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January Dinner Meeting The January Meeting of the Scituate Historical Society will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 23, 1999. This will be the annual turkey dinner and all those delicious homemade pies at the Harbor Methodist Church.The price is $10.00. Your reservation needs to be made as soon as possible. We have to give the church a count of people attending. Only the first 200 dinner reservations accompanied by payment will be accepted. Send a check made out to the Scituate Historical Society with your reservation to The Laidlaw Center, P.O. Box 276, Scituate, MA 02066. What discovery on Front Street set the South Shore buzzing in 1938? Where in Scituate did the fate of five ancient trees divide town opinion? Did Scituate once have its own hospital? Where was George Vinal’s store? Where was Scituate's Mayower located? How about the Centennial Hotel? Where in 1907 could you take in a minstral show? The topic of the evening will be lt will explore our Scituate of yesterday depicting historic old homes and landmarks, some long gone and those that remain with us today. Enjoy a winter evening with Bob and Dave Corbin as we take a look at a Scituate of long ago. ¢¢¢¢¢@¢¢@q1$$$$Q$$$1¢¢c1$$1£§1¢QQZ¢¢¢3Z3¢¢1$1¢3IZZ31t . Enclosed is my check made payable to the Scituate Historical Society for the dinner meeting on Saturday, January 23, 19‘-)9. Name: Number of reservations: Amount of the check:

THE DRAWING FOR THE QUILT WILL BE HELD AT THE JANUARY DINNER MEETING Happy New Year & Thank You It doesn't seem possible that the new millennium is almost upon us. As we look back at the past year we have made great strides forward thanks to the support of so many volunteers and members. We have established a 5 year Capital Plan, which the town meeting approved the first round at last March's meeting. This provided for major repairs at the Lawson Tower, Mann House, and the Lighthouse. The Maritime/ Irish Mossing Museum is almost finished. The Society has established a Web site on the Internet thanks to Lou Geyer. The successful dinner meetings, the new rotating S.‘ ...AAIS‘_~-D‘. I p. 1 Ja'uay1999

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:1‘?,1_ F; open house schedule for our historic sites, the historic cruises during Heritage Days, the celebrations commemorating the Portland Gale, etc. - could not have been done without you. The volunteers needed to staff all our sites, the committees that work on the day to day operation of the Society, and our ever supportive members make our Society one of the most active on the South Shore. We now are looking forward to GAR Hall repairs this next year. Thank you. The trustees and Officers

We Need Your Support

Please help the Society's fundraising activities by purchasing a 1999 Calendar. This calendar,

which is made up of never-before-scenes of Scituate photographed by Dwight Agnew Jr., is a S visual reminder of Scituate's past. Please support your Society by purchasing a calendar today. They are on sale for $6.00 and may be purchased at the Little Red Schoolhouse (Laidlaw Center). We also will have a table set up at the January Dinner Meeting so that members attending may purchase one. Thank you for your support.

Secondly, the Society has recently been loaned a series of Damon glass negatives of Scituate during the 1890's. This loan is for a limited time only so that we can convert these rare pictures to prints for our archives. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, but the cost of conversion is very high. Could you help us defray the cost by making a donation? Please send any donations to the Scituate Historical Society c/o The Damon Pictures. Your support in this endeavor would gratefully be appreciated. Thank you. 100th Anniversary of Portland Gale Many events were celebrated over the weekend of November 27-29 in commemoration of the storm that impacted Scituate in so many ways.

On November 27, 1998 a stamp cancellation commemorating the l0Oth anniversary of Portland Gale was held at the Maritime and Irish Mossing .Museum. Iake Donohue’s drawing was selected for the stamp cancellation. Stamps were cancelled at the

P Museum, Scituate Post Office and at Humarock Post

; ' Office. The opening ceremony was well-attended, simple and moving. The number of visitors at the

A museum to buy catchet envelopes and stamps, and then to have them cancelled was truly gratifying. The cancellation at the museum was to end at 2 p.m., but due to the demand the postal clerks stayed an extra -hour to service the large crowds.

Later that night at Humarock Beach a commemoration service was held remembering those who had died in the Portland Gale in the Humarock area and those Humarock families who had lost family members to NC, the sea. Dave Ball, Fred Freitas and Rev. Wallace Cedarleaf took part in the service. As each person's Jake Donohue_ his dad Jack. & An teacher name who was lost in storm was read, a young child Stacey I-lendrickson

Scitude Hstolicd Society p. 2 Jawuary 1999 tossed a carnation into the surf. Finally a wreath in memory of all those unknown victims of the storm was floated out to sea.

On Saturday November 28, 1998 a Dedication Program was held in Sandhills at the site of the grounding of the Columbia 100 years ago during the Portland Gale. Speaking at this event were Dave Ball, Fred Freitas and John Galluzzo (Education Director of the I-lull Life-Saving Station Museum). A plaque was unveiled by Mary Butts, a descendant of Surfman Iohn Curran who had discovered the wreck. The names of those lost on the Pilot Boat Columbia, Schooner Barge Delaware, and Malinda Wilbur, a Sandhills resident drowned during the storm, were read aloud as flowers honoring their memory were placed in the surf by children of local residents.

Finally on Sunday November 29, 1998 at a dedication service" the Sea Street Bridge was renamed in honor of Captain Frederick Stanley the keeper of the Fourth Cliff Life-Saving Station. A crowd of over 300 gathered for this ceremony and listened to speakers that included Russell Clark, Dave Ball, Fred Freitas, Rev. Francis Regan, Ralph Crossen, Bud Francis, Representative Frank I-lynes, Senator Robert I-ledlund, and descendants of Captain Stanley.

The weekend was a tremendous success, so much so that Chronicle contacted the Society and is doing a whole program on the Portland Gale. It will air on January 7, 1999. New Year's Day 1863

On the evening of lanuary 1, 1863 eighten year old Israel David Damon of the 43rd Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Company F entered his tent and warmed his hands over his small wood burning tin stove. By the dim light of a bees wax candle he reached into his haversack and removed a slip of writing paper and a small lead pencil. From inside his tent, Private Damon could hear the murmur of voices with an occasional interjection of laughter as his fellow comrades sat around campres, sharing stories and Christmas gifts from home. Further distant he could hear the strains of fife and voices in song. The smell of woodsmoke and tobacco wafted in from the chilly night as the young soldier sat down at a makeshift desk of discarded cracker boxes.

The 43rd Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was formed in Boston during the summer of 1862. Company F was made up of men and boys who enlisted from such towns as Scituate, South Scituate, Cohasset, Hingham, Marshfield, Duxbury, Hanover, Kingston, Weymouth, and Old Abington. Those that enlisted did so for a nine month term.

The 43rd Massachusetts arrived in New Bern, North Carolina in September of 1862. The city of New Bern had fallen to Union forces commanded by Major General Ambrose Burnside on March 14, 1862. Following its capture, the city was garrisoned by Union troops. To guard against Confederate guerilla attacks, additional Union forces were encamped outside the city along the Neuse River. When the 43rd arrived they marched outside the city to what would be their home for the next nine months, Camp Rogers. It was here at Camp Rogers that Private Damon wrote the following letter that long ago New Year’s evening.

Throughout the letter we can sense young Damon's homesickness as he inquires about family and the weather back home in Scituate. Concerns over money, food packages, and letters sent from home are typical of military men throughout history. Also interesting is his mentioning of the serious wounding of his older cousin William R. Damon at the Battle of Fredericksburg only Sciudal-istoricaSociety p. 3 J3I.|3y1% weeks earlier. The letter also mentions the health of fellow soldier and Scituate neighbor Warren Sherman who enlisted with Damon in the 43rd Massachusetts the previous summer. In his conclusion he mentions Company F Commander i Captain Charles Soule of Scituate who, in 1887 would become Commander of the George W. Perry Post 31 Grand Army of the Republic at our Grand Army Hall. Now let’s go back to a New Year’ s evening 1863.

David Corbin

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Grand Army Hall Update The Scituate Historical Society would like to thank Ed Tower of Scituate for his gracious donation Sciuzlel-is\oricdSooiaty p. 4 Ja1uay1999 .__ L . _ W ii f?

of two framed photographs connected with the history of the Grand Army Hall. The earliest photograph was a group shot taken at the Soldiers and Sailors monument at Lawson Park on Memorial Day 1926. Present in the photo are members of the George W. Perry Post 31, Grand Army of the Republic, Women's Relief Corps 121, Charles E. Bates Camp 88 Sons of Union Veterans, American Legion Post 144, and the local Girl Scouts. The second photograph was taken in front of the Grand Army Hall on July 9, 1938. The occasion being the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Charles E. Bates Camp 88, Sons of Union Veterans.

Both photographs are in excellent condition. It is the goal of the Grand Army Hall Preservation Committee to have these photos professionally reproduced, enlarged and given a much deserved place of honor in our Grand Army Hall when the project is completed. Together with our additional photos, the interior of the GAR Hall will be a real showplace. Thanks again to Ed Tower for his wonderful donation.

As of January 1, 1999 all financial contributions can be made to: Grand Army Hall Preservation Project Scituate Federal Savings Bank 72 Front St. Scituate, MA 02066

Your contribution will ensure that the lights will go on, the stage will be set, and the sound of laughter and applause will once again reverberate within the ancient walls of Scituate's Grand Army Hall. Thank you.

Dave Corbin George H. Brown

The unexpected death of Captain Joshua James, keeper of the Point Allerton United States Life- Saving Service Station in Hull, on March 19, 1902, left a void not only in the station's leadership, but in the hearts of the town's mourning citizenry. In just the short span of a half century, the town's name had become synonymous with lifesaving, and recognized as such nationwide, mostly due to James’ daring and inspirational guidance; between 1848 and 1898, volunteer lifesavers in Hull earned 275 medals for bravery.

James’ death represented the loss of the town's first true hero and most revered citizen. As Life- Saving Service District Superintendent Benjamin C. Sparrow pored over his records in Orleans on Cape Cod to locate an able-bodied and sharp-minded lifesaver to act as James’ successor as keeper at Point Allerton, the townsfolk in Hull searched for a new champion to stand behind.

Floretta Vining, the station's next door neig-hbor and the outspoken editor of a syndicate of nine South Shore newspapers (including the Hull Beacon and Scituate Light) presented her choice for the area's new designated lifesaving hero that summer. Although the Life-Saving Service appointed William C. Sparrow of Provincetown (no relation to the District Superintendent) to replace James the week of July 4th, the same week as the scheduled launch from Quincy of the world's first and only seven-masted steel schooner, the Thomas W. Lawson, Vining chose to pin her hopes elsewhere. On August 15, 1902, under the heading "An Old Life-Saver," she published a portrait of Keeper George H. Brown of the North Scituate station, with a short biographical sketch.

p.5 Ja1ua'y1999 Born in Boston on July 15, 1841, Brown could trace his Scituate ancestry back at least two generations, with both his father and grandfather being born there. The son of a shipbuilder, after finishing school in Boston, Brown headed to sea aboard the clipper ship Staghorn at 14, stopping at many sites in the Pacific. At 17, he took up the trade of ship caulker, learning from his father back in Boston until he turned 21.

On September 1, 1862, hearing President Abraham Lincoln's call for 300,000 Massachusetts men to take up the arms against the rebel South, Brown enlisted with the 42nd Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry for nine months’ duty, one of 8 George H. Browns that fought for Massachusetts during the Civil War. His experience during that conflict amounted to nothing more than building redoubts and picketting railroads along the Mississippi River near New Orleans, Louisiana. On August 20, 1863, Brown found himself at Camp Meigs in Readville, MA, to accept his pay and to be mustered out of service.

For two years after his return, Brown ran the schooner Frank built by his father's firm, Brown & Lovell, as a packet between Boston and Scituate, where he met and married Lydia B. Burrows on August 21, 1865. He later ran the sloop Lady of the lake as a fishing boat in spring and fall, taking advantage of her as a party boat in the summer, carrying visitors to Scituate's shore out on pleasure excursions. After selling that vessel, he joined John H. Smith of Scituate on board the Bell , a coastal transport schooner.

On December 7, 1879, the USLSS appointed the 38 year old Brown as Surfman Number One at the newly-built Fourth Cliff station. For the next seven years he learned the trade of lifesaver under Keeper Frederick Stanley, until December 15, 1886 when he accepted a transfer to the North Scituate station as keeper, upon the completion of its construction. Between May 28, 1887 and August 2, 1902 Keeper Brown and his crews responded to 35 calls of distress, the most memorable of which was the wreck of the brig T. Remick on March 5, 1889. The Maritime and Irish Mossing Museum's life-saving room today displays one of Brown's most treasured items, built entirely from the T. Remick's wreckage, and described thusly by the Hull Beacon: " H. C. Dimond of Boston presented Capt. Brown a model of the James beach apparatus handcart, such as all life saving crews use, as a token of appreciation of the work of the crew. The model adorns the captain's room at the station and is constructed from copper bolts from the brig and wood from her cabin. On the top of the model's case is a bell presented by Capt. L. H. Forrest."

On December 12, 1902 Floretta Vining again ran Brown's picture on the front page of the Hull Beacon, to celebrate his 23rd anniversary in connection with the USLSS, and to reiterate her support of the keeper as the grand old man of lifesaving. As a Civil War veteran with a lifetime of experience on the sea and nearly a quarter century at work in the noblest of pursuits, George H. Brown already personified heroism to hundreds along the Scituate shore. Could he ever replace Joshua James in the hearts of Hullonians? Only time would tell.

John Galluzzc Correction of October Mystery Photo Barbara Colman Arnold picked up a mistake in our answer to the October mystery photo. We incorrectly identified the vessel as Scotty Gannett' s Friendship sloop. The vessel was made by Scotty Gannett and he was sailing it, but it was not a Friendship sloop. Thanks for correcting our mistake, Barbara. ed. December,s Mystery Photo Pierce Memorial Library in North Scituate was correctly identified by Winifred E. Prouty of Warren, N.H. Sciiael-istolicdsociay p.6 Ja1uay1999 F“ i

Web News I from Deborah Belleau of Hamilton, ” My grandfather, George H. Crosbie, bought, what is called "The Farm” on Clapp Rd. in 1919. I have been going to Scituate for 58 years, so I am interested in its history. I am President of the Hamilton Historical Society and enjoy your newsletter.

from BSmith of Maine regarding the Maritime/ Irish Mossing Museum, "It is one of the finest small museums I have been too

We also received our first mystery photo entry from the Internet. Thanks for the comments. I

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Mystery Photograph Can you identify this picture? If you can, put the answer on a piece of paper with your name, address and phone number and drop it in the mystery photograph box at the Laidlaw Historical Center. The first correct answer selected wins a sheet of assorted postcards. Good Luck.

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March Dinner Meeting The Society's March Dinner meeting will be held Saturday, March 20th at the First Congregational Church on 381 Country Way. Dinner will be at 6:30 p.m. sharp. The meal will be a homecooked pot roast dinner with vegetables and dessert. The cost is $10.00 per person. There is room for only 160 so make your reservation as soon as possible. Remember your check must accompany your reservation. The program for the evening is: BOSTON'S OLDEST GARDEN - MOUNT AUBURN CEMETERY' ITS HISTORY HORTICULTURE MONUMENTS AND BIRDS A slide presentation will be given by William C. Clendaniel, program director of the Mount Auburn Cemetery. Mark your calendars today. Due to member requests the reservation form is on p.7 just below the advertisements. Volunteers Are Needed Volunteers are needed for the Maritime and Irish Mossing Museum. An organizational meeting will be held on February 9th at the Laidlaw Center at 10:30 a.m. for all volunteers both new and experienced. If you have never volunteered and think you might be interested, then please come to the meeting.

Scituate Historical Society p. 1 February 1999

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x‘\ ‘KI. <0\ /Q. P‘ \- 0. Under the Hills The serene and beautiful Colman's Hills were here to greet the first settlers of Scituate. Named for Ioseph Colman who built a house on the west side of the hills in 1638, the hills had remained untouched for years. The fields surrounding the hills produced many kinds of wild berries such as black berries, raspberries, blue berries and wild strawberries. The hills overlooked the marshes of the North River.

In 1871 Mr. George Eaton built a hotel on one of the hils calling it the Colman's Heights House. With the advent of the railroad Scituate was beginning to attract summer visitors, but Mr. Eaton's hotel was never successful. He had hoped to sell cottage lots on the hills but that too was unsuccessful. By the turn of the century the Hotel stood idle and the land was unsold. There were a few houses along Water Street which ran from Greenbush to Kent Street.

Early in the year of 1914 or before, representatives of the Boston Sand and Gravel Company, a corporation of the State of Delaware, came into Scituate armed with a $600,000 first mortgage. They bought land and houses on Water Street, now the Driftway. They bought the Colman's Heights House and all the cottage lots that surrounded it. They bought all the land, houses and barns on the north and south sides of Water Street. They also bought the small business called the "Consumers Sand Company". Many acres of saltmarsh and fresh meadow and fields that were on the south side of Water Street were purchased.

The Boston Sand and Gravel Company had big plans for their Scituate business which would hire many men and also pay a lot of taxes. They started to set up their plant and invested in three steam clam-shell barges named respectively, Reliance, Eureka, and Herbert. They bought a tugboat named Marguerite, and scows, and a Derrick lighter #15. They acquired wagons, trucks, mules, horses, boats, wharves, docks, machinery and storage hoppers. They owned a stone- crusher and dredges. They had a spur railroad track and owned locomotives and cars. They were the first business of any size to come to Scituate and the new electric light and the new telephone company hastened to accomodate their needs.

Scituate in 1913-14 was just beginning to install street lights. My family lived on Main Street, now Country Way, and the light and telephone wires ran right by our house to get to the Boston Sand and Gravel Company. We early on had electricity and a low number telephone number 49 ring 4.

Mr. Daniel Vines was installed as plant manager. He and his family lived in a new house on the north side of Water Street. His three sons graduated from Scituate High School as did his daughter Virginia who was born here. The company prospered and there was never any friction between the Town and the Boston Sand and Gravel Company. They were good neighbors due, l think, in great part to the personality of Mr. Vines. He was public-spirited and a great addition to

our town. -

The town's people got used to seeing the little tugboat towing one or two barges of sand chugging up the coast to Boston. Sometimes a barge would get loose but there were no fatalities. The company dug deeply into the hills for sand and gravel. The sand was separated from the gravel by washing and it came out pure and clean. Gradually the high hills were being lowered. The Hotel, now inhabited by ghosts and tramps, was burned to the ground in lune of 1918 by an arsonist.

For over forty years the Boston Sand and Gravel Company was one of the largest tax payers in town. They saw Water Street become the Driftway. They stayed in business through World War 1 and World War 2. The trestle they built over the road never interfered with traffic. The sand Scituate Historical Society p. 2 February 1999 came by cars over the trestle from the hills to the river and into the scows for transportation to Boston and the company office was there. It was a wholesale business but townspeople here that needed sand were graciously accomodated. But after the trestle was vandalized and burned in 1962 business ceased.

My grandfather, Frederic Cole, always called the area where the Boston Sand and Gravel Company was, “Under the I—lills”, never Water Street. And now, in 1996, Grandpa's "Under the Hills" will become the Widow's Walk Golf Course.

How Time Flies!!!

Margaret Cole Bonney Scituate Fire Department Joins the Twentieth Century At the annual Town Meeting of Scituate, held on March 6, 1922, the voters were asked by the Fire Department to raise and appropriate $10,000 for the purchase of a motor pumping engine. The vote was a resounding “No!" This sort of thing had been going on for years. Surrounding towns had such fire trucks; Scituate had none.

At this time, the Fire Department of Scituate consisted of five so-called Engineers -- one from each of the town's five fire districts. They were appointed by the Selectmen and they go together to select one of their number as Chief, along with a First Assistant Chief, and a Second Assistant Chief. All were to serve one year. Now, in their annual report for 1922 they mentioned that an Engineer from the New England Insurance Exchange said that to achieve a lower fire insurance rate, the town should have a pumper and a fire alarm system. They could go from Class D to Class C.

This must have been food for thought because at the annual Town Meeting held March 5, 1923, the procrastinating voters finally voted to raise and appropriate $10,000 to buy a triple- combination pumper. Five men were named to be a committee empowered to purchase and locate this piece of apparatus. .

For some time now, the town had been busy installing hydrants and street lights along the many roads in town. The work was still ongoing but went slowly and the water pressure was low. When house fire was reported, the all-volunteer Fire Department had to ask Cohasset or I-lull for assistance. The Scituate firefighters were especially envious of I-Iull's shiny new pumper. The five-member Purchasing Committee met for the first time on March 14, 1923 at the Mechanics’ Building in Boston in the space occupied by the White Motor Co. A chairman and secretary were elected. Bids were opened from three firms: American LaFrance Engine Co., The Seagrave Co., and the White Co., for a six-hundred gallon triple pumper. They voted to take the White bid. The committee voted to have the lettering on the pumper as follows: "Engine No. 1" along the hood and "Scituate" on the panel at the rear of the truck.

They met again to discuss the contract for buying. They wanted a few things added such as 1,000 feet of 2 1/4-inch hose, a pke pole and plaster hook, and, of course, a siren. They also wanted an instructor to be fumished on delivery of the truck. They wanted thirty days to pay. The contract was signed April 4, 1923.

Now, the vital decision as to where to locate the pumper was discussed by the committee. Three members wanted it located at Hose #1 (the Harbor district); one wanted it at Scituate Center; and Scituate Historical Society p. 3 February 1999 one wanted it at Hose #3 (at North Scituate). The committee received a letter from Mr. Caldwell, a representative of the New England lnsurance Exchange, expressing his opinion that the pumper should be housed at Hose #3, North Scituate. The committee voted to invite Mr. Caldwell to come to Scituate to look over the situation. He came and after visiting Hoses #1,2,3, and 4, and after the committee took him for a tour of the Sand Hills and Third Cliff sections, he changed his mind and voted for Hose #1. He highly recommended though, that the town purchase another pumper to be housed in Hose #3, North Scituate. On lune 28, 1923, the new pumper arrived in Scituate.

Now, on July 20th, the Committee met to consider the results fo tests of the pumper made by the New England Insurance Exchange's engineer, Mr. Barker, at Morris’ Pond, North Scituate. A few minor defects were discovered; namely, “one light under hood broken", "2 lengths of hose chafed", and " gasket in crankcase made tight”. The salt-water test was to be made ]uly 25th at 4:30 p.m. tide permitting. All tests were finally completed by Iuly 30th and the committee met and voted to accept the engine after all members went for a ride on it.

After interviewing several applicants, George Burrows was chosen permanent driver of the pumper with a spare man for his day off. A room was finished off upstairs and a toilet downstaris in Hose House #1 for the driver. Hose House #1 was formerly the Brook Street school house and now, in 1994, is the recreation center for Senior Citizens of Scituate.

At the next annual Town Meeting of Scituate held in March, 1924, the Town decided against buying a second pumping engine.

On Christmas Eve, 1925, responding to a call for help from the Town of Norwell, Scituate’s bright new Engine #1 tipped over rounding a curve in the road in Norwell. The roads were snowy and icy. Three brave Scituate volunteer fire fighters riding on the pumper were instantly killed. They were George Burrows, the driver, Hubert McDermott, and Frank Hall. "Them engines, they don't drive like horses" one old-timer was heard to sadly say. The whole town reeled under the impact of the tragedy but from then on the Scituate voters started building the fine fire department we have today. It is a fitting memorial to those who gave their lives

1

Margaret Cole Bonney, 1995 Reference Scituate Town Reports

I

GEORGE E. BURROWS HUBERT F. McDERMOTT Killed in the performance of his duty Killed in the performance of duty December 2.4, 192.5 December 24. 1925

Scituate Historical Society p. 4 ROBERT F. HALL Killed in performance of his duty December 24, 1925 The Hose Houses mentioned were buildings where the re hose was kept. The hose was wound on a 2-wheeled reel and would be connected to the nearest hydrant at the fire. The hose reel was transported by horses or truck. There were 4 Hose Houses in Scituate in 1923: Hose #1 at Scituate Harbor was in an abandoned one room old school house, as was Hose #2 at Greenbush. Hose #3 was at North Scituate Village and Hose #4 was at Minot. Archives Comer “Elisha Bisbee, a farmer and shoemaker living on the North River at Marsheld, left a small estate of only 83 pounds in 1688. He left his farm to his wife and to his eldest son. Hopestill. and “all the fruit of the trees which now grow in my orchard so long as they bear fruit and no longer.” He left to his second son, John, “his house he now dwells in 7 and the housing thereto belonging and one half the upland and meadow land at home.” He left to his married daughter, Mary Beals. “his ) own bed and bedding.” Another married daughter. Hannah Brooks, received “the bed and bedding given her when she married.”

Bed and bedding were always listed in the inventories of estates and were considered the most valuable items in the homestead. The term “bed” referred to what we call a mattress. Beds were made of scraps of material and pieces of wool encased in cloth bags. Feather beds. a mark of wealth. appeared in a few of the inventories. A feather bed had a value equal to that of a young cow. Bedding included blankets. bolsters. sheets. pillow beers and rugs. which were heavier than blankets. Other wills mentioned bedsteads of rough wooden frames. Coverlets and bed curtains. which hung around the bedstead for warmth and privacy. appeared in only two inventories of the period and were an indication of wealth. A daughter usually received bed and bedding at the time of her marriage or in the will of her parent. The value of the Bisbee’s beds and bedding was listed at 4 pounds 19 shillings. while his cattle, the most valuable items outside of the house. were valued at 4 pounds 12 shillings. Bisbee was a man of moderate means. Unlike Winslow. he mentioned no one outside of the immediate family. and he followed the usual patriarchal practice of bestowing land upon the sons. assuring retention of the family name on the estate.

Few choices remained for a widow to make for herself. A typical will allowed her the use of a bedroom. the back stairs and the kitchen and gave her the right to pick apples in the orchard. Peter Collamer of Scituate left to his wife. Mary. the right to live in his dwelling house, providing she did not remarry. At her death. she was to have the “disposing of the household goods provided her disposal -thereof be to the kindred of my blood.” Experience Mitchell of Bridgewater, in his October, 1689 will. requested his son. Edward. “to take care of his mother for her comfortable sufficient during her life, provided that she will live with him at Bridgewater, but if she'd rather inclined to live at Duxbury, I then order that one-half the rent of the land at Duxbury shall go to my wife during her life.” These wills tell us something of the position and life of women in seventeenth century Plymouth County.”

I (Continued from last month's “Family and Kinship. Chapter 10. Pages 43 & 44, in the book Plymouth County, I685. by Cynthia Hagar Krusell.) Continued next month.

Dorothy Langley Captain Peter Sears & the Mount Blue District School Captain Peter Sears was a Revolutionary War soldier. When alarm was given from Lexington, April 19, 1775 he turned out and enlisted as a private under Captain Galen Clapp and served 5 days. On May 7, 1775 he enlisted under Captain Nathaniel Winslow and served 3 months, 6 days. In the Continental Army he appeared with the rank of Captain in Capt. Pattin's Corps of Scituate Historical Society p. 5 February 1999 Articifers. He married Susanna Collamore (1751-1824) in 1777 and settled near Bryant's Corner, Mount Blue Village, in Scituate. Both graves in Norwell Center Cemetery are marked with slate stones. On returning from West Point he took up farming and used his mechanical knowledge in making doors, windows, and farm implements. His account book shows that he got out stones for the school house. This probably included the oxen and he received 6 shillings. He put in two days on the school house and he received 6 shillings. He also provided 153 feet of timber for the school house. As this is to Elijah Bowker "Deter"iit is probable that Elijah was the "Prudential Committee for the district. Capt. Sears wrote the way he spoke. There was a goodly mixture of Anglo-Saxon such as “afixing your barn", “a fencing", “a giting stones". He spelled the way he talked: "myself and oxen in the swamp", “to hwing one day", "to my oxin and hors to the harber". Elijah had a “Contry Page" so that when they settled all book accounts “and find due me the sum of five dollars and seventy five cents as witness our hand". After Elijah Bowker and Peter Sears signed the quill was used to make a cross showing that all was settled. The account was kept in pounds, shillings, and pence but translated unto American dollars and cents. It is only form this account book that we get evidence as to when the first schoolhouse was built in the District. However, it is a valuable source of information and gives an indication of the education of a leading man in Scituate.

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This suggests that the Mount Blue School house was erected in 1808. We know that it was located on the knoll almost opposite to the house of Manlius Perry. It was to serve the village for 50 years.

The village of Mount Blue, or "Backstreet" as some liked to call it, like all districts, was an uncertain place. The district line commenced at Groundsel Brook and went to the Hingham line and to Valley Swamp long before there was a road through that quagmire.

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Enclosed is my check made payable to the Scituate Historical Society for the dinner meeting on Saturday. March 20. 1999. Name: Number of reservations: Amount of the check: Scituate Historical Societyi—p. 7 February 1999 i

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1 7 - e _ >1 __* ~< >*i'_- * 'i Mystery Photograph Can you identify this picture? If you can, put the answer on a piece of paper with your name, address and phone number and drop it in the mystery photograph box at the Laidlaw Historical Center. The first correct answer selected wins a sheet of assorted postcards. Good Luck.

The Mystegg photo for January was correctly identied as 25 Collier Ave. by Jeanne Conboy

Scltuste Historical Society p. 8 February 1999

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‘O ‘|2atrick’e Ea?! L March Dinner Meeting 41¢/tfg The Society's March Dinner meeting will be held Saturday, March 20th at the First Congregational Church on 381 Country Way. Dinner will be at 6:30 p.m. sharp. The meal will be a homecooked pot roast dinner with vegetables and dessert. The cost is $10.00 per person. There is room for only 160 so make your reservation as soon as possible. Remember your check must accompany your reservation. The program for the evening is: BOSTON’S OLDEST GARDEN - MOUNT AUBURN CEMETERY ITS HISTORY I-IORTICULTURE MONUMENTS AND BIRDS. A slide presentation will be given by William C. Clendaniel, program director of the Mount Auburn Cemetery. Mark your calendars today. The Maritime Heritage of Humphrey Turner (the following is an excerpt from Charles F. Tumer’s article. We will be quoting from this article in upcoming issues. The complete reference will be available at the Laidlaw Center. ed.)

In the course of tracing the descendants of Humphrey Turner, we nd many in that line that have been associated with the sea: shipbuilders, sailors, Navy men, shermen and their spouses. Now Humphrey himself was a tanner and he seemed satised to live within the sound of the sea. Perhaps his voyage from England to Massachusetts in the simple vessel of those days was sufcient to dissuade him from ever getting in another boat. In fact, if he had encountered any of what the sailors called heavy weather on that passage, he might have been terried enough to prefer scalping as an alternative to a return voyage. But the sea was close and the sea called as land became more scarce and more distant. The sea offered work and adventure to many without leaving their roots entirely.

L This salty nature first became evident in Daniel, son of Humphrey. Daniel probably began to build ships on the North River soon after 1665. His yard was the earliest in an industry which eventually made the reputation of North River ships world famous. While Daniel was building ships in Scituate, his cousin Ezekiel was sailing Scituate Historical Society p. 1 Much 1999 them out of New London. Ezekiel was assistant master of the barque Providence which was lost with her cargo at Fisher's Island Point on the night of November 28, 1679. Ezekiel barely escaped that wreck. Some chronological history follows:

DATE NAME ROLE VESSEL 1704 Jonathan Smith Mariner unknown Husband of Deborah Smith who lived in Groton, CT.

1706 Cornelius Briggs Captain unknown Husband of Mary (Turner) Doughty Russell Briggs, father of Mary (Briggs) Turner.

1734/5 Elisha Tumer Captain Schooner Capt. Elisha Turner lost his schooner entering Long Island Sound. He was hit by a violent storm in mid-January of 1734/5 struck a rock near Mason's Island and perished.

1736 Benjamin Turner, Jr. Captain unknown Married Mary (Briggs) Turner.

1798 Edmund Hart Shipbuilder USS Constitution Edmund married Mary Turner Tolman, d/ o Bethiah (Turner) Tolman.

1806 Reuben Turner Shipmaster unknown Reuben was lost at sea after 1805.

1800 James Newton Sparrel Captain unknown Married ll Jun 1797 to Rachel (Turner) Sparrel of Scituate, Ma.

1800 Larkin Turner Captain Calumet Print Pactotus,sloop 40 years at sea with Billie Gray's merchantmen

(to be continued) by Charles F. Turner From the President There are three things I want to make the membership aware: GAR HALL The work at the GAR Hall is proceeding well. The floor system has had extensive work done to it. Dana Green, our contractor, has done a super job once again. He was able to save all the original pine flooring. Much work needs to be done however, including the replacement ofall the sills. Once that is complete work can then begin on the extensive interior repairs. I want to thank David Corbin and his committee for all their hard work in getting us to this point. The GAR Hall committee is in need of many more volunteers. If you have can help in any way, contact David Corbin at 781-545-9178.

Although common sense tells us that this project won't be complete for several years, I am more optimistic then that. If we can get additional help and ideas for raising funds, this important historic landmark can be put back into service within two years.

Laidlaw Center I am glad to be able to report that the rehabilitation of the bathroom at the Laidlaw Center is well under way. I would expect that this work will be completed within the next couple of weeks.

Damon Pictures Probably many of you have seen the Mariner series regarding newl found photography taken by Frederick Damon at the turn of the century. I am glad to report the trustees zxnded the costs for conversion of the glass negatives to prints. These negatives were availab e to us for only a short period of time. It was a now or never opportunity. These ninety photographs show us what life was really like as the nineteenth century turned into

Scltinte Historical Society p. 2 Much 1999 the twentieth. This has been a rather costly project ($1500 ). I expect these incredibly clear photos will be put on exhibit at the Laidlaw Center next summer. We must nd ways to fund this project. One way to defray the cost will be the taking of orders for reproductions. Stay tuned. For now all donations are gratefully accepted. Please send your donations in care of DAMON PICTURES.

V It's with regret that I have to tell you that Lisa Barbosa, our treasurer for the last three years, is resigning“ affective March 1 to pursue graduate work in banking. Over the last three years Lisa has continually re ' ed and improved the workings of our nances. She has been an incredible asset to the Society and she will be sorely missed. That's the bad news. The good news is we have a very competent individual that has agreed to take over this position. We will focus on our new treasurer next month.

Dave Ball

THE WINNER OF THE DRAWING FOR THE QUILT WAS MRS. REGIS DUFOURS OF BROCKTON. CONGRATULATIONS!

ARCHIVES CORNER The following is continued from last month's article about "Family and Kinship" in "Plymouth County, 1685", by Cynthia I-Iagar Krusell.

"Some wills indicate the attitudes and special concern the colonists had for their servants. Peter Collamer of Scituate left to his servant, William Clift, "all that my ten acres lot of land lying or being at Saconet, provided that he shall prove faithful, trusty and obedient unto my cousin, ye said Anthony Collamer, during ye remaining part of his said Clifts service, which I do by these presents will and appoint him to serve with my said cousin Anthony Collamer." A succession of owners considered the well-beintg.of a black servant girl, Mariah, over the many years that she was willed from one family member to ano er. In 1673, Walter Briggs of Scituate bought Mariah for 14 pounds 10 shillings from Margaret Cox, wife of Edward Cox, a mariner of Boston. At the time of Walter's death in 1684, Mariah was given to his widow. Later she was given to his son, John, \-/ and then to ]olm's widow, Deborah. She gave Mariah to Walter’s ypungest son, Comelius Briggs of Barnstable, in 1688. Cornelius died in 1693, and his will provided that ‘s "negro servant woman named Mauria shall, thirteen years after date, be set free and at liberty, to be at her own disposing." In 1694, Lieutenant James Briggs, executor of the will of his brother, Cornelius, sold Mariah to Stephen Otis for eleven pounds silver money, "she to serve the said Otis from date until eleven years shall be fully ended, at the end of which time the negro woman is to be free and at her own disposal." There was concern among families for the welfare of servants as well as for that of kin.

Estate inventories, which listed the material possessions of an individual at the time of death, provide an understanding of family life in Plymouth Colony. Inventories mentioned the value of an estate, sometimes the acreage of lands held and the number and types of buildings owned by the deceased. They often included movable goods, numbers of servants, with time due the estate from each and an account of debts owed by and to the deceased.

Inventories listed household furnishings, beds and bedding, linen, clothin , kitchen utensils, books, tools, swords, guns and ammunition, -tobacco, food items, boats, shing tackle, %orse's equipment and pillions, farm utensils and cattle. The extent of a farm could be estimated by the number and type of sheep, swine, oxen, and neat cattle, farm tools and wquipment, types of crops raised and other activities, such as beekeeping. Items listed in the inventory indicate t e living patterns, interests, and occupations of a particular family." Next month I will continue with some Scituate families and their occupations, as indicated by their inventories. Dorothy Clapp Langley Special Notice This month's newsletter is smaller than usual. This is because of an equipment (printer) problem that we ran V into right at the end of the month. Everything will be corrected for next month so we should be back to our normal size then. Thank you. Editor. Scituate I-llatorlcal Society p. 8 Inch 1% Address Correction requested Non_pI-Ont OI-g_ P.O. Box 276 U.S. Postage SCICIIDIZE, MA 02066 P A I D SCITUATE, MA. 02066 \ PERMIT‘ NO. 23 ,,.,¢oo

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Mystery Photograph Can you identify this picture? If you can, put the answer on a piece of paper with your name, address and phone number and drop it in the mystery photograph box at the Laidlaw Historical Center. The first correct answer selected wins a sheet of assorted postcards. Good Luck.

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Scituate Historical Society p. 4 March 1999

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Uncle John Brown The history of Scituate differs greatly from that of its neighbor to the south, Marshfield. And the history of Marshfield differs greatly from that of Hull. For while every South Shore community has been subjected to the same forces of history as has its neighbors, close enough to each other, for instance, to experience the same storms, each has reacted to major events in unique ways. After the Boston Tea Party in December of 1773, Marshfield patriots, living in a dominantly Tory community, stole through the night gathering British tea, eventually setting it ablaze on a large flat rock; in Hull, a small, remote fishing village where foodstuffs were in scarce supply, the town's leaders stated that they would join in with the patriot cause against the British, but would keep their tea, as they had no quarrel with it per se. Yet while such instances will always separate the towns of the South Shore from sharing an absolute communal history (and who would want that?), certain traits will forever link Hull with Cohasset, Scituate with Marshfield, and so on. For while the stories behind Scituate's Hatchet Rock, Hull's King Rock, and Marshfield's Tea Rock Hill differ, the same basic cast of characters, with different names and different faces, acted out those stories. As small coastal Massachusetts communities, each South Shore town at the turn of the century could boast of a group of men, roughly twenty per cent of the population, who were known around town simply as "Captain." Each town had at least one outspoken, middle-aged woman, usually a widow, who defied all of the unwritten gender-based standards of the day and forcefully called for social change at town meetings, predominately male affairs. Each community pridefully smiled upon Little Miss (insert your name here), the musically-talented daughter of Captain and Mrs. (same name). Each town had at least one lohn Smith, of varying degrees of success and popularity. ' Each stretch of coastline had its share of lifesavers, led by a grand old man who had been at it for at least a quarter of a century. Each awatied the arrival of its distinguished political or business world monied summer visitor, whose presence signalled the anticipated beginning of the busiest and most lucrative season of the year. And in each South Shore community, the most popular and well-loved citizen, was the oldest man in town. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Uncle Iohn Brown stood tall and ”as straight as the proverbial arrow" as the oldest man in Scituate. "A friend of every one in the town" with " a hearty handshake for all," Brown walked every Sunday from his home at Sherman's Corner to the edifice of the North Baptist Church, rain or shine. He frequently enjoyed walking down to the harbor village or over to First Cliff to visit friends, picking up the daily newspapers as he went. He was born at the beginning of the nineteenth century, on ]uly 14, 1808, the sixth of the nine children of Jonathan and Sarah (Mann) Brown. Five years later, he learned his first Sunday school verses. About 1825, at 17 years old, he took up the ship caulking trade in Boston. Too poor to afford weekly carriage rides there and back, he instead decided to walk the thirty miles or so between Scituate and Boston twice a week, just to spend his Sundays at home with family and friends. Eventually finding similar work on the North River, where the shipbuilding industry was still at that time thriving, he settled into life in Scituate, joining the church in 1833, getting married to Clarissa Cook on Scituate Historical Society p.1 April 1999

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4,"'.._<;-1* \l.I 9,“° November 29, 1832, and raising four boys. His two older sons fought for the Union in the Civil War. George Davis Brown, at that time a resident of East Bridgewater, enlisted with Company "C" of the 29th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry in May of 1861, just a month after the Confederate shelling of Fort Sumter. His regiment spent the winter of 1861-62 at Newport News, Virginia where on March 9th they witnessed the naval battle that shook the world, the clash of the ironclads Monitor and Merrimac. Three months later, on June 15, 1862, George Davis Brown died while on picket duty at Fair Oaks, Virginia. George had already been killed by the time that his brother Bela Francis Brown, a Taunton watchmaker, enlisted with Company "C" of the 22nd Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry on August 18, 1862. Had George survived, he would have crossed paths with his brother at Fredericksburg on December 13, 1862, where the 29th and 22nd met to fight the insurgent Conderates. Already having seen action at the Second Battle of Bull Run and watching in reserve the bloody engagement at Antietam, where more Americans died in one day than did in the entire Revolutionary War, Bela received his first wounds at Fredericksburg. He survived 1863, fighting at Gettysburg and Rappahannock Station. In early Spring 1864, the 22nd participated in a umber of the battles that earned General Ulysses S. Grant the nickname “Unconditional Surrender," at the Wilderness on May 5, and at Spotsylvania May 8-12. On May 10, Bela was wounded on the field at Laurel Hill; on May 17, he died in a hospital in Washington, D.C. Back home in Scituate, Uncle John Brown, by now in his fifties, served with the home guard. Years after the war he accepted an honorary membership to the George W. Perry post 31, Grand Army of the Republic, becoming their unofficial mascot. Even up into his 90's, he led the post's Memorial (or Decoration) Day parades, “wearing a continental hat, and swinging along at a gait that makes many of the younger veterans hustle." Towards the end of his life, as he neared a century in age, Uncle John Brown's star rose in the community, as Floretta Vining’s syndicate of South Shore newspapers even ran a lengthy (for its time) profile on him, complete with a picture, in 1903, when he was 94 years old. By that time he had taken a fall while visiting friends in Manomet and had been confined to his home, where a woman cared for the long-time widower nonagenarian as if he were her own son. At the time of his passing in 1907, Uncle John Brown left two sons, John E. Brown of Taunton and Peleg Thomas Brown of Sandwich. To his dying day he remembered his earliest Sunday school verses. Attempting to instill in the people of Scituate the amazing scope of a life that lasted nearly a hundred years, Henry Turner Bailey noted that Brown had lived under 24 of the first 27 presidents of the United States, having voted for twenty of them. “No man bom in Scituate can remember when Uncle John Brown was not there. He has been as much a part of the furnishings of the town as Old Scituate Light or Hatchet Rock." (Scituate Light was activated in 1811 when Brown was three years old; he was 52 when it was deactivated in 1860; it had been out for 47 years by the time he died.) The lives of citizens like Uncle John Brown" are what bring enjoyment to researchers of local history. His story is the type that links his home town with dozens of other communities, for each had their own oldest resident to champion and write about; all placed in the same room, they would be indistinguishable to an outsider. But the experiences that John Brown had, the people he met, the life he led, all come together to form a part of history that is unmistakably Scituate's. While all historical figures may be seen as stock characters upon a stage, the way John Brown played his role is what makes the history of Scituate, uniquely Scituate's.

John Galluzzo

t Archives Corner " The 1689 inventory of the Scituate estate of William Barrell included clothing, seven beds, bedding and linen, two books, two guns and a sword, a barrel of tobacco, cotton, linen and wool yarn, wood and brass vessels, tubs and fireplace utensils and a great variety of furniture, including tables, trunks, seven chairs, a cradle and a looking glass. Barrell had an average-sized Plymouth Colony farm with twenty-five sheep, eight swine, seven cows, and three horses. He also had two beehives. A listing of ”smith's tools in the shop," which included an anvil and smith's bellows, 600 weight of unwrought iron, stools, charcoal and scales, indicated that William Barrell engaged in smithing as well as farming. In addition, he owned a canoe, the only one listed in thirty-ve inventories of the period. Barrell probably used the canoe for travel on the North River, as he lived on his wife's farm on the Scituate Historical Bocioty p.2 April 1999 river near the "block house". Barrell also owned one-third part in a sloop, which he probably used in the coastal trade or for fishing. A man of many occupations, William Barrell left an estate of over 190 pounds, above average for the period. Frequent intermarriage among the families of Plymouth Colony resulted in a network of families engaged in interrelated occupations in the North River Valley and throughout the colony. William Barrell married Lydia Turner James, who was the widow of John James, a Scituate shipbuilder. Lydia was the daughter of John Turner, Sr., a tanner and son of Humphrey Turner, also a tanner and one of the original Men of Kent who settled Scituate. Lydia's mother was Mary Brewster, granddaughter of Elder William Brewster of the Mayflower. Ship-building depended on other industries, such as iron making, blacksmithing, sail-making, cord working, and sawmilling. Locally built ships carried lumber and farm produce in the lucrative coastal trade. Families who were blood related, even though living apart from one another, presented a support system and a kinship network of occupational activities.

The Stockbridge family of Scituate is representative of North River families. Interwoven both by kinship and occupation with other families of the valley. The estate of Charles Stockbridge, miller, was inventoried on February 23, 1683/ 84. The list of his property reveals that he was involved in gristmilling and sawmilling in a variety of locations up and down the North River, as well as at Plymouth, Hingham and Mattakeesett (Pembroke). His principal assets were land, mills and mill rights. He owned ” a corn mill at home", a corn mill and a saw mill on Third Herring Brook, a one-eighth part of a cornmill and one-eighth part of a sawmill at Straits Pond in Hingham, a one-fourth part of a sawmill with Captain Jacob Hingham, a one-fourth part of a sawmill at Mattakeesett, one-half part of a sawmill at Plymouth, "one corne mill at Plymouth being old and crasie," and one-eighth part of a sawmill which was formerly Cornet Stetson's. He also owned fty acres of land in Duxbury, fifty-four acres of land along Third Herring Brook in Scituate, ten acres in Conahasett, and ”one smale compass platforme staffe 8: chaine to surveigh land." The value of Stockbridge's estate was 972 pounds 6 shillings 2d. Charles Stockbridge was a successful and wealthy businessman of Plymouth Colony." - (The above was taken from Plymouth Colony, 1685, by Cynthia H. Krusell; pages 46, 47, Family and Kinship.)

._ Dorothy Langley - archivist NOTE: The trustees would like to thank Dorothy for her contributions to making this newsletter the very popular vehicle for transmitting Scituate’s history that it is. Due to health problems, she will be unable to contribute to the newsletter for the foreseeable future. Thank you Dorothy and we wish you a speedy return to health. ed. A Face From Old Scituate

This beautiful c. 1860 tintype of Sally Merritt Damon (see next page) is one of the countless images from the Scituate Historical Society's photograph collection.

Sally Merritt was born on August 22, 1805. She was one of nine children born to Ensign and Sally (Cook) Merritt. Ensign was a shipwright by trade. He was the son of Obediah and Deborah (Litchfield) Merritt. Obediah who was also is listed in Shipbuilders of the North River as having worked at the Chittenden Yard in the years before and after the Revolution. Scituate Historical 8oci0ty p.3 April 1999 In 1785 he and another son Noah became owners of

. the 56 ton schooner "Lively" . Odediah was the grandson of Henry Merritt, one of the earliest settlers of Scituate.

Sally Merritt married James Damon on July 30, 1826 in Scituate. Their marriage produced eight children. James Doane b. 1827, Robert Ensign b. 1828, Marcus Morton b. 1830, Sarah Allen b. 1832, Jesse b. 1837, Joseph b. 1838, Charles in 1841, and Lucius in 1844. In 1855 Sarah would marry Theodore C. Freeman of East

Bridgewater. -

The harsh realities of life in days gone by are evident in the family of James and Sally Damon. In the late winter of 1852 son Jesse age 15 was lost at sea while on a fishing voyage. Oldest son James would succumb to illness three years later in 1855. Youngest son Lucius would also pass away at the age of 15 in the winter of 1860. Charles would follow in 1866. Marcus age 37 would depart this life in 1867, leaving a wife and children. To be able to withstand such personal loss is almost inconceivable today. Perhaps her strong religious convictions helped her cope with such tragedies. As the 19th century drew to a close, the United States continued its transformation from an agrarian to an industrial society. Sally Merritt Damon passed away at the age of 91 on September 30, 1896. Though she has been gone for over one hundred years we have this wonderful image of a Scituate lady of yesterday, preserved by your Scituate Historical Society.

. Dave Corbin Conihasset

From an old scrapbook kept in the 1880's I nd that a certain part of Scituate was called Conihasset. There were weekly articles entitled "Conihasset" from a local newspaper, the South Shore Herald, which were pasted into the scrapbook. I could tell from the names mentioned that the area of Conihasset covered Grove Street, Clapp Road, Mungo's Corner, Booth Hill Road and the upper reaches of First Parish Road. This part of the town, in my day, was called the West End or in Grandpa's day, West Scituate. I knew there had been a building called Conihasset Hall which had stood on Clapp Road at the junction of Booth Hill Road. It was built sometime before the Civil War and had been the center of society for Conihasset all through the war and afterwards. For many consecutive weeks during the winter season an entertainment of some kind had been held every evening and on Sunday religious services were held there. Two nights were devoted to a dancing school where the young folks were taught to trip the light fantastic, two more to a singing school, a fifth to an assembly where all hands congregated, and the remaining one was a branch of the Temperance Society which was formed in 1849.

Bcituatc Historical Society p.4 April 1999 s i .' e Now, in January of 1885, Conihasset Hall stands “deserted and lonesome" according to an article in the scrapbook.

Feb. 1886: “There's music in the air and a pleasurable excitement pervades the community, for old “Cony” is to be refitted with a hard pine floor and heated by a salamanda stove, especially cast for the purpose by Mr. Salamanda himself".

' March 1886: “Billings Merritt has finished partitioning the lower story of Conihasset Hall building into 3 — rooms, namely dining room, cook room, and coat-and smoke room".

March 1886: “The March-meeting night ball was a big success. Another dance to be held next week".

Apr. 1886: “ A number of coaches will convey passengers from East Weymouth to Conihasset Hall on Fast Night. The committee is preparing for a great occasion".

1888: “ A dramatic exhibition will be given before long by the Conihasset Dramatic Club. There will be some fine talent and a new curtain and proscenium”. [Proscenium - the area of a theatre located between the curtain and the orchestra.]

1888: “A Sociable under the management of George Hyland came off at Conihasset Hall on January 2nd, the second in a series to be given by said gentleman. Although slightly a failure in a pecuniary sense, in every other way it was a most enjoyable evening.

1889: “Remember the dance at Conihasset Hall, St. Valentine's night. Prizes to the best waltzers".

Feb. 26, 1889: “Another of those enjoyable dances occurred on St. Valentine's night at Conihasset Hall. The management is especially lucky in having fine weather, and a good night brought out all the old patrons and consequently a good fair crowd was present with just about room enough to dance. Miss Flora Litchfield and Thomas Kingsley drew the prizes for the best waltzers. The prizes were two handsome valentines. Eddie Gardner was on hand and amused the audience for over an hour by his quaint shufing".

1889: "Beware the Ides of March and remember the evening of the 30th as there is going to be one of those good old time at Cony which you cannot affort to miss. Gracie Clapp is a prize waltzer”. From the South Shore Herald, Sept. 1, 1889 “The young folks here had a great time Saturday afternoon, August 31, in the "Nut" woods. We are in doubt whether to call it a picnic, a house opener, or a clam -bake minus the clams. Some of the boys have quite an elegant hut built of slabs in the said woods, and they arranged with their High Street playmates to have a celebration. The affair was admirably planned and carried out, and the children will have a good time to look back on when they are grown up. They were severally allotted to bring the different eatables either the raw material or manufactured article, and thus avoided a surplus in any department. It took a good part of the time to get the dinner ready. The meal consisted of sweet corn, sweet potatoes, roasted Irish potatoes, cucumbers, bread, cakes, pies, apples, pears, grapes, and bananas. Johnnie Manson and "l(ib" Merritt were the efficient stewards and the cooking was prime. Later in the day some of the parents dropped in to watch the proceedings. The following are the names of the children present: John (16) and Arthur (7) Manson, Kilbom (13), Roy and Harold Merritt, Robbie Stoddard (7), Robbie Mills, Ella Vinal, Bertha Osborne (13), Nina Gordad (13), and Mattie (11), Marion (7), Hannah (13), Edna (11), and Elsie Clapp (6)".

Bcituato Historical Society 9.5 April 1999 1889: “The Masquerade at Conihasset Hall on Christmas Eve was a social and financial success, everyone having a good time. Seventy-ve dancing and twenty-two spectator tickets were sold and the caterer ran short of provender before all hungry ones were fed. Merritt and Bates put up 24 horses and there were half dozen teams quartered at another place".

1890: “Everyone was well satisfied with the dance that took place at Conihasset Hall on March-meeting night. There were about forty couples present which should have been a good attendance taking into account the dark night and bad passing. The music was good although two of the pieces engaged failed to appear. The good looks of the young ladies of this popular hall have the effect of attracting young men from a distance nearly always ensures a good crowd. The waltzing was particularly fine there being a number of prize waltzers present. The dance broke up at 2 o'clock. 9

How much longer Conihasset Hall prospered, I do not know. The 1903 map of Scituate shows Conihasset Hall but eventually deterioration from disuse set in and it was taken down. Margaret Cole Bonney 1999 Diane Vines - Scituate Historical Society's New Treasurer

Diane has lived in Scituate all her life. Her father’s family goes back to the mid-1600's. She graduated from Scituate High School and attended Mount Ida College in Newton. She has been employed as a bookkeeper / secretary for a number of small businesses, mostly local, for about 45 years. She and her husband Dick have two sons. Welcome aboard Diane. Active member of the Society Passes Away The Society was saddened with the news that Marjorie Maish, a long-time active volunteer and life member, had passed away unexpectedly at her home in Framingham. Marjorie was a faithfull volunteer for many years at the Cudworth House. Her dedication to the Society will be missed. Our sympathy goes out to her family. Special Thank You to Jacquie White The Society would like to extend a special thank you to Jacquie White for her faithful service as a volunteer at the Laidlaw Center. Jacquie's enthusiasm and support of the Society is gratefully appreciated. She was a volunteer for over three years. Our President undergoes Eye Surgery

Dave Ball has had to undergo eye surgery for the second time in two years. This time on his "good" eye. Dave will be recuperating at home for at least three weeks. [Less if he has his way!] We all wish him well. Archaeology Group Meeting

Upcoming May Meeting of the South Shore and North River Chapters of Massachusetts Archaeology Society will be held at the Laidlaw Center on May 20th. Joe Finneran will speak on prehistoric England with a special video presentation. Mystery Photo winners: March - Charles Stockbridge - 22 Collier Ave. North Scituate; Feb.- Juanita Pearl - Humarock Fire/Police Station. Scituate Historical iocioty p.6 April 1999 Gates Teacher Receives Geography Grant At a ceremony held at Bridgewater State College on March 27th Dr. Vernon Domingo, co director of SEMAGNET and a professor of Earth Sciences and Geography at BSC, presented Mr. Fred Freitas one of the first T.O.G.A. (Teacher of Geographic Advancement) awards granted by SEMAGNET (SouthEastern Massachusetts Geography Network). Mr. Freitas's grant deals with the teaching of the five fundamental themes of Geography at work in Scituate through a field trip to the Scituate Maritime and Irish Mossing Museum. Several objectives focusing on Scituate's history and geography will be developed in this mini-grant. Lessons will be developed for one of Mr. William Corbett’s seventh grade Social Studies classes with the culminating activity a eld trip to the new Maritime and Irish Mossing Museum. The eld trip will take place in early Iune of this year. Your Ad Could Be Here!. Please su ort these businesses that su ort us

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NEWSLETTER

Mystery Photograph answer on a piece of paper with . Can you identify this picture? If you can, put the your name, address and phone number and drop it in the mystery photograph box at the Laidlaw Historical Center. The first correct answer selected wins a sheet of

assorted postcards. Good Luck. "

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J V. Volume 3 Issue 10 May, 1999

The Summer Season Is Just Around the Corner. When Was the Last Time You Visited One of Our Historic Sites?

When was the last time you were in the Cudworth House? Or the Mann House? Or Lawson Tower? Or the Mill?Or the Bucket? Or the Lighthouse? Or the GAR? Or the James House? With the summer season just around the corner why not make it a priority to visit Scituate's historic sites and become reacquainted with the Manns, Cudworths, Northeys, Woodworths, Bates, James, and Lawsons among others. See the schedule below. Sites are open from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m..

Date Sites Sunday, July 11 Cudworth House and Barn; Lawson Tower Sunday, July 18 Mann Farmhouse and Wildower Garden; Lighthouse Sunday, July 25 Cudworth I-louse and Barn; Lawson Tower Sunday August 1 Mann Farmhouse and Wildower Garden; Lighthouse Saturday and Sunday August 7 and 8 All sites are open Heritage Days Sunday, August 22 Cudworth House and Barn; Lawson Tower Sunday, August 29 Mann House and Wildower Garden; Lighthouse

The Cudworth House and the Mann House will have special activities on some of the above dates. Please check media for information or call 781-545-1083 (Laidlaw Center).

The Maritime and Irish Mossing Museum will be open Saturday and Sunday 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. June 19th through August, 29, 1999.

Please come and support your Society.

Mystery Photo Clarification The selection of the winning entry for the mystery photo is as follows. At the end of the month all submissions are separated into two groups - correct and incorrect responses. All the correct responses are mixed up and then one is selected. This is the winning entry. I'm sorry for any confusion. Editor. same Historical Society p.1 May1999 The 190th Birthday of the Harbor United Methodist Church “At a meeting of the inhabitants of the Town of Scituate qualified to vote in town affairs held on the 15th of May 1809. John Collamore chosen Clerk Pro-Tem. Voted to choose a committee to examine into the petition of Robert Goode and others for a Methodist Society and that Augustus Clapp, Iohn Otis, Cushing Otis, James Sparrell & Elijah Barstow be said committee. Voted to empower said committee to give the representatives such instructions as said committee shall think proper." (Scituate Town Archives, Vol. C-8B, Page 104)

From the founding of the Plymouth Colony until 1859, each town appropriated money annually to support the local minister. Before the Revolution the established minister in each town was pastor of the predecessor of the present Congregational (U.C.C.) and, or Unitarian/ Univeralist Church. Article III of the Declaration of Rights of the 1780 Massachusetts Constitution required the allocation of ministerial taxes to recognized religious societies based on the number of taxlpayers in their congregations. In Plymouth County, Baptist and Friends (Quaker) Societies were t e first to be recognized followed by the Methodist Societies after 1800. Scituate formally recognized the Methodist Society in 1809 and the Town Clerk registered each Methodist taxpayer individually until 1825. Amendment XVIII to the State Constitution was adopted in 1859. This amendment prohibited the payment of public funds for the support of any religious activity.

Charles Sparrell Notice of Annual Meeting The Scituate Historical Society will hold its Annual Meeting on Saturday, June 19th, at 2:00 p.m. at the Kathleen Laidlaw Historical Center on Cudworth Road. The Meeting will consist of annual reports from the President, Secretary, and Treasurer, as well as action on the following report of the Nominating Committee:

1. Election of Trustees (for three-year terms): Nammm Em2u.a.u2n.s2f_tsrm Duncan B. Todd 2002 Frederick C. Freitas 2002

2. Election of Officers (for two-year terms): Vice-President - Aministration - W. Gray Curtis 2000 (unexpired term) Vice-President - Preservation - Paul R. Miles 2001 Treasurer - Diane B. Vines 2001

3. Other business that may come before the Meeting.

Please make every effort to attend the Meeting. If you are unable to attend, please ll out the proxy below and return it to the Society before June 19th. Respectfully, Ellen M. Swider Secretary ...... _-.PtcascCut.oud01te

I am a member in good standing of the Scituate Historical Society and hereby vote U For D Against the election of the Trustees and Officers shown in the Report of the Nominating Committee.

Date Name of Member

same Historical Society p.2 May1999 DAR News The Chief Justice Cushing Chapter of the DAR met at the Maritime and

Irish Mossing Museum on March llth to honor and present to each of . our Good Citizens a Recognition Pin and Certificate. A DAR Good Citizen is a senior high school student who excels in qualities of dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism. Our Chapter covers the Towns of Norwell, Hanover, and Scituate. This year’s winners were Ann Miller from Hanover High, Pamela Connelly from Norwell High and Michael Field from Scituate High. Our special guests included the parents of Pamela Connelly and Ann Miller, Sylvia White, grandmother of Ann, and Betty Whitaker, great aunt of Ann. Michael was unable to attend due to a previous school-related commitment. Out three “Good Citizens” will also receive a monetary award upon graduation. We are very proud of our past and present DAR Good Citizens. On Saturday, March 20, the Massachusetts DAR honored the 5 finalists in the “Good Citizen and Essay Contest” at its State Conference Luncheon held at the Radison Inn, Marlborough. Ann Miller of Hanover High School was one of the finalists. Each student received an award and the Chief Justice Cushing Chapter was delighted when the State Chairman announced that Ann Miller was the Top Winner. The Chapter Regent, Vice-Regent, Ex-Regent, and Mr. & Mrs. Roger Miller attended this very special luncheon. At our April 8th Meeting held at the home of Dorothy Keyes. Charles Sparrell, associate member of the conseration Committee, gave us some interesting insights on our “Open Space, Conservation & Recreational Interest” in our lands.

X0_ur_Ad_c0_u1d_.b_e_Her.e_L!l THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT Please support these businesses that support us

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NEWSLETTER

Mystery Photograph Can you identify this picture? If you can, put the answer on a piece of paper with your name, address and phone number and drop it in the mystery photograph box at the Laidlaw Historical Center. The rst correct answer selected wins a sheet of assorted postcards. Good Luck.

Scituate Historical Society p. 4 May 1999 Q1».

. -2% . . '5, '4. M- . -- 3‘ \< . E1 Scituate Historical =\ Society Newsletter P.0. Box 276 Scituate, MA 02066 (781-545-1083) / (fax 781-545-8287) 5°. ."-?""""-/ T ii ; -ji .0 ‘Q’ 9 . .. . 0 0 0 ~ http://www.z1pl1nk.net/~h1story

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Volume 3 Issue 11 June, 1999

Iune is Membership Month Scituate Historical Society membership runs from July 1st to June 30th of each year. Dues paid now cover July 1, 1999 to Iune 30, 2000. Newsletter printing and mailing costs continue to increase, but we have held the membership fee at its low rate for three years. Some changes will have to be made in the future if we are to continue providing services to the membership. So please carefully read the insert on Dues that comes with this newsletter and respond as soon as possible. If you know of a neighbor, friend, or relative who would like to join the Society, please encourage them to do so. A society is only as good as its membership, and with our great Society we want to spread the word. So please help. Thank you. Mann House Wildflower G arden The Wildower Garden on the grounds of the historic ' Mann House is an ongoing civic project of the Scituate Garden Club. Started in 1981, its objective was to provide visitors with a serene native wildower and plant garden. It would also provide education to people about our native plants. The 3/4 acre site offers varied ecosystems ranging from a sunny field, to a glacial boulder and bog pond area, and shady woodlands. This enables many plants from various habitats to co-exist on this historic property.

" The Scituate Garden Club will hold this year's annual plant sale at the Mann House on Saturday, Iune 5th from 9 A.M. to 1 P.M. Many of the garden's wildowers will be offerred for sale as well as new introductions and plants from garden club members’ own gardens.

contact person(s): Kathy McCormack 545-2139; Marsha Hoar 545-9146

Scituate Historical Society p. 1 June 1999 What Happens When the Society Has An Artifact the Coast Guard Wants Back Very Badly? Maritime Museum Acquires Two Important Artifacts

Two years ago the Coast Guard placed on loan with us a large lightship bell. Maybe you recall seeing it on the lawn at the lighthouse. Last summer I received a call from the Chief Warrant Officer of a coast guard station south of here asking about our loan agreement. It quickly became apparent to me they wanted the bell back! As it tums out this bell was the center of a dispute between two municipalities. Coast Guard officials offered us a similar bell or possibly some other item if we would cooperate! I saw this as an opportunity to obtain something unique for our maritime museum. After months of negotiations and paperwork we struck an agreement. I'm pleased to be able to report that a Lyle Gun and Fresnel Lens were recently shipped to the maritime museum. Both artifacts will be on exhibit for the summer opening on Iune 19. Inlor_der to prepare these items for exhibit, the museum will not_be open on May 30 as originally scheduled;

I don't know of any other maritime museum that has examples of both a Lyle Gun and a Massachusetts Humane Society gun. These small cannons were used to rig a breeches buoy to a vessel in distress. The acqusition of the fourth order Fresnel lens will allow visitors an up close look how lighthouses were able to cast a powerful beam of light over wide distances. Be sure to visit the museum and learn more about these unique additions to our collection.

I want the membership to know that the Coast Guard was extremely cooperative throughout the negotiations. I jokingly said it might be nice if they shipped the Lyle Gun just before April 15 so that we would feel we were getting something for our tax dollar. They thought that was a great idea. It arrived on April 15!

Dave Ball Research Opportunities or Did You Know? We are very lucky, here at the Historical Society, to have so many opportunities to look further into something that has piqued our curiousity. From large items to small, the variety of objects we have in our collection is a researcher's goldmine. Recently, I found just such an opportunity.

While cleaning at the Cudworth House, we came across a cunningly fashioned small pocketbook or purse. This small item had been fashioned by hand, with a red silk drawstring top and leather sides. It has quill-work decoration and is quite fascinating to examine. Inside, however, was an even more fascinating item. It was a commemorative coin. There is no date, but the inscription on the obverse reads, "John C. Fremont" ; "Free Soil & Free Speech". I was intrigued! The verso has ”United States of America" with an American eagle, his head tumed to the left clutching sheaves in one claw and arrows in the other.

How many of you know what the inscription means? I must admit that I did not know and so proceeded to look it up (as you can do for anything that strikes your fancy). Scituate Historical Society p. 2 Iune 1999 John Charles Fremont (1813-1890) was born in Savannah, GA., and studied at Charleston, (S.C.) College. He is sometimes called "the Pathfinder" because he explored much of the area between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. The famous Kit Carson was guide for many of these expeditions. In 1841 he married Jessie Benton, the daughter of the powerful Missouri senator Thomas Hart Benton. She helped her husband by writing stirring accounts about his Rocky Mountain explorations. He served in both the Army and the Navy and later became U.S. Senator from the new state of Califomia. In 1856 he became the rst Republican (also called "Black Republicans") candidate for President of the United States when the Free Soil Party was absorbed into that organization.

The Free Soil Party was a political group organized in Buffalo, N.Y. in 1848. The party opposed the admission of new slave states into the Union. Martin Van Buren became the Free Soil party's candidate for President that first year, but was defeated by Zachary Taylor. This election, however, marked the first uniform election day under the Elections Act of 1845. The Party slogan was "Free Soil, Free Speech, Free Labor, and Free Men". In 1856, when Fremont became the Republican candidate, the slogan was "Free Speech, Free Soil, Free Men, Fremont, and Victory!" That election was lost to James Buchanan, a Democrat; however, Fremont carried 11 states to Buchanan's winning 19.

For those of you who wish to do more research on John Charles Fremont (a controversial man! Why did he serve in both the Army and the Navy?) or Jessie Benton Fremont (interesting in her own right), the Scituate Public Library has over 30 titles from which to choose!

So much history is here for us to seek out. How fortunate we are to have had far thinking members who wanted all of us to reap the benefits of our historical heritage. The lesson here is, don't throw it away - see if the Historical Society will add it to the collection for future generations to enjoy and wonder over!

Carol Miles, Curator/Archivist The Lawson Estate Gates

These monumental gate-posts and gates . marked the main entrance to Thomas W. Lawson's horse-breeding farm and estate when it was in its full glory. Many of the original buildings and landmarks still exist, including Dreamwold, the Lawson Tower,- and the Lawson Common with its elephant fountain. The Lawson Gateposts are another significant land-mark, but in recent years they have fallen into disrepair. They are owned by the town, but no one seems to be in charge of them, so it appears that the Historical Society will need to assume the role of custodian if the gates are to be saved. We feel that they are a significant part of the picture of the "life- Scituate Historical Society p. 3 . . A. ~ style of the rich and famous" which was lived by the Lawsons in their hey-day.

Glen and Doug Fields have recently sold their 1787 cape on Man Hill and bought a condo at Sunlight Estates. Theirs is the end unit, in front, adjoining Bossy Lane - which is entered from Branch Street through the Lawson Gates. If you drive by on Branch St., the gate-posts don't look too shabby . But, from the other side

3 on Bossy Lane, it is obvious that they are rotting

1 away and may be in danger of toppling over. Glen Fields has offered to spear-head a fund

raising effort among neighbors, families who live in Lawson Houses, and everyone in the Historical Society who would like to help with the project of restoring the gates. You will be hearing more about this project soon! Titanic's Man of Mystery The last time May Futrelle saw her husband she was sitting in a lifeboat watching as he stood on deck calmly smoking a cigarette with John Jacob Astor. She had resisted getting into the lifeboat, but Jacques had insisted, assuring her that somehow he would catch up with her later and that she must save herself for the sake of their children. Fortunately, the children, John and Virginia, had not gone with them to Europe.

There were only fourteen others sharing the lifeboat with her, though it had the capacity for 65 people. Stars lit up the clear night sky, casting an ethereal light on the tragic scene of lifeboats carrying women and children, along with a few ship's officers who were struggling to row a safe distance from the ”unsinkable" Titanic which was slipping further into the black icy waters of the North Atlantic. '

By the time the survivors in lifeboats were picked up by the Carpathia in the light of dawn, hundreds of passengers and crew had gone down with the ship in the early morning hours of April 15, 1912. B

Jacques celebrated his 37th birthday on April 9, just prior to his death in the Titanic disaster. Born 1875 in Pike County, Georgia, to Wiley Harmon Heath Futrelle and Linnie (Bevill) Futrelle, he attended public and private schools but was also tutored by his father who taught at a prepatory college in Atlanta. In addition to basic academics, he was tutored in French, and Greek and Latin Classics, as well as contemporary fiction that included the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Sherlock Holmes became his literary hero.

Lennie Futrelle nurtured her son in the appreciation of the arts, which became an integral part of his adult lifestyle and interests. The arts were a source he often used in his writing.

Jacques began his writing career with the Atlanta Journal at age 18. He was only 19 when he accepted a reporter's job with the Boston Post, but became homesick and returned to Atlanta and his work at the Journal. His success with setting up the Journal's rst sports department Scituate Historical Society p. 4 June 1999 was so outstanding he was recommended for a position with the New York Herald. Before leaving for New York, he and his sweetheart, Lily May Peel, were married in a private ceremony at her parent's home in Atlanta on July 17, 1895. They were both just 20 years old and very much in love. Intimate friends often described the marriage as an extended honeymoon.

Jacques began writing mystery and detective stories in his spare time as a creative outlet, as the factual reporting required in his newspaper job did not allow any expression of his creativity. During the brief Spanish-American War, the pressures and demands of his job became so great it affected his health to the point of exhaustion.

His sister, Alberta, offered Jacques and his family the use of her summer home on the coast of Scituate, Massachusetts, where he was able to reclaim his health.

In 1902, Jacques accepted the management of a small repertory theater in Richmond, Virginia, an opportunity he felt he could not refuse. He wrote several plays and performed at theaters in Baltimore, Maryland and Knoxville, Tennessee.

When the two-year theater contract expired, the Futrelles returned to their home, Stepping Stones, in Scituate. He accepted a position on the editorial staff of the new Boston AmericanI and continued writing fiction in his spare time. He created the character of "The Thinking Machine", a professor of outstanding intellectual insight who appeared in a series of 42 stories, from 1905 to 1912. Jacques’ stories of the Thinking Machine are some of the best detective stories ever written. More than a quarter century after his death, the stories were re-serialized in the Beaverbrook newspapers. If Jacques’ life had not ended so prematurely, he would have certainly become a major figure in the development of the American detective story.

May Futrelle also authored several novels, notably “The Secretary of Frivolous Affairs”, a best seller for six consecutive years. She wrote a lengthy two-part article for the Boston Post, published April 21 and 22, 1912, graphically describing her experience of the Titanic tragedy. She published Jacques’ last novel ”My Lady's Garter" (1912) after his death. This novel opens with a full-page formal photograph of Jacques and the inscription: ”To the heroes of the Titanic I dedicate this my husband's book."

May was instrumental in getting a new Federal Publication Copyright Act enacted in 1940. President Roosevelt presented her with the pen he used to sign the bill into law.

May felt she was no longer afraid of death after that tragic night her husband pushed her into the lifeboat and waited gallantly for his own certain death. Though she had witnessed the worst marine disaster of all time, her spirit was undaunted. In her own words she ”. . . lived a full and lovely life", which was spent at Stepping Stones. For as long as she was able, every year on April 14, she stood alone on Third Cliff, along the Scituate coast, and tossed a bouquet of fresh flowers, sprinkled with her tears, into the sea. It was her private memorial to Jacques and to those who lost their lives on the Titanic.

I Patricia Ruby Futrelle author - given to us by Anne Merritt

Scituate Historical Society p. 5 June 1999

A -—-—-7-v———'* Notice of Annual Meeting The Scituate Historical Society will hold its Annual Meeting on Saturday, June 19th, at 2:00 p.m. at the Kathleen Laidlaw Historical Center on Cudworth Road. The Meeting will consist of annual reports from the President, Secretary, and Treasurer, as well as action on the following report of the Nominating Committee:

1. Election of Trustees (for three-year terms):

Duncan B. Todd 2002 Frederick C. Freitas 2002

2. Election of Officers (for two-year terms): Vice-President - Aministration - W. Gray Curtis 2000 (unexpired term) Vice-President - Preservation - Paul R. Miles 2001 Treasurer - Diane B. Vines 2001

3. Other business that may come before the Meeting.

Please make every effort to attend the Meeting. If you are unable to attend, please ll out the proxy below and return it to the Society before June 19th. Respectfully, Ellen M. Swider Secretary

Proxy for June 19 Annual Meeting

I am a member in good standing of the Scituate Historical Society and hereby vote For

Against

the election of the Trustees and Officers shown in the Report of the Nominating Committee.

Date Name of Member

To Penitence and Punishment

To Penitence: that those whose deviltry is exposed within its pages may see in a true light the wrongs

they have wrought - and repent. r

To Punishment: that the unpenalized crimes of which it is the chronicle may appear in such hideousness to the world as forever to disgrace their perpetrators.

To Penitence: that the transgressors, learning the error of their ways, may reform.

To Punishment: that the sins of the century crying to heaven for vengeance may on earth be visited with condemnation stern enough to halt greed at the kill.

To Punishment: that public indignation may be so aroused against the practices of high nance that it shall come to be as culpable to graft and cozen within the law as it is lawless today to counterfeit and steal.

To Penitence: that in the minds of all who read this eventful history there may grow up a knowledge and a conviction that the gaining of vast wealth is not worth the sacrifice of manhood, and that poverty and abstinence with honor are better worth having than millions and luxury at the cost of candor and rectitude. Thomas W. Lawson in his book

Scituate Historical Society p. 6 June 1999 Your Ad could be Here !!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR cemznous SUPPORT

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Scituate Historical Society p. 7 June 1999

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NEWSLETTER s

Mystery Photograph Can you identify this picture? If you can, put the answer on a piece of paper with ll your name, address and phone number and drop it in the mystery photograph box at the Laidlaw Historical Center. The first correct answer selected wins a sheet of assorted postcards. Good Luck.

Scituate Historical Society p. 8 lune 1999

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l - . i ? TV-in Volume 3 Issue 12 July, 1999 In Memoriam Kathleen Reid Laidlaw December 12, 1906 - June 18, 1999

President of the Scituate Historical Society

1966 - 1996 ~

Scmme The recent death of Kathleen Laidlaw is a sad Them is 3 place beside the old blug wean, time for the Society, but it is also a time to reflect A little spot that’s dear to mine and me, back on this woman's remarkable Thmvsh haPP>'y¢=11’Si1’$ daimed my heart's devotion. achievements. Much has been written in local SOlTlChOW ll,S Wh€l'€ I always lO\"'€ [O ' newspapers about her long String of

F Nat '8 b ' "n - f" “'° gar s°°"‘SJ"S‘ 3 "' ° “°a‘°" accomplishments for the Society- and the town It s where the old sea breezes blow more keen

Where blossoms seem to smell a wee bit sweeter, ' dunng her long tenure as president‘ I m golng And where the grass grows just a little bit more green. to focus my Comments to two accomplishments I admired most about Kay Laidlaw. It's where the jonquil grows a deeper, richer yellow,

Tl“? Wild 1'°S¢ Sh°WS =1 "a'°'» |°"¢"°' Pi"k~ Soon after Mrs. Laidlaw became president of the lt s where I see the moon rise big and round and mellow, Society She Set out to restore the lighthouse Away out on the mighty ocean"s brink. . ' . . .

Where G0d’s blue sky seems just e little brighter . whlch was rapldly dete“°1'atm3' It qmckly Above the hills and fields, the breaking waves and foam, be¢ame Clear to her the only Way to procure the It’s where this heart of mine is always lighter, necessary funding WGS t0 plead 1181' case on I118 Scituate, that is the place l love to call - my home. flonr of tgwn meeting, Appi-e¢iati0n of historic structures at that time was generally less than CY T"°k° now. However, her determination and her unique ability to connect with the voters was all it took to get across to them the importance the lighthouse and its place in history. The necessary funds were appropriated! That first victory convinced her Scituate residents cared about the town's historical treasures. She often told me she knew she had the support of town meeting members and was very proud of that fact. Seituate Historical Society p.1 July 1999

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4’ C’ 2.»- While buildings and artifacts are important, imparting their history, especially to children is critical. Kay Laidlaw's role in teaching the children about the many historic sites was truly remarkable. There isn't a single high school student in Scituate that is not aware of her efforts This is her legacy to the town-one that will live on well into the next century. It is now our duty to carry on her educational outreach. Thank you Kathleen Laidlaw.

Dave Ball Announcing a Special Program at the Maritime Museum South Shore Lightkeepers: Doug Bingham of the American Lighthouse Foundation

On July 24 from 1:00-4:00 p.m., Mr. Doug Bingham of the American Lighthouse Foundation will present a program on the lives of local lightkeepers in the 19th and early 20th century. Doug is a nationally known authority on lighthouses, lightkeepers and East Coast lightships. He will have with him at the museum original documents of the keepers of Minot's Light. Don't miss this one time opportunity to learn more about the dangerous work of lightkeepers. HELP!!! Volunteers are desperately needed at the maritime museum this summer. We are especially in need of volunteers on Saturdays. The hours are from 1:00-4:00 p.m. No prior knowledge is needed-just a willingness to help! There is a nice perk for the volunteers too-the building is air-conditioned! If you can help us please call

Joanne Robinson at 545-6308. " Artisans at Cudworth House At the first open house of the season on Sunday, July 11th there will be a craft demonstration and sale from 12 to 6 p.m. on the grounds at the Cudworth House. The Cudworth House will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. with demonstrations on the nearly 300 year old loom.

Your attendance at this first time event will be appreciated.

George Bearce, Carrie Dean - Mentors

Scituate Historical Society membership runs from July 1st to June 30th. Dues paid now cover the year July 1, 1999 to June 30, 2000.

Check the mailing label on your newsletter.

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Recent Donations and Acquisitions I.i13Li$_ELe)Lm.ann - a beautiful framed picture of Mrs. Laidlaw that truly captures her indomitable spirit. This will eventually be displayed in the Laidlaw Center. E_d_Zimmg1 - a long-time resident of Scituate now living in Keene, NH has donated a beautifully crafted wooden ship model (and case) of the Charles W. Morgan, a whaling vessel from New Bedford. The model will be part of our shipbuilding room because ships built along the river were used in the whaling industry. Also shipwrights from our valley moved to the New Bedford area and established the shipbuilding industry in Dartmouth. Ra1ph_Mgj,§h - generously donated $500 to the GAR Hall fund and $200 to purchase benches for outside of the Lawson Tower. The trustees, officers, and the members of the Scituate Historical Society thank all of these individuals for their benevolence. Thank you.

Mystery Photos for the Past Year Many members have asked for a complete listing of all the mystery photos because sometimes they've forgotten what they were, or because your editor has forgotten the correct answer because the photo is at the printer's. So I have put together a complete list of all of last year's photos: July 98 - Stockbridge Mill; Old Oaken Bucket Pond August 98 - Front Street - Scituate Harbor - Sept. 98 - Connihasset Hall 1 Oct. 98 - Scotty Gannett sailing "The Widow" down the Gulf River between 1910 & 1912 Nov. - Turner Road after the Portland Gale Dec. - Pierce Library

Ian. 99 - Collier Road North Scituate . Feb. 99 - Fire and Police station - Humarock Mar. 99 - Merritt's Home Mayflower in Minot Apr. 99 - Block House shipyard on North River May 99 - Stockbridge and First Parish Road the Nehemiah Manson House June 99 - Winter scene Dreamwold.

Thank you all who have entered quesses and who have given us information on the pictures. It is truly appreciated. editor Scituate’s First Store In the early days of the settlement of Scituate, a man named Otis came and established a store. This in its early days was merely a trading post where the few settlers bought their supplies of ”West Indian" goods, -namely, rum, molasses, and spices, which had been sent from Boston to Scituate by packet, - these having been brought to Boston from the Caribbean by ships which had skillfully evaded the last of the pirates on the Spanish Main. Friendly braves of the Satuit Tribe also came to Otis to exchange with him their rich booty of black fox, mink, and otter pelts for a mere half-pint of glass beads and a few yards of gay ribbon so eager were they to get them. many articles of their beadwork are still in existence. Scltuato Historical Society p.3 July 1999 —— —i Through the years the little log house I descended from father to son and when Ensign Otis, Ir., inherited the store from his father, Ensign Otis, a nephew of the patriot Iames Otis, he built an addition to the building. Part of this was used as a dwelling and there on

.. January 13, 1784 the poet Samuel Woodworth, the author of "Old Oaken Bucket" was born.

During Ensign Otis, Ir’ s time, the War of 1812 broke out. History states that because he was an early riser, he had detected an English ship anchoring off the harbor and had given the alarm to the inhabitants of the little village to bury their valuables! This was the ship that Abigail and Rebecca Bates scared away by use of their fife and drum, thus saving the town from invasion.

Ensign Otis ]r., was followed by his son-in-law, George M. Allen and his brother William Paley Allen. These Allen brothers who had married sisters, daughters of Ensign Otis ]r., were from Pembroke, their father being the Rev. Morrill Allen who had preached 40 years there from the same pulpit.William Paley Allen kept the store for fifty years, which afterwards was taken over by his son-in-law, Charles W. Frye. Mr. Frye proved a very capable merchant. The store with the "crockery" department held many an interesting to own one of his souvenir plates, cups and saucers, article. Those who are fortunate shaving mugs, mustard pots, trinket boxes, etc., all decorated with Scituate scenes, have what is now of historical value. '

The old building had been twice the Scituate Post Office, once in 1853 when William Paley Allen was the postmaster, and from 1898 - 1914 when Charles W. Frye held the office. With the passing of Mr. Frye the building was occupied for a time by Messrs. I-I. T. Stenbeck and George Yenetchi as a general store. It was torn down in the early 1900's and its site was taken for a filling station. At that time many of the original timbers of the old building could be seen.

reprinted from the June, 1961 Bulletin. We are in the process of verifying the information about the filling station. It will be published in a later newsletter. Taken from A_S_te.p_lnto_th2..Eas.t by Vera L. Wilder []une,1961]

How many of our present residents know that thirty years ago [1930] we had a thriving art colony on Old Dock Street on what is now Welch Co. property? Those old fishing shacks were transformed into artists’ studios as the quaintness of our town attracted artists, writers,

' Scituate Historical Society p.4 July 1999 and poets. I have commercial post-cards showing bright-smocked artists VIEW‘ SUYBITE ‘ASS. ‘ l.F!T|$"»'$ CGL€}N¥. IIQBBY H(2-USK INS HARBOR diligently at work at their easels outside

I their studios all along the street. The "Paint Box” and "Paint Pot" where Doris Ward held her classes and sold her wares are well remembered. Just beyond, Mrs. Arnold Lawson, daughter- in-law of the famous Tom Lawson of ”Dreamwold" , had her two studios, the "Fore" and "Aft" where she displayed hand-painted glassware and antiques as well as samples of most unusual forms of interior decorating. At the end of the wharf was the “Old Line House", studio

I T of Cora Overland who lived on Ann Vinal Road. Mrs. Overland was commissioned by the Town Fathers to design and execute the commemorative plaque on the bridge on Edward Foster Road.

was a i It in studio in this same art colony that our own Catherine Goodnow of Greenbush, > then a budding artist, first displayed her water colors.

I

1 Reprinted from the Bulletin Iune, 1961.

I editor. I

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i r Bodies Found In The Landfill "At least it's a relief that the bones aren't recent. Its always disturbing to come across something like that." David Ball, president, Scituate Historical Society

According to an article in the Patriot Ledger (July 2, 1999) by Jessica Heslamhuman bones found at the town's landfill date from at least 100 years ago. "Copper pins from burial shrouds were found with two skulls and indicate the people probably died in Colonial times or shortly thereafter." i The bones were unearthed Wednesday evening by a heavy equipment worker. Three ' human leg bones, a rib and a vertebra were uncovered at that time. Two skulls were found I the next day by investigators in a pile of gravel that had been moved from the area where the other bones were found.

District Attorney Michael Sullivan said the skulls appear to be those of adults. However the race, gender and age of the bones is unknown. Investigators believe the bones are the remains of two people. Sullivan said he was told that bones are less than 500 years old but more than 100 years old.

Scituate Historical Society p.5 July 1990 According to historical experts the two copper pins found with the skulls were used in the past to hold a garment or wrap around a body to be buried. The pins were usually fastened at the skull. This, they felt, would help pinpoint the age of the bones.

Dave Ball surmised that the bones may have been the result of the smallpox epidemic that struck the town in 1790's. The James House, which is across from the landfill, was used as site of the smallpox hospital during that outbreak and people may have been buried there. He also conjectured that the remains may be Native American.

Qther bones have been found in the area in the past. In 1966 author and historian Donald Scothorne wrote of his discovery of "evidence of disturbed burials in the form of human foot and leg bones" at a construction site near the town's wastewater treatment plant, which is near the landfill.

Susan Fisher, a spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Historical Commission, when contacted had no information about the bones. But she provided a general fact sheet which described what is done when bones are found. If the bones are less than 100 years old, a criminal investigation may have been needed, but if the bones are more than 100 years old the medical examiner notifies the state archaeologist, who then investigates the site to determine the age, cultural association and identity of the burial.

Michael Sullivan said, "In light of the age of the bones and circumstances in the way they were buried, there is no further reason for us to search."

As we receive more information on this story, we will pass it on to you.

Editor

Volunteers are needed

Receptionists are needed at the Kathleen Laidlaw Center. To be open the number of hours we do requires the service of many volunteers. Because of vacations and other reasons this summer, we are short of receptionists. If you can help, please call 545-1083 and leave your name for Yvone Twomey. She will return your call.

Thank you.

A That Was Then Iuly 7, 1929 Transcontinental Air Transport inaugurates cross-country service today. TAT claims to be the first airline formed expressly for carrying passengers rather than mail. Two days and two nights of nearly continuous travel take customers from New York's Penn Station to Glendale Airport outside Los Angeles. The hardy passengers journey by plane during the day and sleep on trains at night. Meals on the planes will not rival railway repasts; lunchboxes and thermoses must suffice. Stops are made at Port Columbus, Ohio, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Kansas City, Wichita, Wayanoka, Oklahoma, and Clovis, N.M. Total one-way fare is $351.94.

Scltuate I-llatorlcal Society p.6 July 1999 _ __,__ -v~.-j 4-’ “ *

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soae — Taken by Could Be 1'-Y A portion of G. Danton, proceeds goes Oicial Here to the historical Photographer museum. ofsalvage operation. TIL-1./VKS! 4 _ Hear the true story of the dramatic event of the grounding of the S.S. Etrusco on Cedar Beach, Scituate, MA, March I7, 1956. Receive a FREE Magnetic color photo with ESTATE 8: TRUST SERVICES each order of audio cassettes. ch=-I;-‘W,-fa-kbri4g= ORDER NOW! (‘C fl’! £71! - $19.95 - M.0. or Check M 7 , G. Jacques & Associates g°;f;35:‘fl§1'°8 P.O. Box Mrmlwr .Nl.\I‘, orhrr prim 1/ul nu huugrr and _\/I'l.. 2725, Framin ham I 3 MA 01703 A I-rrrdum \(tur/rm Lmup-my 8 I

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4 BROOK STREET ~ BOX SCITUATE HARBOR, MA 020“$28 23 Foam Road P.O. Box 486 301A Driftway P.O. Box 376 1617) 545-677s R°b°" M- 9'9“ Scituate i MA 02060 ~Sch:;t£6MA N°'scit(;:$2’0MA (617) 545-4599 (800) 660-4599

FAX (617) 545- 1 123 rew-nusseu. 0. CABINET SOURCE Field & Son, Inc. mo urns sr=r=om suoe Solid Waste S stems ScimZti,F;::t55:2: “We want every customer to lee! Il{e our only customer. ” Tel: 617-545-0016 TOM DUNHAM 132 FRONT STREET 5454 000 Owner FAX; 617-545-5319 SCITUATE, MA 02066 Kathleen M. Field 21 Garden Road Treasurer Scituate, MA 02066 Dana J. Richard 545-1 256 I Lic.#A1 1929 Crosby (617)545-1114 Lic.#E26267 I Cottage Farm Studio

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NEWSLETTER

Mystery Photograph Can you identify this picture? If you can, put the answer on a piece of paper with your name, address and phone number and drop it in the mystery photograph box at the Laidlaw Historical Center. The first correct answer selected wins a sheet of assorted postcards. Good Luck.

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Scituate Historical Society p.8 July 1999 . . — 5 ___‘_ _i___ . v ll

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Volume 4 Issue 1 August, 1999

Heritage Days Are Coming August 6 - 8 Please join in celebrating Heritage Days by visiting all of our historic sites. Bring your families and guests as you journey back in time and become reacquainted with Scituate's past. As a special treat Doug Bingham, co-founder of the American Lighthouse Foundation, will be at the Lighthouse on Sunday August 8th. He will provide information not only about our light, but also other Lighthouses along this coast. Be sure to stop by. Doug gave a presentation on Minot’s Light in July at the Maritime and Irish Mossing Museum. It was informative and very well received. So if you have any questions about lighthouses and our lighthouses in particular, ask Doug on August 8th.

Important Development As Society members are well aware, perhaps one of the principal activities occupying the attention of the officers and trustees in recent years has been the steady increase in the number of historic properties that the Society either owns or administers for the Town. Without any already established endowment funds the need for funds needed to cover the costs of maintaining and restoring these properties has become acute.

For the st couple of years, the officers and trustees have been considering the sale of a portion of the land beud the Old Oaken Bucket House to establish an endowment fund. Within the past few months the Society has entered into discussion with a local builder for plans to construct several homes with restrictions and lay-out subject to the approval of the Society. A series of meetings with neighbors living on Old Oaken Bucket Road has begun, to obtain their reactions and suggestions.

We will keep the members of the Society informed on progress regarding this important development diuing the coming weeks.

Board of trustees

October Dinner Meeting October 16th is the date of our fall dinner meeting, so mark your calendar. It is a ham and bean supper and will be held at the Methodist Church. Look for more details next month. President’s Report Elsewhere in the newsletter you will see the trustee's report regarding the possible sale of land adjacent to the Old Oaken Bucket House. Their decision was a difficult one, but the trustees voted unanimously on this issue. Their vote was based on the need to address the extensive repairs needed at several Society owned buildings including the grist mill and GAR Hall. They also know there is an urgent need to establish an endowment fund to

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I-.- \ ‘ --<.'"._ the repair needs provide financial stability in the future. The Building Assessment Committee, which oversees over the next three to five for the six buildings owned by the Society, has determined the total maintenance costs years are in excess of $250,000. but they were told the town The trustees hoped the town would have been interested in acquiring this acreage, the land percs, and there had to address the higher priority of land acquisition around water supplies. Assuming restrictions: is a possibility it won't, any development will be tied to the following v no more than six houses on 2+ acre lots access to other undeveloped land - a buffer zone is ¢ a deeded oovenant that the property will not be used for established around the perimeter of the property vegetation zone along Old Oaken Bucket v and with the exception of driveway openings leaving an undisturbed Road to reduce the visual affect on that street. this week I All that said I still have some hope the town will decide to pursue purchasing the property. Also will be meeting with a woman that has ideas for a major fund-raising effort.

Dave Ball

Other News: is labelling many of Mark Carrison is progressing well on his Eagle Scout project at the Cudworth Barn. He have also expressed the artifacts, cleaning out the horse stall, and writing explanation text. Two other scouts an interest in doing projects for the society. are doing their high school community service as volunteers at the ~"> Amanda Turner and Justin Yanosick maritime museum. the repair of the Lawson Gates and so far has raised nearly <» Glenn Fields has been busy fund raising for expects the selectmen will prepare an $1000.00 ! A recent Mariner article covered the story. The Society article for town meeting to raise the rest of the funds. Museum. If you can help out, please call Joanne <> We still need volunteers on Saturdays at the Maritime Robinson at 545-6308. of Scituate Heralds from the 1930’s. These newspapers are <> Pat Murphy recently donated a large number scarce and provide rich research opportunities. place at Lawson Tower. *> The benches that Ralph Maish donated are now in in getting the Mann House ready this year. It looks better <> Yvone Twomey has spent countless hours cleaning

than ever. ~ Craft Fair at the Cudworth House in July. O Thank you Carrie Dean and her committee for running the

cover the year July 1, 1999 Scituate Historical Society membership runs fromluly 1st to June 30th. Dues paid now tolune ao,zuoo. Damon Photos Exhibit to the As you may know, a large number of glass negatives taken by Frederick Damon were loaned are of Society and were develped. The photography shows Scituate scenes 100 years ago and They extraordinzxrnquality. ey are a must see! A camera from that period will also be on display. funds for will be on ‘bit at the Laidlaw Center beginning Heritage Days August 7th. To help raise admission, the Society, prints of any of these pictures are available at $15.00 a piew. There will be no but a donation would be gratefully appreciated.

This week the Scituate Mariner wrote an extensive article on the Damon photos. It was coincidental that these photos of the late 19th century come available as we enter the new millennium. Memorial Page for Mrs. Laidlaw present it The Society's Web Site (www.ziplink.net/~history) has a memorial page to Mrs Laidlaw. At this page contains an editorial from the Mariner and a message from Dave Ball. However, we plan to leave on the up for several months, and we invite members and friends to submit any rememberances for inclusion Grove St.. page. Copy can be sent by e mail to the Webmaster from the site, or mailed to Lou Geyer. ll Scituate. If mailed copy, PLEASE. if possible typed on plain paper so the scanner will work) p.2 Augtsussa I " "-an Your Ad Could Be FREE - Magnetic Photo (Color)

Here!!! Aerial photo-5 Support x 23/4 Please su ort these your In-Sm"-ml 3 5/4 Taken by Qu_mes_$.e§. ,0d,,,y _ A G. Danton, that SU rt Us portion of Official proceeds goes Photographer ESTATE at TRUST SERVICES to the historical of salvage IIIUSBUIII. operation. Charles W. Stockbridgc Vice President event of the grounding of 0... Baa... S...-1 q-5 Hear the trueztory of the dramatic 11, 1956. §;';i;';',f;‘;‘,‘;"““ ~/'»~'{"'*)'~‘:'?"‘ the s.s. Etrusco on Cedar Beach, Scituate, MA, March Mnqlpn NH]: alhn pnunfdl rnluu_(r1 Jul _\II'1. 3 A I-nrduu Mmnlm (.'|n|puu_| Receive a FREE Magnetic color photo with each order of audio cassettes. 781-545-9483 ORDER NOW! — $19.95 — M.O. or Check

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,_ any JOHN NELSON Tel. (161) 545-6400 Fax (161) 545-0644 Km: In Nd - 61):-1s-3511 NORDIC sous ("81) 54$ 59°‘ <7 S . Gm . l/view Cvstvvvg -f¢w¢lry Harbour Insurance Agenc! Inc. needs your story. All Forms of Insurance - No Fee Registry Service Out book on Scitmtc hunting:

Road no. Box 466 " 23 Foam ~ '2: . "2" s"r1u:1.:'rM - aox szs - . 4 anoox _S¢mn\l¢, MA N0-$¢lmI1=. MA MA 02066 Rgbgrl M, Drew 3°“ D"';"".?Y ':-°ME°6‘ 376 SCITUATE HARBOR, 02060 (611) 545-6110 °' "3 °' 2°66 02066

(611) 545-4599 (600) 660-4599 RUSSELL FAX (611) 545-1129 ‘\'*L"@.">"'J9 ow” Field & Son, Inc. CABINET SOURCE Solid Waste Systems want ovary customer to ho! Ilka our only customer.” mo urrus srrom SHOP S . 72 F32‘ “W0 CIIUQIC, Tel: 617-545 21 Garden Road TOM DUNHAM 132 FRONT STREET FAX; 617-545-5310 Kllhln H. Field T)-Qasurgr Samara. MA Q2955 Owner SCITUATE. MA 02066

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°°=u» NEWSLETTER

Mystery Photograph Can you identify this picture? If you can, put the answer on a piece of paper with your name, address and phone number and drop it in the mystery photograph box at the Laidlaw Historical Center. The first correct answer selected wins a sheet of assorted postcards. Good Luck. There was no winnerfor July. It was Town Pier.

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Scituate I-listorial Society p. 4 August 1999

9;‘Qi énituate Zéaistnrical , éncietp ietnsletter 9.0. Qec 276 Scituate, Md 02066 (781-545-I083) \Qw ((04: 781-545-8287) httpzl/www.ziplink.netl~history

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' .9 . Volume 4 Issue 2 September, 1999

Thank You ‘to All Volunteers!!! The officers and trustees would like to thank its many volunteers who manned the historical sites during Heritage Days and all the other open house dates this past year. There are few historical societys that can boastlhat their main research facility is open six days a week and that they have a maritime museum open every month, but we can. Why? Again the answer is because of our dedicated volunteers. Thank you again for all your effort and time. J Continuity and Change - North Scituate (The following article quotes from the the Secretary's Report of the North Scituate Beach Improvement Association for 1906 - 07, ed.) . . . . The membership of the Association has risen to 336 in number . . . nearly three times our original number of ten years ago - 115. The Street Lighting service has been enlarged during the past year, the number of lights and the length of the lighting season having been increased. . . . The Street Watering Committee secured subscriptions to the amount of $334, and the work of watering the roads has been effectively done. The conditions of the village from a sanitary viewpoint have been constantly watched, and in some respects have been improved. The beach has been kept clean by the Association; roads and sidewalks have been improved, in some cases directly by the Association, in others indirectly through its efforts with the townspeople and the officers of the town; and, largely through the exertions of the Executive Committee, legislative action was secured, making possible the much needed extension of the breakwater. . . . After a long interval since the only other previous illumination, the beach, under the auspices of the Executive Committee, was illuminated on the third Saturday evening last August, and the Executive Committee recommend that the third Saturday evening of every August be observed as Illumination Night. The beach residents all worked together to make our village shine and blaze and glitter, and there were many very beautiful and some very elaborate and brilliant displays. Let everybody remember that the third Saturday evening of August is Illumination

Scituate I-lletorlcal Society p.1 September 1999 Ni ht. g The Executive Committee co-operated this year with the officers of the Playground Association in arranging for a public celebration on the Fourth of July, three of the features of the occasion having been a patriotic address and the reading of the Declaration of Independence at the Casino, by Mr. Arthur P. Cushing, and an Antique and Horrible procession ably marshalled by Mr. Warren M. Hill. . The Executive Committee holds very strongly that owners of automobiles at the beach should have regard to the fact that there are many young children here, and that there is a great deal of travel on roads that are not wide, and that they should operate their cars accordingly - between Garfield Avenue and Glades Gate at not over eight miles an hour. In the use of automobiles, more, perhaps, than in any other field of present-day activity, there is need to faithfully consider the rights of others. Most of the summer residents at the beach come here to furnish for their families, and to secure for themselves, rest and recreation, under conditions which should be reasonably safe in every respect; and the Executive Committee would like to be able to feel that the children and the other pedestrians in our streets are not in mortal danger from heedless automobilists, and that such of our people as employ horses and carriages for driving purposes are not under constant menace from the over-speeding of reckless chauffeurs. However earnestly the Executive Committee may seek to advance the interests of the beach, much remains for the members to do as individuals. We can help, as individuals, to keep the streets and roadsides clean by refraining from throwing paper, boxes, bottles and other rubbish onto the roads and into the wayside bushes. We can each of us be careful about the condition of his own premises. In ways suggested and hinted at, and by whatever other means we may think of, let each one of our community strive to make North Scituate Beach the best kind of a summer home. Samuel F. Wilkins, Secretary.

With the coming of the new millennia we would like to focus on Scituate during the 20th century. We would like to publish articles about people's reminiscences of Scituate during this century. Please take some time and pick a decade, an era, or an event that impacted you. Then write down your remembrances and sent it to the Historical Society attention Editor Newsletter - Scituate 1900-1999. Please help us preserve Scituate's Past. October Dinner Meeting The theme for the dinner meetings this year will be Scituate during the past 100 years. The October meeting will be Reminiscences of Scituate 1900 - 1999. The slide presentation will be done by Dave Ball and Fred Freitas. We hope to have some longtime residents of Scituate share their reflections of the town after the slide program. The fall dinner meeting will be Saturday, October 16th at Harbor United Methodist Church at 6:30 p.m. The menu is baked beans, ham, cole slaw, corn bread and pies - all home baked as usual. The price will be $10 per ticket. There is a limit of 200 people, so you need to reserve early.

Enclosed is my check made payable to the Scituate Historical Society for the dinner meeting on October 16, 1999. Name: Number of reservations: ______Amount of check: ______Scituate Historical Society p.2 September 1999 Mystery Photo for August Thanks to all who mailed in responses to August’s mystery photo. We had ten correct responses. Elinor D. Shea was the winning entry. Elinor wrote, “The Hatherly Country Club - I wonder how many of our residents - or even members of the current club were there on that night. l was and as we were leaving for home (then Tumer Road Sandhills) we watched while guests were flicking their cigarettes off the porch by the front stairs. Later it did burn down. And the new club was located to the north - with a view of Cohasset and the Glades. Maybe others have remembrances of times past.” “Marie Ford shared that the Fireman’s Ball held here yearly in 30’s.” If you have remembrances of Scituate, please share them with us.

Can you guess? “There was laid out by Wm. Vasseal the way from the Herring Brook to Belle House Neck where Wm. Vassal dwelt. Beginning by Isaac Stedman’s house and to curve by his fence as ye trees are marked, forty feet broad till it cometh to ye marsh of Edward Foster and then to go over ye marsh where ye stakes are set to ye land of Thomas King, forty foot then to about ye edge of ye land of Thomas King, William Vassal, and Samuel Fuller, at ye North end to ye land of William Vassal, called ye Brook Hall field, in breath forty foot.” (Selection 1) “A highway laid out forty feet wide beginning in ye car path in ye place called Sandy Hill and so extend east north east over ye slow as ye trees are marked where stones are about them and rumring along ye hill then turning more easterly and so along about two rods to ye southward of Thomas Tose and then along two rods southward of Nathan Pickles barn and so on as ye heaps of stones are laid and the trees marked until it comes to ye way laid out to ye way leading to George Mores Bridge. Israel Chittenden and David Jacobs Selectmen.” (Selection 2) . “Also we allowe a heigh way from the cutt betweene William Bassett and Francis Sprage, to goe to Ducksborrow towne; the heighway to be continued from William Bassetts garden or orchard, through John Washburnes ground to William Palmers gate, as it now is, and so along through Peeter Browne ground by the outeside of which we allow a way to the marsh, and up to the woods; the way still to passe by Henry Howland’s house leaving it upon the east side, so keeping the old way through the marsh to Mr. Alden’s house, and from thence through a valley which leadeth to the corner of Phillip Delaney’s field so to pass Edward Bumpas house, and fourty foote to be allowed above his house straight to Rowland Leghomes house, and so passinge above the house to Greenes Harbor path.” (Selection 3) Local ways and lanes were laid out during the rst years of settlement. Were you able to guess what three roads of Scituate were describe above? The rst road is in existence today but abandoned and impassable. It is called Judge Cushing Road and is the old way over the so-called Rotten Marsh to the North River, and on which is the burial lot and tomb of Judge William Cushing. The second road is now called Old Oaken Bucket Road. The third was the description of the road that began in Plymouth and went through Duxbury then to Marshfield and eventually Scituate. It was “The Country Way’. Entering the Twentieth Century “The tum of the century in 1900 was accompanied by indications of tremendous change. Today, it seems quite apparent that people had a sense things were changing and never going to be the same. It swmed quite suddenly important to preserve the town’s sense of where it had come from.” Barbara Murphy As We PY¢P°l'¢ I0 em" into another century, it is just as important that we remember where we have come from - as a town, as a state, and as a country. editor. A US senator stated at the beginning of 1900, “God has marked the American people as his chosen nation to finally lead in the regeneration of the world. This is the divine mission of the America and it holds for us all the prot, all the glory, all the happiness possible to man.” What are your thoughts today? Update on the Lawson Gates Glen Fields reports that fund-raising is progressing very well, with the total raised as of August 15th, at $1175. Our goal is to reach $2,000 before the October Town Meeting. Thus far, our requests have been met with enthusiastic responses, so we feel greatly encouraged.

We have recently discovered that the actual large gates are still in existence, stored in the Water Dept. garage! If they are in good enough condition, we would like to take them out of storage and restore them to Bossy Lane where they belong!

Anyone wishing to make a contribution to this project can do so by writing a check to the Scituate Historical Society and mail it to Glen Fields, P.O. Box 576, Scituate, MA 02066. Year 2000 Calendar The Scituate Historical Society would like to thank all the businesses and individuals who have generously contributed to the year 2000 calendar. The contributions will allow for all the proceeds from sales to benet our educational outreach programs.

The calendar is composed from watercolor paintings of the Harbor and Driftway. Most of the paintings date from the early part of the twentieth century. A time when horses and their watering troughs were more commonly seen on the streets of Scituate than that new invention, the automobile.

We have had a set back on our printing date due to an accidental fall suffered by our committee chairman, Bernard Mackenzie. He is now recovering from knee surgery and will soon be back at the helm. Watch the Mariner in September for the delivery date.

This is a limited edition printing. If you would like to reserve a copy, complete the form below and send your check to the Scituate Historical Society, P.O. Box 276, Scituate, MA 02066. The cost of the Year 2000 Keepsake Calendar is $12.50. There is a $6.00 fee if you want it mailed. When the calendars arrive, you will be called.

Yes, I would like to reserve a copy of the Year 2000 calendar.

Name: Telephone #: Number of Calendam: Mailing Address: (fill out only if you wish us to mail the calendar to you) §# and street) §Town, State, Zip) Amount of check: (Remember: calendars are $12.50 each - add $6.00 if you want it mailed. Your Ad Could Be FREE - Magnetic Photo (Color)

Here Aerial photo—i Support Please su ort these your hm0".cG1 3 3/4 x 23/4

bUSll18SS8S - Taken by society - A that sugggrt us G. Danton, portion of Oicial proceeds goes Photographer ESTATE at TRUST SERVICES to the historical ofsalvage mllseltm. Charles W Stockbridge operation. Vice President

On: Beacon Street ‘_@~/4;)-6126,67) Hear the true story of the dramatic event of the grounding of §,’]’;‘_‘;'§'5_"2'{‘,‘.§2'°8 the S.S. Etrusco on Cedar Beach, Scituate, MA, March 17, 1956. 80012 §_67 1 A I-‘mam \nunl/n ¢.'»-4;-.44! Receive a FREE Magnetic color photo with each order of audio cassettes. S I 2 781-545-9483 ORDER NOW! — $19.95 - M.O. or Check SeaShellBed&Breakfast 5- Jwlue & A$§"¢il¢$ P.O. Box 2725, Framingham, MA 01703 Scituate, MA

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9 NEWSLETTER

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Volume 4 Issue 3 October, 1999 October Dinner Meeting The theme for the dinner meetings this year will be Scituate during the past 100 years. The October meeting will be Reminiscences of Scituate 1900 - 1999. The slide presentation will be done by Dave Ball and Fred Freitas. We hope to have some longtime residents of Scituate share their reflections of the town after the slide program. The fall dinner meeting will be Saturday, October 16th at Harbor United Methodist Church at 6:30 p.m. The menu is baked beans, ham, cole slaw, corn bread and pies - all home baked as usual. The price will be $10 per ticket. There is a limit of 200 people, so you need to reserve early.

Enclosed is my check made payable to the Scituate Historical Society for the dinner meeting on October 16, 1999. Name: Number of reservations: .____.i.______i______Amount of check:

A Historical Mystery I was very new to this job of special projects coordinator for the Society when President Dave Ball asked me to do what I could to identify the boats in the Mann House barn in the Spring of 1999. l was not entirely sure what the job would eventually evolve into, but if it involved occasional historical sleuth work like this, I knew I would be even happier to work in Scituate than I had at first expected.

On the beautiful morning of Thursday, April 8, I guided a group of friends and co-workers from the I-lull Lifesaving Museum - Executive Director Lory Newmyer, Maritime Program Director Ed McCabe, Operations Manager Corinne Leung, and Windmill Point Boat Shop Director Reuben Smith - down to the intersection of Stockbridge Road and Greenfield Lane to help to identify the boats. After a quick stop to tell them the story of Percy Mann's truck and a quick detour through the not-yet-in-bloom Wildflower Garden, I opened the barn and let them in.

Ed, a man always interested in the boat-in-a-bam type of discovery, immediately recognized the top boat (they are currently stacked on top of one another) as being a flat-iron skiff, which Reuben described as “probably a backyard design." But the bottom boat proved to be where the excitement lay.

Ed stated that it looked to be some sort of workboat, or pram, of a definite Scandinavian design, most likely to have been aboard a Baltic trader of some sort. A heavy boat for its size, it would have been used for such errands Scituate Historical Society p. 1 October 1999

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Acting on the words of Dave Ball, who stated that he thought he had heard that the boat dated from approximately 1910, l dug deeply into the Annual Reports of the United States Life-Saving Service and their listings of shipwrecks between 1899 and 1915. Between those dates thirty Norwegian steamships and nine Norwegian barks wrecked on America's Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. Of those thirty-nine vessels, four wrecked along the Massachusetts coast. On December 24, 1910 the Bark Supurb of Stavanger wrecked at Gloucester; on November 1, 1907, the steamer Garibaldi of Bergen wrecked at Monomoy Point, south of Chatham; on lanuary 7, 1905, the sloop Urad of Aalesund, wrecked at Gloucester; and on September 19, 1902, the steamship Aldemey stranded at North Scituate.

The Ann nal Report of the United States Life- Saving Service for 1903 yields very little information: “ Upon being informed that this vessel stranded 2- 3/ 4 miles S. of station at 4 a.m. , surfmen went to her, laid out an anchor, and sounded out the depth of water for tugs, which pulled her afloat and towed her to Boston." Old Scituate gives little more: "The steamer Aldemey , with a cargo of coal from Cape Breton, bound for Boston, ran ashore on Cedar Point in a thick fog. With Capt. (George H.) Brown's advice and assistance, and the sacrifice of twenty- five tons of coal, she got away safely." Neither description gives any insight as to how the workboat came to be left behind, if it did indeed come from the Aldemey.

Reuben, inspecting the interior of the boat as much as possible, noticed some punkiness, or rot, deep down inside. Without pulling the top boat off it would be hard to determine the extent of any damage, but from what could be seen, the staff concluded that any restoration project would be minor.

One other detail caught the eyes of the group, though, before they left. Corinne and Reuben, both transplants from upstate New York, noticed the effects of a blast from a shotgun on the port bow. As Corinne stated, ”lt looks like every stop sign in upstate New York." The mystery of the boat grew deeper. Who fired the shot? A wildly inaccurate coot hunter? The irate husband of an unfaithful wife? The irate wife of an unfaithful husband?

According to the Hull Lifesaving Museum's experts, the Scituate Historical Society has in its possession a rare craft, one that should eventually be placed in a prominent position among the rest of the Society's maritime artifacts. Any suggestions?

Man, I love this job.

]ohn Galluzzo (lohn works for the Society one day 'a week as special projects coordinator. He has authored many articles in many periodicals. Look for more in the months to come. ed.) An incident at the Marshfield Fair

In the first two decades of this century, the Dreamwold estate of Thomas Lawson was noted for the fine animals bred on the farm. Theanimals ranged from English Bulldogs to Iersey Cattle. However, the matched carriage horses were Tom Lawson's pride and joy. It was assumed that if a Lawson team was listed on the program for any show or fair in New England, the competition could only hope for second place.

My father, H. Kirkwood Sparrell, was a teenager spending the day at the Marshfield Fair in 1915, when the unthinkable happened. The Lawson team of carriage horses was awarded the red ribbon. Lawson's groom snatched the ribbon from the harness and threw it on the ground. He shouted "Dreamwold horses don't place second.", then he seized the reins and drove off without a glance to either side.

Charlie Sparrell, August 1999

Scituate Historical Society p. 2 October 1999 From the President

Old Oaken Bucket Update The trustees expect to receive the botanist's report regarding the property shortly. This assessment needs to be completed before other engineering issues are addressed. More definitive information should be available for the November newsletter.

Recent acquisitions H. Latham Kent recently donated a number of artifacts that were originally in the Old Oaken Bucket House. These include a flax wheel, bird bath and documents. Don Uppendahl travelled to Cape Cod to pick up the artifacts. Thanks Don.

St. john Artifact Bob Turner and Ralph Crossen donated a small timber they believe came from the wreck of the St. John lost in 1849 with a high loss of lives. The artifact is at the Maritime and Irish Mossing Museum.

Eagle Scout Projects Mark Carrison has completed his project at the Cudworth Barn. He spent many hours clearing out the animal stalls, cleaning the building and labeling and organizing artifacts by use and topic. His project greatly improves the visual appearance of the building.

Collins Farhat recently completed a roofed information board at Lighthouse Park. This information board allows the Society to post pertinent information about our upcoming events. His project is a great asset to us and all visitors at the lighthouse.

An yet another Eagle Scout project is in the works! Niles Tooher is currently working at the maritime museum. He will be restoring the mossing dory, working with Tom Mulloy on the Forest Queen exhibit, and restoring the Greenbush Railroad Station bench recently donated to the Society.

Ball and Freitas storm Boston's Financial District Fred Freitas and Dave Ball recently went to Boston to pick up a acquisition from the Humane Society of Massachusetts - a sixteen foot long steering oar. They had to carry it down nine flights of stairs, for it would not fit in any elevator. Imagine that once they managed to get it out ofthe building they had to proceed through the financial district. You can just hear the comments. They then attached it to the outside of a compact car, with a red towel hanging on the back and the front of the oar anchored to the front bumper, and drove back to Scituate. What a sight! The oar is now on display at the Maritime Museum. Archeological Society October Meeting We would like to thank the South Shore Chapter of Massachusetts Archeological Society R.L. Gregg for their donation of $100.00 for our hospitality. The next meeting of the Archeological Society will be Thursday, October 14th at the Little Red School House. The speaker will be archeologist Dr. David Schafer of Peabody Museum at Harvard. He'll be speaking on the effects of “NAGPRA" (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act) - the controversial federal regulations governing Native American burials and associated artifacts. Any Society member is welcome to attend. Kay La1dlaw's Recipe Thanks to Bobbie Hall for the following recipe. Bobbie said that Kay gave her this recipe in 1956 when then we're working on the United Fund (Red Feather) drive. She thought the Society would be interested.

Kay Laidlaw's Blueberry, Strawberry or Raspberry Muffins

2 cups flour in a bowl 1 cup sugar

Take cup - put in egg - fill cup with milk and add butter the size of an egg (melted but not too hot)

2 tsp. Baking Powder, 1 tsp salt.

1 cup of fruit

Bake at 400 for 15 to 20 minutes

South Shore Genealogical Society The South Shore Genealogical Society is offering the second in a series of programs designed to help members and others in your community successfully find their family history.

The public is invited on Saturday, Dctober 8, 1999 to take part in a program titled: “Techniques for Gathering, Recording, and Charting the Genealogy of Your Family". This program will be presented by Jack Muray, a director and past president of the South Shore Genealogical Society; with active participation of the officers and directors of the

Society. i .

Our meetings are informal, informative, hospitable and free. Come to our meeting at 1:30 Saturday, October 8, 1999 at: The Norwell Public Library 64 South Street Norwell, Mass.

For information about this meeting and other activities of the South Shore Genealogical Society - call 781 - 837-8364. Your Ad Could Be FREE - Magnetic Photo (Color)

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Hear the true story of the dramatic event of the grounding of the S.S. Etrusco on Cedar Beach, Scituate, MA, March 17, 1956.

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9 " Volume 4Issue 5 Nvmbef. 1999

We apologize for the delay in getting your November newsletter. Your editor's computer had a major crash and he had to do it on another machine. Sorry.

We wish to thank Alice Coyle, editor of the Scituate Mariner for her efforts in behalf of the Scituate Historical Society. We are reprinting her October 28, 1999 editorial below.

Make a date with the past

The Scituate Historical Society's year 2000 calendar hit the streets this week and it's one residents won't want to miss.

Just months from the new century, the historical society's calendar captures Scituate at the beginning of the last one reprinting on each of the 12 months, scenes from George Eames' humorous pencil and water color sketch of bustling Front Street and the harbor area.

Eames' scroll is not only a colorful look at the town's past, it is a historical document marking local landmarks including the Welch Company, and everyday life in a coastal community during simpler times. Imagine the days when new-fangled motor cars competed with horses making their way down Front Street, and dozens of residents earned a living literally gathering moss in their dories.

In addition to being a terrific keepsake and holiday gift, buying one of the society's year 2000 calendar's supports a very good cause -- the upkeep of the town's large and growing inventory of historic sites. All of the $12.50 purchase price and the funds raised through corporate sponsors will go to the society which clearly has its hands full. Renovation work on the GAR I-lall -- the town's oldest municipal building -- is about to begin and while the 30,000 matching state grant will help defray some of the construction costs, a great deal more will be needed to restore the building. And that's just one of eight sites the society owns or maintains and opens to the public each year. The high cost of preserving Scituate's past has even led the society to contemplate selling off a parcel of the Old ()aken Bucket estate to raise money to maintain its sites.

By making a date with the past, residents can ensure the preservation of the town's history well into the future.

Alice Coyle, editor Scituate Mariner Scituate Historical Society p. 1 November 1999

I

7‘; Southward Bound? The Post Office doesn't forward newsletters. If you are going south for the winter send us a postcard addressed ATT Membership. Put your temporary address and approximate date(s) on the back. We will mail your newsletter directly to you. Christmas Ornaments Looking for a great gift idea for Christmas, then look no further. A limited supply of glass Christmas ornaments of Scituate Lighthouse are on sale from the Society. The cost is $14.00. Get these collector’ s items while supplies last. They are available at the Little Red Schoolhouse. You'd better act soon, for they are going quickly. Book Sale Our annual Book Sale will take place at the Maritime and Irish Mossing Museum on Sunday, November 28th from 1 to 4. Most items will be on sale from 10% to 50% off their regular price. Come early and get all those Christmas presents at one stop. Calendars Please support the Society's fundraising activity by purchasing a beautiful Year 2000 calendar. As you read in the Mariner editorial, it is well worth the price of $12.50. Upcoming Archaeological Society Meeting November 18th at the Little Red Schoolhouse at 7:30 p.m. The South Shore and North River Chapters, MAS member Eric Anderson will speak on a recent dig he participated in, which produced a number of very interesting discoveries. All I-Iistorical Society members are cordially invited to attend. Mystery Photos September's photo was correctly identified by Al Montanari the moss beach across from Damon

Road with rst cliff in the distance. . October’ s photo was identified by Ricky Turner as the house at 87 Maple St. [The Lawson's live there now he believes]. We'll accept this because on the back of the photo it says the house on Pincin Hill - the picture was donated by George Turner to Stanley Blanchard. ls this Tumer any relation to you, Ricky? From history With Thanksgiving rapidly approaching, I thought it would be interesting to see what was taking place in what is now Massachusetts 300+ years ago. Since most accounts would focus on Plymouth Colony, I thought it would be interesting to look at it from the eyes of our Puritan neighbors to the north.

From the journal of Iohn Winthrop 1630 - 1649 September 30 [1630]. About 2 in the moring Mr. Isack Johnson died, his wife the Lady Arbella of the house of Lincoln being dead about 1 month before. He was a holy man and wise and died in sweet peace, leaving (a good) some part of his substance to the colony. [Among the colonists at large, the loss was almost as severe; some 200 of the 1,000 immigrants died within the first year and another 200 returned home]. The wolves killed 6 calves at Salem, and they killed one wolf. Scitunte Historical Society p. 2 November 1999 E Thomas Morton adjudged to be imprisoned till he were sent into England, and his house burned down, for his many injuries offered to the Indians and other misdemeanors. [ Morton was the first of many dissidents to be expelled by the colony. He was a bacchanalian character who had built a house called Merry Mount in present Quincy where he set up a maypole and sold liquor and firearms to the Indians. His punishment was ordered by the Court of Assistants on 7 September.] Finche of Waterton had his wigwam burnt and all his goods. . .

October 23. Mr. Rossiter, one of the assistants, died. . .

November 11 [1631]. We kept a day of thanksgiving at Boston.

November 17. The governor of Plymouth came to Boston and lodged in the ship. . . [William Bradford, who had been governor of Plymouth since 1621, was paying his first visit to Boston. It would be interesting to know if Winthrop showed him the journal he was keeping, since Bradford says that he began to write his history of Plymouth plantation about 1630.]

Ianuary 20 [I634]. Hall and the 2 other who went to Connecticut November 3 came now home, having lost themselves and endured much misery. They informed us that the smallpox was gone as far as any Indian plantation was known to the W., and much people dead of it, by reason whereof they could no trade. At Narragansett by the Indians’ report there died 700, but beyond Pascataquak none to the E. . . .

Taken from The Iournal of Iohn Winthrop edited by Richard S. Dunn & Laetitia Yeandle.

The Father of Scituate - Timothy Hatherly

()ne of the London Adventurers, he was a felt maker of St. Olaves, Southwark, Surrey. He visited Plymouth in 1623, but came as a settler in 1632 on the William and Mary, residing at Scituate, where the General Court had given him large land allotments. He was frequently an Assistant, apparently one of liberal ones, as shown in the text. He was notable for his opposition‘ to the persecution of the Quakers. He died childless, but the line was carried on via his sister Eglin Hatherly, q.v., who also lived in Scituate. His will, dated 12 December 1664, proved 30 October 1666, named his wife Lydia (widow of Nathanial Tilden); Edward Jenkins, his wife and children (his niece’s family); Nicholas Wade, his wife and children (another niece’s family); Susanna, wife of William Brooks, and children (niece); Lydia Garrett and many others as beneficiaries. He named his friend Joseph Tilden as executor. from Plymouth Colony by Aubrey Stratton.

Scituate Historical Society p. a November 1999 President’s Report

October Dinner Meeting

Fred Freitas and I enjoyed producing and narrating the slide program that took a nal look back at the town’s history from 1900 to 1999. Many people told us aiterward that they enjoyed the program. Assembling a program is very time consuming and the positive comments were appreciated. Only after the meeting did it dawn on me that I had presided over the last meeting ofthe society in the century in which it was organized. I felt honored.

Our guests at the meeting were Amanda Tumer, Justin Yanosick, Collins Farhat and Mark Carrison. Amanda and Justin have volunteered many hours at the maritime museum this summer and fall and Collins and Mark both completed Eagle Scout projects for the society.

Fund Raiser Millennium Calendars Available

A committee headed by Bernard MacKenzie spent a tremendous amount oftime in the production of our 2000 millennium color calendar. Each month features color sketches along Front Street, and Second and Third Cliff which a local artist drew in the early l900’s. They retail for $12.50 and supplies are limited. To avoid the disappointment of not being able to own this collector’s calendar, stop by the Laidlaw center shortly or mail in your order ASAP!

Skip Fgling 0f Servicemaster Comes to the Rug Rescue!

The carpet at the maritime museum was in desperate need of a good cleaning, so I recently contacted Skip Fryling of Servicemaster for a cost gure. Skip is a Scituate resident and said he would do the job free! Better yet he did it the following moming! It is important that we support merchants who are willing to support the society. When

you are in need ofhouse or carpet cleaning, please keep Servicemaster (545-2700) in mind! .

Special Monthly Programs at the Maritime Museum

We will hold our second annual book and gi item sale at the Maritime museum on November 28 from 1-4 p.m.. Last year’s sale was a tremendous success because ofthe support of our members. We hope this year will be even more successful! Most items will be 10% to 50% off our rggular retail price. Mark your calendar! We are also planning a series of special exhibits at the museum as follows:

,I_g||||gg_}_Q, 13-,|;|;m111 Great Blizzard of I978 Mggghj Grounding and salvage of Etrusco Apgl Minot’s Light Storm of 185] and the loss ofthe lighthouse

Old Scituate to be Reprinted

Don Rust of Rustcra in Norwell is reprinting Old Scituate. It will be in so cover to reduce costs, but the photography should be ofhigher quality than the 1970 edition since we are reprinting from the original. 1921 edition. Old Scituate will be on sale at the museum on November28 at the maritime musuem.

Fresnel Lighthouse Lens Pro|'ect

Mr. Bitler, ChiefWarrant Ofcer at U.S.C.G.Station Point Allerton, has volunteered to help us polish and do other maintenance work on our fresnel lens at the maritime museum. We are seeking volunteers to work with him. This is a great opportunity to leam about this type of lighthouse lens. Rob Saggs is heading up this committee. Please contact Rob at the Laidlaw Center (545-1083) any Thursday aftemoon to sign up. Address Correction requested N0n_P1-Ot 01-g_ P.O. BOX U_S_ Postage Sdtllltt, MA 02066 P A I D

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Scituute Historical Society p. 5 November 1999

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‘ ‘" Volume 4 Issue 6 Dwembef, 1999

Our First Dinner Meeting of the New Millenium

On Saturday, January 22, 2000 we will hold the Society's first Dinner Meeting of the New Millenium. It's a special occasion, and we have a special program to observe it. The Meeting will be held at the Harbor Methodist Church at 6:30 p.m. The price is $10.00.

A few weeks ago Paul Miles, the Society's Vice-President - Preservation, gave an excellent talk about a most interesting subject before a local community group. The feeling among the audience was that it should be given before a larger group. Paul has agreed to present it at our January Dinner Meeting.

The subject is the history of our Lawson Tower from the completion of its construction in 1902 to the present. Most Scituate residents are aware simply that the Tower is unique - - one of a kind - known all over the country. Here is an opportunity to learn of its fascinating history over the past 98 Years.

Your reservation needs to be made as soon as possible. We have to give the church a count of people attending. Only the first 200 dinner reservations (see form on insert page) accompanied by payment will be accepted. Send a check made out to the Scituate Historical Society with your reservation to the Laidlaw Center, P.O. Box 276, Scituate, MA 02066. The Drawing for the Quilt and the Franklin Mint Timepiece will be at the Dinner Meeting

. Happy Holidays to One and All The trustees and officers of the Society would like to wish all Society members and their families a happy and joyous holiday season! i’ Scituate Historical Society p. 1 Deoemher199O — I— A - —j——————' —

Drifting Memories of the Hitching Post. Christmas, 1884. by Sara Bailey Brown (reprinted from December, 1961 Bulletin)

Christmas began to come to the "Corners" the day Miss Abbie took down the neat bolts of calico, challis, gingham, Canton annel and cashmere from the shelves in the lady’s side of the Variety Store and in their place arranged her Christmas stock of toys, games, dolls, manicure sets in plush boxes, note paper and w at not. In the grocery side, oranges and mixed nuts a peared, and joy, oh ]oy, a keg of wlute grapes all packed in saw ust; a box with a top and front side off, full of gooey dates that Uncle Albie gouged out with a sharp pick; corn poppers and a box of beautiful shiny ears of pop corn, some red, with their little shaigaly pointed kernels, such fun to feel of, smooth one way an scratchy the other. A row of sleds-at for boys and high with turned up nose for girls - key skates, gloves, toboggan caps and rubber boots.

As soon as school was out there was a row of little noses rubbing along the top of the counters and a row of shining eyes xed on the glories displayed on the shelves and a row of little ngers pointing out some special treasure that Mother must be told a ut.

Just to look was almost too beautiful.

It was nice to live near the store for every pleasant afternoon now, there were horses and sleighs hitched to the rail in front, sometimes nine or ten at a time, while people shopped at Mercinabbie’s.

After buying goodies, and toys and a camel bank, and a parchesi board and a yard of sheer white lawn to make the best apron for Aunt Maria, and a moustache cup for Grandfather, and some pink and green tissue paper to make a shaving ball for Uncle Thomas, they would go down to Father's store.

Father had beautiful things; gold watches with long chains for ladies and men and Waterburys for boys and small Waterburys for girls, and clocks and rings and cuff buttons and spectacles, and diamond collar buttons that would show over the tops of the men's neckties, and would ride up and down when they swallowed.

There were extra tables put in for books and booklets and cards and calendars. The cards weren't much like Christmas but very beautiful with pictures of pink slippers full of pansies and silk fringe all the way around.

People would buy a silver thimble, and aapld ring and a watch and an autograph album, and a napkin ring and some scissors and then it would be ost dark

All this time the horses would be awing the hitching-post almost down and pawing graves for themselves in the snow and making their sleigh lls jingle little tunes, and it would be time to be going home if they wanted to be home before dark, for it would take an hour sure, what with bare ground in some places and drifts in others, to get way down Egypt or over to Greenbush or up to Beech Woods, and just as likely as not, they would meet another sleigh and have to turn out into deep snow, and dear me Suz if that Aaron didn't forget to put in the lantern. Christmas Day itself couldn't be more fun.

Of the little White House Christmas, 1884. Two big boys sick with measles and whoopin cough in the parlor. Not much room for the big four-poster bmeléht down from the cold spare room up stairs r the occasion, with the little air tight stove and Father's d and the big Town Safe, for Father was Town Clerk and kept all his things in the parlor.

Two yoiger boys sick in the little bedroom. Allie had it bad. He had grown eight inches in the past year and Char ‘e ed him a regular bean pole. They were afraid he would go into a decline and already Scott's Scltuate Historical Society p. 2 December 1999 Emulsion of Cod Liver Oil had been prescribed. It was fun to see Mother get it down him.

Two little girls sick in the old spool bed in a corner of the sitting room and by the bay window a sick little baby, a ba y that wasn't going to get well.

Father, Mother, and little Auntie, someone always there to get drinks of water in the longtnights. Neighbors were kind and best of all was Aunt Arabella who drove down 'om South Scituate as o en as she could have the horse, to help.

Freddie's girl sent a wonderful basket of fruit, oranges and red bananas, and gs and nuts. He and Henry were getting better and played checkers all the time with board and men that they had made.

The stockings were not very full that Christmas mornintg\. Sarah woke early. The light was shi1:l1n'ng across the roof of the store next door - and someone was rattling e stove in the kitchen. There was an amiliar object in the dusk on the oor over by the window. It looked like a green cart with red wheels; it was. There was a walnut cradle with sisters beloved rag doll, Patay, in it, and a bed-stead with Sarah's own Dinah in it. They had had their faces painted. Mother was afraid ey might get the measles, the reason we couldn't have them in bed, and all this time they had been having their faces painted new. Blue eyes and pink cheeks - they looked beautiful. Henny, who was going to be an artist, had painted them with his real paints and you could scrub them hard and the Kkaint wouldn't come off. Some relatives had handed down the cart but big brother had made the bed. Just ' e the four-poster in the bedroom with the posts turned on father’s lathe and strings across to hold the feather mattress Mother had made. Real sheets and a piece of Great Grandmother’s homespun blanket and a coverlet cut to at the comers like Mother's. It just tted Dinah.

Christmas was mostly like Sunday so Father had family prayers after breakfast. He sat near the three doors so all could hear; "And there were in that same country shlepherds abiding in the elds keeping watch over their ocks by night". It was nice lying in bed and listening. e prayer was long for Father was a Deacon and there were a great many things to speak to the Lord about. The singing wasn't so good as usual for Allie was too sick to play the organ and all of our throats were sore and Mother couldn't carry a tune anyway, but Father’s voice was beautiful, like hollering down the rain barrell as he sang "Joy to the World."

There was bigapiece of the family's pig for dinner and apple sauce and the begetables that the boys had fussed about hoeing summer and so many pies. The pie closet at the head of the back stairs was full of them. Cranberry was the handsomest, with the red showing between the strips of crust, V shaped like the boy's suspenders where they buttoned on.

It was dark early. There was a great hurrah-boys for Henny was going out for the rst time. He was going to take Josie to the church sociable. She had yellow hair and played the organ.

It was darkness now andluiet, only the liggt from the hanging lamp in the kitchen showed into the sitting- room and the boys have quit arguing. e funny glass in the front of the stove showed pretty pictures of red and blue and green light. It was a nice Christmas, if only little sister wouldn't whoop so, it scared you when she got so black in the face; but everyone was getting better - everybody except the baby. Father Christmas

by I.R.R. Tolkien .

To the children of I.R.R. Tolkien, the interest and importance of Father Christmas extended beyond his filling of their stockings on Christmas Eve; for he wrote a letter to them every year, in which he described in words and pictures his house, and his friends, and the events, hilarious or alarming, at the North Pole. The rst of these letters came in 1920 when his eldest son John was three years old; and for over 20 years, through the childhoods of the three other children, they continued to arrive each Christmas. Sometimes the envelopes, dusted with snow and bearing Polar postage stamps, were found in the house on the morning after his visit; sometimes the postman brought them; and letters that the children wrote themselves vanished from the fireplace when no one was about. Tolkien is the author of the Hobbit and the trilogy The Lord of the Rings. I chose his letter dated 1925 and a portion of the letter for 1939 (it gives an excellent view of the times) for members to enjoy. editor.

Scitmte Historical Society p. 8 Decanter 1999 “I am dreadfully busy this year - it makes my hand more shaky than ever when I think of it - and not very rich. In fact, awful things have been happening, and some of the presents have got spoilt and I haven't got the North Polar Bear to help me and I have had to move house just before Christmas, so you can imagine what a state everything is in, and you will see why I have a new address. It all happened like this: one very windy day last Novmber my hood blew off and went and stuck on the top of the North Pole. I told him not to, but the North Polar Bear climbed up to the thin top to get it down - and he did. The pole broke in the middle and fell on the roof of my house, and the North Polar Bear fell through the hole it made into the dining room with my hood over his nose, and all the snow fell off the roof into the house and melted and put out all the fires and ran down into the cellars where I was collecting this year's presents, and the North Polar Bear's leg got broken. He is well again now, but I was so cross with him that he says he won't try to help me again. I expect his temper is hurt, and will be mended by next Christmas. I send you a picture of the accident and of my new house on the cliffs above the North Pole (with beautiful cellars in the cliffs). If John can't read my old shaky writing (1925 years old) he must get his father to. When is Michael going to learn-to read, and write his own letters to me? Lots of love to you both and Christopher, whose name is rather like mine."

“I am so glad you did not forget to write to me again this year. The number of children who keep up with me seems to be getting smaller. I expect it is because of this horrible war, and that when it is over things will improve again, and I shall be as busy as ever. But at present so terribly many people have lost their homes, or have left them; half the world seems in the wrong place! And even up here we have been having troubles. I don't mean only with my stores; of course they are getting low. They were already last year, and I have not been able to fill them up, so that I have now to send what I can, instead of what is asked for. But worse that that has happened.

I expect you remember that some years ago we had troubles with the Goblins, and we thought we had settled it. Well it broke out again this autumn, worse than it has been for centuries. We have had several battles, and for a while my house was besieged. In November it began to look likely that it would be captured, and all my goods, and that Christmas stockings would remain empty all over the world. Would not that have been a calamity? It has not happened - and that is largely due to the efforts of Polar Bear - but it was not until the beginning of this month that I was able to send out any messengers! . . . Well, that will give you sme idea of events, and you will understand why I have not had time to draw a picture this year - rather a pity, because there have been such exciting things to draw - and why I have not been able to collect the usual things for you, or even the very few that you asked for. . ." President's report Sometimes searching for historical documents can be frustrating and success elusive and sometimes luck prevails. For me the latter was recently the case. For several years I had hoped to locate diaries written by Surfman William Murphy. He was the grandfather of Barbara Murphy and she had referred to the diaries in her book, Irish Mossers and Scituate Harbor Village. Thanks to a lead provided by Yvonne Twomey, I finally struck pay dirt! I called Jack Levangie who resides in Belfast, Maine. He is a grandson of William Murphy and yes, he said he did have the diaries! He said the family did not want to part with them, but would be willing to let the society photocopy all four diaries. Two days later he drove to Scituate from Maine and personally delivered them!

The diaries cover the years 1892, 1895, 1896, and 1897. They will be invaluable to serious reseachers seeking details of the U.S. Life-Saving Service as well as daily life in Scituate 100 years ago. The society is indebted to Mr. Levangie for his willingness to share these gems.

Fresnel Lens Update lohn Galluzzo, Rob Sayrs and Mr. Bitler, CWO of U.S. Coast Guard Station Point Allerton, have spent many hours polishing the brass frame and prisms of our Fresnel Lens. Already it looks superb. They expect the job to be completed in time for the January 29th opening of the maritime museum. Scitmte Hbtorlcal Society p. 4 December 1999 On a related note John also recently spearheaded a committee in Hull to publish a pictorial history of that town titled Images of America - Hull and Nantasket Beach. He is now looking into the possibility of a similar book for Scituate.

Old Scituate will be available for purchase in the very near future before Christmas. The price has yet to be determined.

I wish all our members a joyous holiday season and a prosperous and happy new year. Scituate Christmas1899

At long last, the 16-week fall and winter term of the Scituate high school academic year had wound its way down to its final day. The town's young scholars, who had studied long and hard for their examinations, marched their way through the streets to congregate one final time, before taking a well-deserved one week break to fully enjoy the Christmas season. As noontime approached, on Friday, December 22nd, 1899, and they allowed their weary writing hands some rest, the students left their desks and headed for the Town Hall for an afternoon social. Once gathered, the youngsters received recognition from the school for their achievements during the year. Superintendant Edgar Lincoln Willard congratulated Israel Barnes, Margaret Corbett, Alonzo Pratt, Albert Dalby, and Lilla Nichols for perfect attendance, and William Barnes and Ibelle Mott for perfect attendance without tardiness. The school then presented each of the teachers- Julius N. Mallory, Effie L. Kellogg, and Lota N. Clancy- with an appropriate gift package: a gold pen with mother of pearl handle, a silver envelope opener, a silver mounted ink stand, and a fancy pen wiper. After saying their farewells, students and teachers alike bundled themselves up- not too tightly, though, for the weather had been wonderfully mild for the entire month of December- and scurried along the streets to their homes, cheerily aglow in the spirit of the season. The next day, over at North Scituate, the foremen of Shannehan and Company smiled contentedly at the progress being made on the second section of the new seawall they had been contracted to build. The comfortable working conditions arranged by Mother Nature pushed the project ahead of schedule, so much so that the company released the workmen that afternoon, telling them to report back on Wednesday the 27th. At the quarry on Battles Bill, the workers there received the same happy news, a four day Christmas break. Like leaves blowing unpredictably in the wind, the citizens of Scituate bustled fro homes to stores to churches to homes in excited preparation for the holiday to come. Some of the town's prominent summer residents surprised the year-round population by popping their cottages open for the Christmas week. Other familiar but unexpected faces appeared as well, as the Misses Elsie E. Turner and Velma W. Morris, enrolled students at Bridgewater Normal, returned home on vacation to be among family and friends. Shoppers pored over dozens of gift ideas at the Welch Company and the variety store of Seaverns and Spear, but many folks purchased the year's perfect gift, the new Columbia calendar, from Mr. Frederick T. Bailey. "It is a very unique affair,” wrote the North Scituate correspondent to the Vining and Mathews Syndicate of South Shore Newspapers on December 29, 1899, "one exterior view and one interior view, the latter giving one an idea as to the size of the fireplace added by Mr. Barker.” The Columbia, the Boston pilot boat wrecked at Sand Hills the previous year during the Portland Gale, claiming the lives of all five men aboard, remained unmoved from its disaster site, now serving as a museum. The lifesaving crews who so valiantly served to protect the lives of the locals during the Portland Gale reflected back on the year just passed, as they watched a storm begin to brew Christmas Eve day. Keeper Frederick T. Stanley's Fourth Cliff U.S. Life- Saving Service surfmen aided six vessels between May and October, all without a loss of life, but Keeper George Brown's North Scituate crew had not been so lucky. Although successfully they floated the stranded schooner Emma W. Brown on February 7 and diverted another unnamed schooner from disaster by firing a blank cartridge frm their Lyle gun on March 26, they faced the gruesome task of retrieving a decayed body from the surf and loading it onto the undertaker's wagon on May 22. On December 7, they stood helplessly by SoNmnmelbmdcaI8ochny' p.5 IIHIIBDGIIDQO as a physician worked over the form of Nathaniel Wade for an hour before declaring him dead. The 79-year old man, caught out on the flats near the station by the quick-rising inccming tide, had struggled as far as he could towards the shore before collapsing into the arms of two brave volunteer rescuers. Although his head never sank below the level of the water, his overexertion caused his heart to give out. As the wind picked up outside, the lifesavers contemplated what surprises the rest of the winter would bring them. The storm raged strongly enough that evening to postpone the planned concert at the Methodist Episcopal church by one week, but the Baptists would not be deterred. More than 125 plates graced the tables at the church, piled high with salads, cakes, pies, tarts, oranges, with a variety of sauces. Following the feast a series of performers delighted the audience with recitations and songs, and Deacon Henry Turner Bailey's telling of a touching Christmas story. The gathered throng then launched into an impromptu rendition of "Joy to the World," before breaking into two groups: the younger set played games, while the adults held a social hour. Mr. Henry Merritt of North Scituate rested cmfortably in his favorite chair that night, peacefully perusing the day's newspapers, happily prepared to doze off where he sat, when a knock came at the door. To his surprise, when he rose to open it, his many friends invaded his parlor, carrying armloads of ice cream and other delectable delights, and shouting choruses of "Congratulations!" all around. Fifty years ago that Christmas Day, the Reverend Ephraim Nute had pronounced Henry and Lydia Merritt man and wife, and, even amongst the confused uptempo atmosphere of the holiday season, their friends had remembered their golden anniversary. After they had all left for the night, Henry and Lydia settled their heads against their pillows, and fell peacefully into sleep with smiles upon their faces. When the sun rose the next morning to cast its rays across the barren trees and otherwise empty landscape of a green Christmas, Mrs. Mercy G. Seaverns and Mr. Sereno T. Spear awoke to a pair of surprises. The clerks at their variety store presented each with a Chritmas gift: for her, a handsoe clock, and for him, a gold-headed umbrella. All over town, the children of Scituate played either indoors with new dolls and trains, or outdoors, taking advantage of the still temperate weather, only wishing there had been some snow'with which to build snowmen and mmke snowballs. Their parents, older siblings, and grandparents stoked fires, prepared Christmas dinners, and relaxingly chatted about the year's past events. As the day wore on into night, and the Christmas holiday passed, one excitingly ominous fact increasingly grasped the attention of every man, woman and child in town. An incredibly magical event, even.more magical than Christmas, would soon take place. In one short week, the people of Scituate and the rest of the world would bid a fond farewell to 1899 and a century of amazing progress, and embracingly welcome not only a new year, but a new century.

John Galluzzo Mystery Photo for November November’s Mystery Photo was Roland Turner's home on Central Street (now First Parish Road). There -were no correct entries.

Maritime Museum Christmas Sale Thanks to J0 Robinson and her volunteers who organized the second annual Society Sale at the Maritime Museum. Thanks to their work the Society netted $ 860.00. Hopefully next year more of our own members will take advantage of the sale.

8ehmumeIhmuhnl8ockny' p.6 Iluxsnberl Address Correction requested Non,“-ot O1-g_ P000 BOX Us. Postage SGIUQIC, MA 02066 P A I D QCITUATI, IA. 02066 W NO 23 _$s p

E“" NEWSLETTER‘""“"”‘“““"“‘“‘"’

Mystery Photograph Can you identify this picture? If you can, put the answer on a piece of paper with your » name, address and phone number and drop it in the mystery photograph box at the Laidlaw Historical Center. The first correct answer selected wins a sheet of assorted

postcards. Good Luck.

at Q-41. ~ .1-_

Selttntel-llstoriesloeiety p.8 Deeanber1999