". yrs. Francis II. Hiee. M yrs. Alliert W. Hinds* 1897 1905 Dr. David H. Lovell. Chairman, :! yrs. Kev. .lohn E. Dod-e, Chairman, 1 yr. William K. Walker'- A!l)ert W. Hinds. ;! yrs. Francis II. Hie'* Arthur A. Caldwell* 1898 1906 Dr. David P>. Lovell.* ('hairman Albert W. Hinds, 1 yr. Warren .1. ^l(Miiani, ."> yrs. 1889 Dr. David P. Lo\(dl.* Chairman Albert W. Hinds, ;; yrs. Warren .! . Merri.-im* irco Warren .1. ^leniam. Ciiairman Albert W. Hinds Rev. Julius li. Ixdbinson. :'> yrs. 1901 Rev. .lohn E. Dodj^e. Chairman, 3 yrs. Albert W. Hinds, 2 yrs. Arthur A. Caldwell* 1907 Kev. Ernest A. Royal, Chairman, 2 yrs. 1-jnory A. L>aeon, ."> yrs. Albert W. Hinds* 1908 Kev. Ernest .\. Royal,* Chairman Albert \V. Hi mis, ;; yrs. Emor\- A. P>;ic(in' 1909 Warren J. Aleriiam. ('hairman, .'! yrs. Emory A. Paeon," < 'hairman Albert W. Hinds- Albert W. Hinds Eev. Julius P. Rnl)inson"' Kev. Ernest .V. Royal, ."> yrs. *]lold (IV.M-. ('(llf('Hiii((l 151 NAMES OF GRADUATES OF 1883 llnlhnd. :\I;iiio Al.hii' I'ierce. Flov.-i Melissa I'ievcc, Sailif iSdinl Stnrtcvaiit, .hilia Avimlil 1884 Doyle. Mary Ann Goodale. Alice Alniira Lesure, Waldo Haskell Reed, Charles Walter Waite, Ed par Francis 1885 Drake, Llewellyn Henry Ilaskins, Mary Emerson Lnce, llattie Emma 1886 Harris, Watio Lmiise Hastings, Annie Gertrude Holmes, Wallace Eugene Newton, Grace Lamson Prescott, Xettie INiatella 1887 Boynton, Walter Grant Browne, Albert Watson Billiard, Samuel Eli Fisher. Mabelle Edith Hall, Lena J. McCarthy, Nellie Elizal)eth Warner, Grace ]\Iandaiia 1888 Baldwin, William Sanfurd Berry, Arthur Henry Berry, Grace Ella Chase, Mary Celinda Ilaskins, Edith Lydia Knight, Dora Fay Piere-e, Harry Lincoln Shepard. Grace Florence THE WEST BOYLSTON HIGH SCHOOL. 1889 Flagg, Daisy EmuiU Morton, Addie Frances Sargent, Alice Frances Toombs, Eva Frances 1890 Anderson, Elizabeth ^lay Berry, Arthur H. Daly, Gertrude Est el la Fletcher, Bertha Lillian Lynch, .lohn Sarsfield Mitchell, Alice Leah Moran, Katie Ann Waite, Annie Mabel Waite. Louise Elma 1891 Bosworth. Eug. INIanning Bullard, Albert Ovington Chase, Lura Burnette Hartigan, Eva Eosalie Hastings, Foster L. Jachson, Henry Winter Tivuch, Matilda Catherine Sargent, Mattie Augusta 1892 Broad, Mabel Stella Butler, Mabel Louise Lawrence, Lutie Smith Moran, EHza Jane Ryan, Etta M. Walker. Alice Elizaljeth Walker, Lena Ada 1893 Shepanl. iiallic Isabel Tobin. Michael Anthony "Moraii. Eliza .1. (Post Graduate) 152 IVr.y/ Boylsion 1894 Buck. Lila Ollie Eichard. Marv Emma Tower. Freeman Angust\is 1895 Harrington. Ruth Abbie Lyncli. Theobald Andrew McCarthy. Annie Theresa Eice. Jessie Mae Eoss. Alida Louise Warner. Lvdia Porter 1896 Boynron. Florence Christine Brown. Ruth Mabel Burns. Marguerite Gammell. Edirh Florence Goodale, Leon Arvine Leonard, Annetta Theresa O 'Toole. Kathryn Agnes Styles. Maude Asenath 1897 Buck. Alice Elmiua Daly. Clara Frances Greeley. Mabelle Leona Kershaw. Polly Lynch. Carolyn Idella Maney. Kathryn Maria Rice. Charles Franklin Rice. Edward Francis Ryan. Kathryn Pauline Sargent. Jennie Tylena Sawyer. Ella Louise Whiting. Winfred Ilolr 1898 II. Fay Baldwin Helen R. Goodell Alice M. Lovell Elsie M. Phelps Arthur K. Smith Josej>h X. Snow Mav E. Wilson 1899 John H. BassetT Herbert M. Cheever Florence E. Fairbanks Xetina E. Fairbank Walter O Toole Marion E. Phelps Susie E. Sargent Angeline St. Onge Delora E. Styles Ruby E. Warfield 1900 Carrie Angenette Bacou Walter Andrew Bowen Carleton Allen Cook Arthur Stanley Ovenden Cora Thisbee Peck Jessie Freeman Peirce George Asa Robinsou Lillian Gertrtide Ryan 1901 Edna Caroline Baldwin Eva Florence Bird Frederick Howard Brown James Wilbur Erviug Cheever Mary Caroline Howe Vera Amica Johnson Walter Ernest Robbins Arthur Hubbard Sawyer Marion Harris Sheldon Helen Reed Warner 1902 Erma I. Bosworth Hattie L. Goodale 1903 Frances Evelyn Goodale Elizabeth ^Mary ^loran Kathryn Anna Moran Philip Alan Houghton Edwin Reed Warffeld Centennial 153 1901 Rliih E. Burpee Joseph Cavanaugh Teresa Cavauaugh Mina Chaee Chester Cook Marion C. Honghton Marion C. Johnson George M. Lawrenee Ralph H. Oven.ien A. Clavton Parker 1905 R. -— - ^1- i'arker Mary T. Smith 1£06 Bvron W. Barker Osear Burns Frank C. Cheever Corinne M. Ryan Andrew J. Scarlert. Arthur F. Snow A. Carrol Warfield Jr. 1907 Leta Fairbank Helen Caroline Mixter Helen Gertrode Moran Blanche Clarion Bobbins Otis Chaffin Shel.len 1908 Annie Matil-ia Bancroft Bertha Lnella Bosworth Harold Xewell Keith Graee Lillian Mixrer James E-iward Ryan Louise Marsh Warner 1909 Ernest Foster Chase Charles Henry Cntt.Tnings Aaron Goo«iale. Jr. Gladys : " -e Clarenc-r Hnntington Raymond >a ington David Josef- Anna Elisabeth Muzzy Bertha Alice Muzzy Earle Warren Reed Mvrtis Florella Smith 154 ^^('xi Boi/lsfoii SERGEANT THOMAS PLUNKETT, The Armless Hero of the Battle of Fredricksburg. The siiV)jec't of this sketch Avas lioni in tlu> ('muity (tf Mayo. Ireland, October 13, ]S39, anil came to An.eiica in 1 S44 with liis ])ar(Mits. Francis and ("atlieriue Plmikett. AMieii our ureat ci\il war bej^aii. lie with his brotlier Francis were employed in the boot shuji of .lohn 8. <'ntting in West Boylston, and when President Lincoln issueil his call in 1*^(11. for men to enlist in their country's service for three years, TlKunas. after having' l)een a resident of AVest Boylston about ten years, resjumded and was mustered in Au.tiust 23. bS(il. at the a.^e of ill, and assigned to C'om- ])any E, 21st Regiment, I\Iassa(diusetts A'ounteers. This re.gnmeut was organized at Cam]) Lincoln, as it was called, located on the old Agricul- tural Fair Grounds in the City of Worcester. That historic spot, now covered with attractive and substantial homes, occupied by a later genera- tion who little realize that the dust on which they daily tread, was once the scene of many a s(den.n jiartiug of friends, brothel's, sisters, and the sacred ties of home, in many instances. ne\'er to lie united in life. Fiiday morning of the same day our suliject was musTer(>d in; marching orders were issued; and after the ceremonies of the presentation of a regimental flag, by lion. Alexander Bullock in behalf of the ladies of Worcester, and the sad farewells spoken, the regiment marched to tlie Norwich depot and boarding the train in waiting, started at about five of the clock in the afteruoon for the front. September 17th. at Auuiqiolis, the regiment was again mustered in on account of some luevious informality, and was actively engaged in the battles of Roanoke Island. Febriiary S. 18(32; Camden, April 10. 18(;2; Manassas, August 2ii and 30, 1S()2, Avhere private Plunkett, it is to lie presumed, was always at his post of duty performing fearlessly whatever task fell to his lot. But it was not till the battle of Chantilly, Septendier 1, 1862, after having been absent from home littl(> more than a year that his name came jirominently before the public eye. On that eventful 1st of Septemlier the re.giment weut into action with four hundred men; ,")8 were hilled, 76 wounded, and 26 taken prisoners. When the respite came and those who Avere aide to withdraw were out of the woods, a roll-call disclosed the missing ones. Private Plunkett, finding his friend Louis Moultie among the missing, went back without his nuisket with the hope of finding him if wounded. Moving along with great caution, he discovered a rebel picket standing behind a tree; Plunkett realized in an instant that if in turning liack he attracted attention, death was likely to be his portion. With one quick bound he was at the rebel's back and holding fast both his arms. The rebel, in his fright, drojiped his musket which Plunkett. while pretending to coN'er him with a revolver, secured, and warnini; him not to make a Centennial 155 noise luider ]ienalty of death, inaiH-lied his in-isoiier into the T'liion camp at the point of the bayonet, for wliich exph)it lie was I'ewarded witli a sergeant's commission. Thirteen days later, Septemlier 14th, occurred the battle of South Mountain. During this engagement, Plunkett discovered a severely wounded officer sitting and leaning against a barn, who asked him for a cup of water, which he most gladly furnished, and during .n moment's conversation learned that this officer was from Ohio. When President Butherford B. Hayes visited Worcester, Sergeant Plunkett recognizing the features of the man he had saved, interviewed the President, and relating the incident, learned that it Avas the future President of the United States for whom he had done that act of kindness, and received from President Hayes, as he grasped the stump of his right arm with Tioth hands, such cordial and sincere expressions of gratitude as only a true soldier can give another. The 17th came the battle of Antietam, where the regiment en- tered the engagement with one hundred and fifty men and lost in killed and Wdunded forty-five. The next severe engagement occurred at Fredericlvsburg, December 13. 1862. The 21st regiment had two hundred men in action; 13 were killed and 52 wounded, one taken prisoner. The following is taken from the official report made by Colonel Clam, December l(3th: "The 2nd brigade was now ordered to the front and formed in double line of battle most gallantly and steadily mined across the plain, swept by the destructive fire of the enemy. When aVxnit sixty rods from the city, tlie color sergeant Collins of Conijiany A, was shot and fell to the ground. Sergeant Plunkett of Company E instantly seized the colors and carried them promptly forward to the fartherest point reached by our troops during the battle. When the regiment had commenced the delivery of its fire, about forty rods from the position of the rebel infantry, a shell was thrown with fatal accuracy at the colors, which were again brought to the ground, wet with the life-blood of the lirave Plunkett, botli of whose arms were carried away. "Color Corjioral Olney of Company II jmmeriiately raised the glorious flag and defiantly bore it tlirough the remainder of the day.'' A piece of the shell struck Plunkett 's right arm, nearly severing it from his body, it then struck a book with thick covers, which that morn- ing he had picked u]i in Piedericksburg and buttoned inside his vest; that book turned the course of the deadly missile a little, wliirh doubtless saved his life, but it struck the left arm above the Avrist. At the improvised field-hospital the case was ]>ronounced hopeless, so that he was unattended for two hours or inore lief ore his arms were amputated and dressed. He, however, rallied rajiidly. and on Christmas Day, December 2-1, at noon, the regiment turned out to escort Sergeant Plunkett and se\"eral other wound- ed men fronv the field-hospitals to the railway station, en route for Aquia 156 West BoyJston Creek and Washington. There was no ornnibling at this duty, although exceedingly tired and standing at present arms as the gallant sufferers were carried along the line to the cars, there was many a warm goodby ;inarade was made in Worcester. Tlie 2.')tli, the ."i7th, the State Guard. Highland Cadets and the Pire Department ]ierformed escort duty, 'i'lie streets were covered with ice, snow and slush. Sergeant Plunkett declined to ride with other disabled n.en, but marched just in advance of the battle stained and shattered tlags of his regiment in a Tilinding snow and rain storm for more than an lionr. .At Mechanics Hall, Hon. Alexander Bullock delivered an eloquent address of welcome to these veterans of the war, in which reference was made to the plucky color bearer. Sergeant Plunkett, who was present and re('(>ived a royal ovation. For some time Mr. Plunlcett was far from oeing a well man, and by spells was a great sufferer, although he rarely uttered any com])]aint; occasionally he might be heard to say, "I am all light, but my ston.ach.'' He received the 1)est of medical care and grjiduaily improxed in health and was discharged from the army 'March 9, l,S(i4. In ISO.) he married ]Miss Helen Ijorinu'r, and five years later removed to Worcester. At the conclusion of that marriage ceremony he overheard a careless remark drop from the li])S of a bystander that made a lasting impression nn his mind. It reflected on the aliility of an armless man io su]i]>ort a wife, ami he there inwardly pledged his best endeavors to ]>r()vid(^ for his \vife, and most faithfully he kept his vow, leaving at his decease his widow and two sons in comfoi'table circumstances. During the eaily ])art of ISS.l, the warning can.e that the end of his eventful life was ajiproaching. The jiosition as Messenger at the State House was gi\en u]>, and after a few weeks of suffering, without a murmur of com- ]ilaint. on the morning of March 10th, ISS-l, he passed on to be numbered with the great army that i)receded him. Funeral services were held in Mechanics Hall, which was thronged with relatives, friends and the citizens at large, anxious to ]»ay their last tiibute to the patient yet courageous Sergeant Tom Plunkett. CcufcnniaJ 157 At liis request services in the i:all were condiicteil liy Rev. (ieor_<-e 8. Jiall. who was ("ha]ilaiii of the L'lst He.L'iiiieiit. Ke\ . .I(>s(>|ih \V. Cross of West Hoylston. and Rev. .). V. I^overinii. ("ha]ilain of tlie Crainl Arniv. Sinjiing was by cliildrfMi from the ]iuldic scdiools of the city. But the soleTnn act of conimittinL; to tlie tonil) that lifeless body failed to completely silenee the disposition, the eagerness still felt to do honor to that intrepid, self-reliant yet modest man, who sacrificed so much for his country's cause. On Friday evening, Noven.ber 'I'l, IS!)."), exercises attending the presen- tation of a memorial portrait of Sergeant Thomas Plunkett to the Worces- ter County Mechanics Association, was hebl in tlieir spacious hall. The jioitrait was the gift of his brother Francis, an hoiu)rable member of the Worcester County Bar. also a uiemlier of the i^oard of Aldermen for the City of Worcester. The late United States Senator, lion. George F. Hoar, was expected to lualve the presentation, but as the day drew near, he, on account of failing health, felt obliged to decdine, and ('(donel William S. 1>. lIo])kins offi- ciated. An ajipropriate programme had been arranged. ]\Ir. Edward F. Toliuau, president of tlie Association, received the ]>ortrait. Other speak- ers were Rev. Dr. Conaty. now Bishoj) Conaty, and the late Kev. (leorge S. Ball. The audience filled the great hall to the A'ery doors, and the masterly addresses were received with unusual satisfaction. The fine, life-like jiortrait, the work of Mr. J. Madison Stone, occupies a conspicuous place upon the wall of that attractive hall, reminding the thousands of on- lookers of the faithful, courageous Thomas Plunkett. Civil War Record. The following' is m list, as far as has l)eeii aseei'tained, of those who went into the army to sei've in the war of the Rebellion fr(ini the town of AVest Boylston or were eount(Ml on its quota. There had been a eompany of militia in town ])r('\ious to the Civil AVar. many of thos(^ members enlisted Avitli Sergeant Plnid<('1t in Company E. 21st Regiment. l']) to March 1. 1866. the toAvn had paid in bounties, expenses of recruiting, nniforms. etc.. the sum of •'1^22,784.90. Avhile the Ladies Patriotic Society had forAvarded clotlics and supi)lies to the soldiers to the value of ^1.068.17. 158 1T>.v/ B()}/Ist()it 02 M < Southern recruit. Close of war. Close of war. Clo.se of war. For 100 days. For 100 days. Discharged as an alien. Reported as deserter, October, '04 Contraeted fever, died at home, Feb. 12, '04 Died at Andersouville: prisoner Oct., '()4. W'd. and died at Gettysburg, .luly 15, '03. Close of War. 1 year on gunboat "South Carolina." Close of War. Resigned. Southern recruit. Close of War. Lost at Bca. Lost an arm at Newbern, !S(i2. Discharged. Southern lecruit. Served under Ma.ior Devens. Wounded at Newbern, March 14, 1802. Deserted, May 20, 1803. For 100 days. Close of War. Close of War. Discharged for disability. Reported as deserter, January, 1804. For 100 days. Close of U'ar. Discharged for disability. Wounded at Antietani, Sept. 17, 1802. For 100 days. Killed at Antietani, Sept. 17, 1802. Killed August 28, 1802. 1^ pi c 5 ■a ;-< cs u (5 June 9, '05 Dec. SO, '03 July 14, '05 J unc 8, '(i5 Nov. n, '04 Nov. 11, '04 May 30, '02 Mar. 18, '03 .In lie 8, '05 Nov. 14, '05 .luly 20, '02 Nov. 14, '05 Au^r. 3. '01 Oet. 3, '02 July 10, '05 July 17, '05 July 27, '63 Jan. '22, '05 Nov. 11, '04 .hme 10, '05 Jan., '02 Nov. 23, '02 (M Iffl o cSSSsScScScSeScScScSSSCS C3;S i353:3c3c3s3=!o3c353SSSS5iS^SS03c3 .S ?"?».£:.£.£:.£ .^ .&.£:.& .^ .S .£ .£:» ^.&.&.S.^.^.5:.5:.S:.£.b.^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ xPh a « S "5 ■r. ti si ii • 'C r* • ?" ?^ r-t 7^ f1 r: -^ -^ ■^- "i -Ti Ti :^ -?] :m r; ^ ^ Ti ^ r-^ rn cc ■>! ^t -^ — -t- ij; -m r^ n- rt -m -rl ^ -Ti ,^ -Ti M ^T^r^'^T.}yPTZTTrzTTT::?^^T^7.^':z':Zr::TX'^^v^'^^^'?-'^^TT'^-^7'J'^T~^T::TT':::':^7'^y'9^*^\ Jan., Sept. 7, May Ifi, Dec. 30, Aug. 9, July, July 1,5, July 15, May 16, Mar. 10, July, Dee. 30, Sept. 27, May 10, Aug. 9, May, Jan. 4, July 19, Nov., Jan. 4, Oct., Feb.. 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Ol rt .- r si - . S ^ P< c« t:Zvj 9,.^> !-i tS K^Ki^.Ui^ INDEX. PAGE Act of Incorporation 18 Anniversary, One Hundredth 23 Beaman, Major Ezra, Sketch of 5 Centennial Ball . . . 56 Centennial Celebration 65 Centennial Committee 4 Civil War Record 157 Coaching Parade 67 Dedication Ball 137 Dedication of Town Hall 107 Fitts, Reverend James H., Sketch of 105 Gammell, Warren E., Address of Welcome . . 78 Goodale, Leon A., Address of Welcome 29 Goodale, Leon A., Historical Address 79 Goodale, Warren, and others. Remarks 53 Graduiites of High School, A List of 151 Hall, Dr. G. Stanley, Address 125 Harris, Henry F., and others. Remarks 136 Houghton, Horatio, Sketch of 103 Introduction 3 Keyes, Benjamin F., Sketch of 103 Moderators at Annual Town Meetings, A List of 146 Parker, Hon. Herbert, Address 101 Plunkett, Sergeant Thomas, Sketch of 154 Representatives to Legislature, A List of 147 Robinson, Reverend J. B., Historical Address 116 Rugg, Justice Arthur P., Address 47 School Committee, A List of 148 Selectmen, A List of 139 Soldiers in the Civil War, Names of . 158 Thayer, Hon. John R., Address 33 Thomas, Robert B., A Memoir of 57 Town Clerks, A List of 139 Town Treasurers, A List of 145 Votes of Town relating to Centennial 22 ILLUSTRATIONS. PORTR.A.ITS PAGE Dr. G. Stanley Hall 124 Hon. Herbert Parker 100 Justice Arthur P. Rugg 48 Hon. John R. Thayer 32 Views taken at time of Centennial. July 16. 1908. BUILDINGS Congregational Church 76 Ladies' Relief Corps Hall 98 Odd FeUows" Hall 94 Town Hall 108 COACHING PARADE Banning. M. Parker 74 Cowee, Miss Marjorie 70 Hickey. T. Frank - . . 66 Logan, Hon. James, and others 66 Maples. The 72 MLxter. Miss Helen E 74 Oakdale Ladies 68 Rice, Mrs. Almira R., and family 72 Washburn, Hon. Charles G., and others 66 West Boylston High School 68 West Boylston Reading Club 70 \TEWS now partly or wholly obliterated. Beaman Oak. The 6 Beaman Tavern. The 8 Beaman Tavern, The Site of 10 Beaman Farm, View overlooking The 14 Beaman Cemetery, The. . 16 Church. Baptist. Stone 118 Church. Brick 110 Church, on the Common 104 Church, St. Anthony's Catholic . . 114 Clarendon Mills. The 84 High School, The Old 150 High School to Brick Meeting House 90 Oakdale, A General View of 80 Stripping the Intervale 86 Thomas Hall 138 Thomas. Robert B. . The Home of 58 Valley from French Hill 82 West Boylston. .\ General View of 28 West Boylston Manufacturing Co 64 PRl N TED 3Y SELISLE PRINTING AND PUBLISHING CO. ••. ORCESTER. VI ASS. COMPILED BY LEON A. GOODALE