“In Accordance with Justice” Sunday, March 26, 2006 the Waltham Historical Society 2:00 Pm at the Waltham Public Library 190 MOODY STREET WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS
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Spring 2006 Volume 3, Issue 1 “In Accordance with Justice” Sunday, March 26, 2006 The Waltham Historical Society 2:00 pm at the Waltham Public Library 190 MOODY STREET WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS The March meeting of the Changes that resulted from David L. Smith has been Board of Directors Waltham Historical Society The Civil War, through the 13th 2005-2007 th th President of The Civil War will be held at 2:00 pm, on -14 - and 15 (so-called) Civil Round Table of Greater Co-Presidents: Sunday, March 26th, 2006, in War Amendments, with an Boston since 1991, as well Sheila E. FitzPatrick the Lecture Hall at the emphasis on how we began to st th as Editor of its newsletter Wayne T. McCarthy Waltham Public Library. view the 1 and 14 Amend- THE RECALL, and Web- A brief business meeting will ments from Post Civil War to Treasurer: master of their website be followed by the presentation current days will be discussed. www.cwrtgb.com. John W. Cox “In Accordance with Justice” The program will center on He currently serves as Assistant Treasurer: by David L. Smith. how a desire to be our own Chairperson of The Edna Dolber His program will present a country with a small, weak Waltham Historical Com- different picture of how this government, suddenly became mission, is a member of Recording Secretary: country evolved. He will dis- a great Global Power, in need Board of Directors of The Barbara Maloney cuss various documents, of a bigger, stronger, and cen- Waltham Historical Soci- events, and people, that were trally powerful bureaucratic Corresponding Secretary: ety,and is a member of the core of the Declaration of Government. His program will The Historical Society of Edna L. Dolber Independence, our Constitu- show how this Civil War, Watertown, The Bostonian tion, the Bill of Rights, and fought for a Democracy, indi- Curator: Society and The U.S.S. Joan M. Sheridan many cases decided by the U.S. vidual rights, and freedom liter- Constitution Museum. Supreme Court. ally exploded into the major Born in the old West End Assistant Curator: From the Magna Carta to Global Nation of today. The of Boston, he began his Winifred W. Kneisel Columbus’ “Grant of Privi- American Civil War, with its great love of American Board Members leges and Prerogatives” to the loss of 630,000 American lives, History and Preservation. formations of societies in The followed by a westward expan- Ruth M. Arena Mayflower Compact, Thomas sion spurred by huge immigra- Marie Daly If you have any questions, Paine’s “Common Sense,” and tion growth, and the expansion Louise Hamilton please contact Sheila Lucille M. Hanna the Virginia & Kentucky Reso- of Railroads, are the reasons for FitzPatrick at 781-894-0062 Virginia Hays lutions, we will see how our today's lifestyle. or email Wayne McCarthy Jean M. Husson basic Rights and Freedoms at Morton Isaacson were established. Frank Maloney Lill Movsessian The first public meeting held in the Lecture Hall of the Lou Nocera Did You Know…? “new” Waltham Public Library was on January 18, 1916 Jean S. Salvucci and was a meeting of the Waltham Historical Society. David L. Smith Michael Squillante Robin Tyler Can You Identify this Inside this issue: Waltham Location? Company F 2 From time to time we will publish an image of a location in the city House Tour ‘06 3 and identify it in the next issue, or Horatio Moore 3 on the society’s web page, www.walthamhistoricalsociety.org. Recent Correspondences 4 Calendar 4 Page 2 Volume 3, Issue 1 About this issue’s featured story The intent of The Waltham Brad Bigham has sent us a With apologies to the original Historical Society’s Newsletter couple of pieces written by author, we hope to encapsulate is to provide information on him over the years for publica- the information in the space historical, current, and upcom- tion in local newspapers. In an available to us. ing events in which the Society effort to keep the history of We hope you enjoy this is involved. Waltham alive, we will publish newsletter, and encourage your This issue contains more on here various items that are part comments. Company F, during WWI. Mr. of Mr. Bigham’s collection. Memories of a hero from WWI Based upon an article written by Mr. Brad Bigham and printed in the Waltham News Tribune of November 12, 1990 Corporal Fritz E. Hedlund, bearing service were fought over in such a manner that they number 60879, Company F, 101st Infantry, could be forward or back many times during 26th Yankee Division was the most highly- a battle. At any moment, a runner may find decorated veteran of the First World War. they are lost in No Man’s Land or even be- In May of 1917, only a few months past his hind enemy lines. 17th birthday, Mr. Hedlund enlisted, becom- Mr. Edward Bigham is quoted as credit- ing one of the youngest solders in Company F. ing Mr. Hedlund with saving the day for one Among his exploits, the story of actions platoon on July 23, 1918. The story details during the Second Battle of the Marne in the citation issued to Mr. Hedlund, citing his July of 1918, expose the dangers he faced to multiple trips to and from the combat group, help protect his comrades. During the Cha- in maintaining a constant liaison critical in teau-Thierry Campaign, his assigned duties saving the platoon from being wiped out. were as company runner, delivering mes- After returning to Waltham, at age 19, Mr. sages between platoons and headquarters. Hedlund married Wanda Suleski, and oper- As is the case today, communications ated Fritz and Wanda’s Bar on Moody Street. Mr. Fritz E. Hedlund in a photo during combat activities is essential. But Mr. Hedlund died in October of 1961, and taken after his return to Waltham. unlike today, where cell phones and GPS is buried in Mt. Feake Cemetery. systems can relay information instantane- Among the medals awarded to Mr. Hed- ously, communications in 1918 was carried lund are the Army Distinguished Service out by individuals using physical courage Cross for gallantry in battle, the French and perseverance under extreme exposure to Medaille Militaire, French Croix de Guerre enemy fire. Running from one place of with Palm, American World War I Victory cover to another, from the platoon to head- Medal with battle clasps for Champagne- quarters, and back, Mr. Hedlund faced dan- Marne, Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse Ar- ger at every step. gonne, Defensive Sector. Messages were delivered to headquarters More detailed information is available in on positions occupied by a platoon, and in- the book “Waltham Rediscovered” by Kris- structions were returned on the next action to ten Petersen and Thomas Murphy, a copy of be taken. Failure to complete communica- which may be obtained through the Histori- tions could lead to forward elements of the cal Society. platoon being isolated or cut off from the main body. It could lead to being overrun by We would like to thank Mr. Brad Bigham the enemy, or being caught in a cross fire, or for sending us this article, (and a few others even a friendly fire circumstance. we hope to re-publish in the future), and for Runners faced machine gun and artillery collecting and maintaining the artifacts and fire, as well as exposure to snipers lying in histories with such care. wait for anything that moved. Front lines Volume 3, Issue 1 Page 3 Horatio Moore 1810-1886 Upon Mr. Moore’s resignation, land and a Rephrased from a news article of unknown date and house, located on the corner of Gardner and publisher from the archives of the Waltham Historical Pine Streets, was given to him by the Com- Society, March 2006. pany. In 1883 he and his family moved from this location to a house they had built on Ap- Horatio Moore was born in Bolton in 1810 and pleton Street. came to Waltham soon thereafter. He married In 1857, Mr. Moore was on the Committee Lucy A. Tower in Waltham in 1836. no. 24 on Chemical Products, and wrote an Mr. Moore’s achievements and activities were article on “Description of the Blowpipe and many and varied, and included politics, town Retort” for the Industrial Exhibition held that government and organizations. year. Mr. Moore joined the Newton Chymical Com- From 1855-1857 Mr. Moore was a Director pany as a bookkeeper in 1832, and quickly ad- of the Waltham Watch Company, and became vanced to become manager, a position he held for its President from 1878-1883. 30 years. The Chymical Company’s sole product He was selected to represent Waltham in the was highly concentrated sulphuric acid, at the Legislature in 1851-1853, 1856, and 1869. time called oil of vitriol. With the business be- From 1857-1861 he was a member of the Portrait of Horatio Moore in coming profitable in 1835, it covered nearly 40 Board of Selectmen. He was one of the first the collection of the Waltham Historical Society. acres of land. Its boundaries included the Charles trustees of Mt. Feake Cemetery in 1859, be- River on the north, Newton St. on the east, High came Director of the Waltham Bank, and was a St. on the south and on the west by a line where member of the original board of trustees of now is located Hall St. Waltham Savings Bank, becoming its first Another 35 acres was later added, and was at President. the time, part of Newton.