MONSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC.

THE HISTORIAN

VOLUME ONE, ISSUE SIX FALL, 2015

Jacob Thompson House 1811 Fuller House 1869

Officers: PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE President – Dennis Swierad President – Dennis Swierad Vice President – Tamara Cabey SecretaryVice President – Leona – Tamara Brahen Cabey Greetings! removing the 1940's ma- Thompson house, we will SecretaryTreasurer – –Leona Kevin Brahen McNabb Board Members: ple floor from the dining not be having a Christmas DenisTreasurer Duquette – Kevin (2018)McNabb The Historical Society has room and painting the open house, but we are BoardWilliam Members: Dominick (2017) had a busy summer and pine floor beneath. Bill planning an open house Board Member Emeritus: Denis Duquette (2018) early fall. The Thompson Dominick and Tamara party in the spring to show William Hatton WilliamEmma Ladd Dominick Shepherd (2017) House project is coming Cabey have been in off the project. Voting Positions: together nicely. We had charge of the interior Great news! The soci- AccessionsBoard Member Manager Emeritus: – Mary Swierad the brick ends re-pointed WilliamCollections Hatton Manager – Mary Swierad work and, to them, we ety has received a grant Building Restoration – Dennis Swierad after the paint was chemi- say thank you. and a donation from the EditorEmma Ladd – Leona Shepherd Brahen cally stripped. The bricks While we are thank- Grace Makepeace Trust VotingHistorian Positions: – Dennis Swierad received two coats of a Membership – Denis Duquette ing people, I would like for Historic Preservation AnnualAccessions Meeting Manager – –Denis Mary DuquetteSwierad beautiful original brick to mention the wonderful in the amount of CollectionsRental Manager Manager – Tamara– Mary Swierad Cabey red and the white lines on job Leona Brahen has $1,327.95 for archival the mortar joints are al- done in upgrading our boxes, due to Mary most complete. All of the computer network and Swierad filling out the ap- Mission Statement storm windows are in- her work on the newslet- plication and doing all the stalled as well as the ter and also re-doing our research into what contain- To obtain and preserve histori- cal data and articles pertaining storm doors and new ½ website. This will be an ers we needed and how round gutters have been to the town of Monson, Massa- ongoing process for the many of each. chusetts, and to encourage and put up. The two upper near future. develop the pursuit and expres- bedrooms and the front Appraisal day Sept. Dennis Swierad, President sion of such interests in all suit- hall have been repainted. 27 was a success, as we able ways. We have received a price had a steady crowd all and we will soon begin afternoon which kept our Visit us on the web at the painting of all of the appraisers from Kaminski www.monsonhistoricalsociety.org rooms left on the first busy at both tables. Email us on the web at info@ mon- floor, except for the of- Due to the ongoing sonhistoricalsociety.cincastbiz.net fice. In conjunction with work at the Jacob Do you need information about the this painting, we will be history of Monson? Write, call or email us. We may be able to help.

THE HISTORIAN PAGE 2

The Monson/Chinese connection

BY DENNIS SWIERAD This edition’s story is about the years at the Presbyterian Theologi- history of a 19th century missionary cal Seminary. He returned to New who was brought up in Monson York in 1837 and finished his the- and, through his calling, traveled ology courses at the Union Theo- across the world to bring Christi- logical Seminary, being one of a anity to the Orient. Also, it is the class of six who graduated there in story of one of his students. 1838.

Samuel Robbins Brown was the sec- Soon, Samuel's life took a turn that ond child of Timothy Hill Brown and would influence him for the rest of his wife, Phoebe Hinsdale Brown. He th Rev. Samuel Robbins Brown his life. On the 4 of October was born in Scantic Parish, CT on 1810 - 1880 1838, he was invited to go to Can- June 16th of 1810. His father moved ton, in the service of the the family to Monson in 1818 to take advantage of the education at Monson Morrison Education Society, with Academy for his children. Samuel's the purpose of educating Chinese father was a house-joiner and his boys in both English and Chinese. mother was a hymnalist. He was informed that he would be going to sail on the ship Morrison th Samuel entered Monson Academy at from on the 16 of Oc- 9 years of age and, from then on, his tober. He had scarcely twelve days in which to make preparations lifetime goals were to acquire a liberal 15 Mechanic Street education, study theology and, finally, Childhood home of Rev. Samuel for the voyage. He went to Mon- to become a foreign missionary. Robbins Brown son, MA to say farewell to his friends and spent one night there. Originally, after graduation from with a view to the sacred ministry. The next day, he went to East Monson Academy in 1828, his hope Accordingly, he went back to Am- Windsor, CT and was married the was to enter Amherst College, though herst, paid the bills due there, and same day to Miss Elizabeth Good- his father had no money to help him. then with the poorest and meagerest win Bartlett, daughter of Rev. He did give him a hat, an empty outfit that a college student ever had, Shubael Bartlett. The following he went to New Haven and entered pocketbook and the use of a horse and day he went to Lyme, CT to see buggy to drive to Amherst from Mon- Yale near the second term of fresh- men year with $37.00 in his pocket. his mother and a sister, whose hus- son. He went with change enough in band lay sick of typhoid fever. The his pocket to pay for the horse’s feed When not at Yale, he took work at the Institution for the Deaf and next day he went to New York and to buy himself some crackers and where he was ordained by the cheese. After a consultation with his Dumb in New York as a teacher. mother, he would forego Amherst At commencement from Yale, he Third Presbytery, finished his hur- College and go to Yale College after paid all the outstanding bills ried preparations for sailing, and deciding Amherst was too much of a against him and, the day he gradu- embarked for China on the morn- country village school. He heard ated, he started out in the world ing of the 17th on the ship I men- about a Mr. Arthur Tappan who pub- with all debts paid and $50.00 in tioned before. He arrived in Ma- rd lished a notice that he would pay the his pocket. cao Roads in China on the 23 of tuition bills of any number of men, February 1839, having made the not exceeding one hundred, who passage in one hundred and twenty would enter Yale College that year He went to Columbia, South Car- olina to study theology for two nine days.

PAGE 3 VOLUME ONE, ISSUE SIX

After going to Canton, he report- son Academy, returned to China to take care of their own rooms and ed to the officers and returned to and became the China Vice- in the winter split their own wood, Macao. He spent the next seven Council at San Francisco. which they found to be capital exer- months chiefly in the study of the cise. Their lodging was about a half Canton dialect of the Chinese lan- In 1859, Brown was sent by the mile from the Academy. They had to walk three times a day to school and guage to prepare himself for Protestant Church of America to back, in the dead of winter when the teaching. Of course, at this time, Japan for missionary work. He snow was three feet deep, which gave the first war between England and died in Monson in 1880. them plenty of exercise, a keen appe- China commenced and made it tite and a fine condition. Yung be- hard to open a school. During this came a Christian in Monson and, at turmoil, he opened a small school Yung Wing was born in 1828 near once, accepted his Divine call to de- with a half dozen children be- Macao, China. He spent 5 years in vote his life to the Christian service of tween 10 and 15 years old. He the Morrison Missionary School his nation. continued on for several years run by Rev. Samuel Brown. Then Yung Wing entered Yale College in until he had 24 pupils. After the Yung Wing and his two other Chi- 1850, received his baccalaureate de- wars, Hong Kong was ceded to gree in 1854 and returned to China. the British government by the His education caused him to reflect Treaty of Nanking in 1842. A new much upon the social, political and school was erected with a large religious conditions of his country- commodious school building, li- men. Even before he left America, he brary and dormitories for stu- longed to devise some plan by which the educational advantages he had dents. In 1842, the Morrison enjoyed might be given to other Chi- School was moved from Macao to nese young men in large numbers. this new location in Hong Kong. He first sought to enter some law- In 1846, Reverend Brown left the yer's office at Hong Kong as a stu- Morrison School and Hong Kong Yung Wing 1828-1912 dent, but British prejudice prevented to return to Monson with three of Yale Class of 1854 a Chinese from studying law there his students, one of which, Yung Wing, a graduate of Monson nese companions came to Monson Academy, would go on to become to be educated at Monson Acade- a very important and influential my. Yung Wing and the others part of the opening of China to the were placed under the care of west and especially America. The Rev. Brown's mother, Phoebe H. second student, Wong Fun, stud- Brown. They boarded with her at ied for between two and three her Mechanic Street home, but years at the Monson Academy, had a separate room right across then went to college in Edin- the road in a separate cottage. 16 Mechanic Street burgh, Scotland and became a sur- This is the home where Yung Wing, geon and was commissioned by Her widowed daughter along with Wong Fun and Wong Shing stayed dur- her three boys had taken up all the ing there time at Monson Academy in the London Missionary Society as the late 1840's. a Medical Missionary to China. spare rooms in Phoebe's cottage, The third student brought by him which accounted for the lack of ac- and he had to give it up. He then commodations. They paid $1.25 per to this country was Wong Shing, went to Shanghai seeking occupation week for board and lodging, includ- who, after only two years at Mon- as a business man. He acquired signif- ing food, light and washing. They had icant wealth, $25,000, over the next

THE HISTORIAN PAGE 4 few years and because of this and his Bibliography reputation, he was entrusted by a lead- ing businessman to go to America to My Life in China and America by purchase machinery made in Fitch- Yung Wing burg, MA for a new enterprise in Samuel Robbins Brown: B: By Per- Shanghai. He did this and soon fol- son: Stories: Biographical Dic- lowed the machinery home to make tionary of Chinese Christianity his report and render his account to the Chinese government, which had a Samuel Robbins Brown Biograph- stake in the purchase. During the ical Memoranda Class of 1832 1870's, Yung Wing was able to con- Yale College vince the Chinese Government to Yung Wing: Becoming Chinese open a school for the instruction of American? By K. Scott Wong Chinese boys in English preparatory to their being sent abroad. One hundred and twenty students were eventually sent to America at this time by the Chinese Educational Commission to further their education. When the Chinese government in Dr. Yung Wing and Carolyn Cushman Main Street, Monson 1878 determined to send ministers June 21, 1910 to Washington, Yung Wing was appointed by the Empress Mother tion of the British Government and as Assistant Minister Plenipoten- stayed there until 1901.Yung man- tiary and Envoy Extraordinary to aged to return to the United States the United States. At this time, where he lived until his death in Yung Wing also tried to get Chi- 1912. It will not be out of place to nese students admitted to Annapo- state here, as a fact, the significance lis and West Point, but was met of which will be readily appreciat- with scorn, distrust and race preju- ed, that he caused the son who was dice. By 1881, due to misunder- born to him in1876—his first standings between the Chinese gov- born—to be named Morrison ernment's representatives and the Brown, the first after the school United States, the Chinese students which provided him with his life- were eventually all returned to long direction and the latter to im- their homeland. mortalize his mentor in life.

During the 1890s, Yung was em- broiled in conflict with the Chinese government to the point of being in fear for his life as revolts were hap- pening all over China and some were actually loosing there heads. In 1899, Yung went to Hong Kong to place himself under the protec-

PAGE 5 VOLUME ONE, ISSUE SIX

NEW ACQUSITIONS

1913 photograph album with photos of tem- porary lumber mill located on Bunyan Road

Black & White photos of trolley bridge near Bunyan Road, Flynt Booklet by William T. Grenfell, Quarry Railroad bridge near Friend of the Cushmans Chestnut Street, etc.

THE HISTORIAN PAGE 6

NEW ACQUSITIONS

1912 Monson Academy Diploma Monson Academy Yearbooks, 1944 Town Report, Class photo South Main Street School

Handmade wooden, cloth and paper banner from Monson Academy class of 1921

3 Ellis Mills wool blankets Convention Records of Repre- sentative District No. 1 Hampden County 1866 through 1888

PAGE 7 VOLUME ONE, ISSUE SIX

PAST EVENTS REVIEW

APPRAISAL DAY— hand to provide expertise on fine and traffic but, while waiting, the Jacob SEPTEMBER 27, 2015 decorative arts, furniture, jewelry, vin- Thompson house was open for viewing. tage clothing, orientalia, old books and The Society’s museum on 7 Main Street On Sunday September 27th from 11:00 manuscripts, furniture, glass and ceram- is being restored because of a generous a.m. to 4:00 p.m., two of Kaminski ics. So if you were ever curious about grant from Monson’s Community Auctions expert appraisers were on family heirlooms, that was the place to Preservation. hand at the Jacob Thompson house to be. It was enjoyable and educational to look at family treasures and tell about listen to what experts had to say about them: their age, condition and value, the artifacts that others brought in. and how to best care for them. The event was free of charge, but a do- Appraisers Mary Westcott and Steven nation was requested for the Monson Demers of Kaminski Auctions were on Open Pantry. There was a lot of foot

MEET THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Over the next several issues, we will be highlighting the board members of the Monson Historical Society. We thought it would be an interesting highlight to know a bit more about the people that serve on the Board and what motivates them to donate their time and expertise to make the Society what it is.

Dennis Swierad Mary Swierad President, Building Restoration Manager and Accessions Manager and Collections Manager Historian As a lifelong resident of Monson, I became curious about I attended Fitchburg State University and graduated with a the history of the town I called home. The Historical So- BSE in 1971. I taught Industrial Arts in Palmer High ciety had programs that were open to the public and I de- School (Palmer, MA) for over 20 years. I have been an cided to check them out. I was fascinated by all the infor- antiques collector and dealer most of my lifetime. After mation that was available about the town. I soon joined purchasing my home in Monson in 1975, I soon became the Society and have held many positions over the years. I interested in the activities of the Monson Historical Socie- continue to learn something “new” about Monson’s histo- ty and joined soon thereafter. I am currently President ry on an almost daily basis. Along the way, I have met and have served many positions on the Historical Society. many very interesting people who also feel that it is im- The history of Monson is near and dear to me, as is histor- portant to remember how Monson came to be, and who ic preservation. want to preserve it for the future. Gazebo at Flynt Park

Flynt Residence High Street

THE HISTORIAN PAGE 8

ITEMS FOR SALE

1960 History of Monson Book CD The history of Monson, written in 1960 for the Bicentennial of the formation of the town is now available in PDF format on a CD.

If you are currently a member of the Monson Historical Society, the fee to obtain the CD is $15.00. For non-members, the fee is $20.00 which includes 1 year free membership and our quarterly newsletter “The Historian”. Shipping costs for the CD are included in the fee.

Please indicate whether you are a member or not and mail your request to: Monson History CD Monson Historical Society, Inc. Also available is the 12- 1Green Street, Suite 1 page booklet about the Monson, MA 01057 W.N. Flynt Granite Co. Cost is $3.00 which in-

cludes shipping. Please include your email address Make your check payable to: Monson Historical Society, Inc.

GARAGE SPACE AVAILABLE

The Historical Society has space available at its garage located on the corner of Lincoln Street and Squier Avenue for rent on a yearly ba- sis. The space measures 12 ft. x 21 ft. and is reasonably priced at $70.00 per month. If you know of anyone, or if you are interested yourself, please contact Tamara Cabey at 413-267-5244 to arrange a tour. You would be getting a great storage space while, at the same time, supporting the Historical Society.

PAGE 9 VOLUME ONE, ISSUE SIX

** ARE YOU UP TO DATE ON YOUR MEMBERSHIP DUES??**

Membership renewals occur on May 1st of each year. If you receive our newsletter through postal mail, please check the date on your mailing label. Current memberships should read “5/1/2016” or later. If your label reads “5/1/2015”, you need to renew for another year. If it reads, “5/1/2014”, you need to renew for 2 years to be up-to-date.

For those who receive our newsletter via e-mail, please check the subject matter. If it reads “Monson Historical Society Newsletter”, your membership is current. If it reads “Monson Historical Society Newsletter/Renewal”, you will need to update your membership. Please read the text in your e-mail for renewal instructions.

Please consider taking the time today to complete the membership form and mail it back, along with your check, to the address listed on the form. Your membership will be updated through 5/1/2016.

****Also note that we have reduced our “Life Membership” rate in half from $500 to $250!****

If you receive the newsletter via e-mail, please be aware that all newsletters will be forwarded from this e-mail address, [email protected], with the subject matter regarding Monson Historical Society.

MONSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC. MEMBERSHIP FORM

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Please indicate a membership category & enclose a check made out to “Monson Historical Society, Inc.” (Note: Membership renewal is May 1st of each year)

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(NEW REDUCED RATE!!) ___ Life Membership $25000 (NEW REDUCED RATE!!)

Return to: Membership - One Green Street, Suite One - Monson, MA 01057

And as always, we Thank You for your continued support of the Monson Historical Society!