JAN-FEB-MAR – 2012

Upcoming Events

February 19  – 2:00 P. M.  –   Sharing Stories of Glen Echo - We will display and give commentary on many of the Glen Echo pictures, documents, and maps from our collection, including its York Pond/ Indian past, the land being the southeast corner of the Ponkapoag Indian Plantation.  We will view images of the original deluxe resort built by Elisha Monk in 1895, and as discovered in recent title searches, discuss the passing on of the land to Elisha’s children, Eunice Mantle, Bertha Marston, and George Monk, their sales of cottage lots to individuals, the additions of trolley lines and electricity, the large purchase by Lincoln Gibson in 1934 and subsequent purchases of contiguous lots.  We recently learned from Mrs. Gibson that her father, Lincoln, converted the boat-house at Glen Echo to an ice-house and that in an earlier time, there was another ice house on the western shore, possibly owned by the Crowds, from which ran a cart road out to Indian Lane near the Angus house. We will share stories of experiences at Glen Echo over the years and hope to hear from some of the people who managed the Inn/restaurant for the Gibsons.  In the tradition of Frank Albrecht, of whom we have a picture canoeing on Glen Echo before WWI, we will also hear and record your boating, swimming, and diving adventures, including the Stoughton High School students who skinny-dipped there as a semi-official rite of Spring before WWII. As a follow-up, we will create a Glen Echo booklet, and possibly a video for local cable television, which will combine what we already know and what we will learn from the sharing at this program.  Those of you, who live too far away to attend the meeting are asked to send along your recollections, pictures etc. via email or regular mail.

March 11 –2 PM  - An Introduction to the Stoughton Historical Society Website - We will begin with a brief business meeting in which we will vote on a few changes to the by-laws, which are attached to email versions of the Newsletter.  A copy is also available at the Society, or by mail if you send along a self-addressed stamped envelope. Vice President and Webmaster David Lambert will lead us through an online representative sample of the fascinating articles, photographs, maps and reproductions of historical booklets, now displayed on our website. We have reached an agreement with David in which we have reimbursed him for half of his previous expenses in order to make the website he began: http://www.stoughtonhistory.com/ the official website of the Stoughton Historical Society.  David has since added many invaluable items including: a History of the Stoughton Railroad Station, which was compiled by Howard Hansen for the 100th Anniversary of the Station in 1988, Payers of poll taxes in 1911, property evaluations in 1850, the WWI Memorial Booklet, The History of the Congregational Church by Amy Fowler, Stoughton: Its beauties and Advantages – 1885, the Souvenir booklet from the 1926 Bi-Centennial, the Chicataubut Club Souvenir – Illustrated Book Stoughton, Mass. 1906 and many more past Newsletters.   Please add this site to your favorites, if you have not already done so.

President’s Report

On November 20, we were edified and entertained by Love Letters: The Intimate Correspondence of John and Abigail Adams presented by living history performers Patricia Bridgeman and Thomas Gacy, We greatly enjoyed their performance and hope to have them back soon with a new program on the Adamses.  Many thanks to VP David Lambert for taking over for your President, who was on hospital watch with Joan, but did manage to make it back just in time to see their performance.

David has also spent considerable time transforming our invaluable, but much the-worse-for-wear lists compiled in 1936 by William Capen of the ownership history of most of the pre-1911 houses in town.  David is building an individual computer file for each of the pre-1911 houses, adding historic or current pictures.

In conjunction with the Sesqui-Centennial of the American Civil War, the Planning Committee for Stoughton Reads has selected Killer Angels by Michael Shaara as its selection for 2012. This well-researched, historical novel recreates the battles as seen through the eyes of Confederates Lee, Longstreet, and Armistead, and the Union’s Chamberlain and Buford all of whom played key roles in the four-day battle of Gettysburg.  Book discussions and related programs will take place during the months of March and April. Copies of the book are available for $10 at the library and at the Historical Society. As one of the related programs, at a yet-to-be-set date in April, the Stoughton Historical Society will reproduce excerpts from the Civil War Diaries of Stoughton’s own Pvt Alfred Waldo and present a program on his experiences. We will also print a third edition of the nearly sold-out Waldo Diary, which will now include a picture of Alfred Waldo and the house in which he lived on Lincoln St. Here is an excerpt from that diary:

Sept. 14th. Sunday. (1862)

Since Sept. 8th we have been on the march. Friday we were within 4 miles of the enemy at Newe Market since then we; have been following them up and last night we marched through the City of Frederick Md. and camped for the night on the Blue Ridge. This morning there was some cannonading in the direction of Harper's Ferry. Tonight we went into Battle for the first time, we charged through some woods took some prisoners and came out into an open field, the rebels came and fired into from the woods and wounded some of us we then went into the woods, we were under fire about 2 ½  hours, there was a great many of the Rebels killed, they lay in heaps 16 & 17 in a pile we slept on the battle field that night amongst the dead and wounded, the Rebels retreated some time in the night.

Top of the Blue Ridge Mountains - Sept. 14th 1862

Mother,

Since I last wrote to you we have travelled a great many miles. Last Friday we marched the fartherest that we had any day. We went about 20 miles since then. We have been with in a few miles of Jackson 's men driving them towards the Potomac . Thursday night our corps drove the enemy from the city of Frederick and that night we entered the city and the next day we took up our march towards the Blue Ridge the rebel army retreating before us. They have the advantage of us in one respect, they being on the mountain and firing down upon the federal army but we have drove them over the mountain towards Harpers Ferry and if we have got an army on the other side of them I think that we have got him but I can not tell. Burnside commands this corps. Before we left Virginia we all threw our knapsacks away and the other day I threw my woolen blanket away. Now all I have to carry is my rubber blanket and over coat. I can manage as well as any of them now. We have no tents but have to lay on the ground. We have not had but a few rainy days. It rained but one night since we started from Virginia .

I want you to send me 2 oil silk bags to carry my Sugar & Coffee in when you send that flannel. I want them to hold about a pint a piece and fixed some way so I can tie them strong and send me 3 or 4 postage stamps. I do not want more than 4 because they will get all sweaty and stick together I can not get them here tell Lucy that I will answer her letter as soon as I at a time. I must stop now for we have orders to march. The Artillery are fighting now, so good bye.     I am as smart as can be and like first rate. Edward

Monday Sept. 15th.

We marched about 6 miles folowing the enemy up we have not had any thing to eat since Saturday.

Sept. 16th. Tuesday.

I have not had but two hard tacks since Saturday morning.

Sept. 17th. Wednesday. (The Battle of Antietam; the bloodiest day of the Civil War)

We went into battle again this morning, the 13th, was the first one to charge across the Antietam Bridge, the rebels ran and we charged up a hill after them, we had to get over 2 very high fences and we were all tired out when we got to the top. the rebels had 6 cannon pointing at us and they got to sacking us down pretty fast and we were ordered to fall back under the brow of the hill. We left that hill and went over to the left of the bridge where we had the fight our batterys got out of ammunition and left us at the mercy of the rebel Artillery. We fired all the amunition we had then we fell back and stoped till Thursday night and then we went back across the bridge and drew rations, the first since the Saturday before the So. Mountain fight.  In the last two fights we had about 30 killed and wounded Capt. Niles, Lieut. Palmer G. Ingalls, Orderly    Henry.

Sept. 22d. Sunday.

Not very well  (and he was not well for much of the next week)

A number of people have visited the Society and assisted in the identification of pictures collected by Sumner Tapper from Stoughton High School in the 1960’s and 70’s.  Former teacher, Principal and Superintendent Anthony Sarno spent a couple hours with the photos and was able to contribute many identifications.

In early December, I gave a presentation to the new (second term) round of students in the Middle School Pathways local history courses taught by Caitlin Murphy and Christine Spears, using a number of GIS maps printed out for us by Eman Sayegh at the Town Engineer’s office.  These maps show every dwelling in the Town of Stoughton and students were able to find their homes and also note what historical resources were in their area.  The maps were left with the teachers to use in subsequent classes. We had a follow-up presentation on Stoughton in the Revolutionary War and the Battle of Saratoga.  The aforementioned maps are an excellent resource, produced by Eman Sayegh with the urging and assistance of Jennifer Goldson, consultant to Stoughton Community Preservation Committee.  They were on display the night of the Community Preservation Public Hearing and Workshop at the Great Hall on November 28.

The Stoughton Community Preservation Committee has determined several goals under the Historic Preservation category of expending CPA funds: “GOAL 1.. RAISE COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF HISTORIC RESOURCES THROUGHOUT TOWN - The CPC encourages increasing community awareness and appreciation of the multitude of historic resources in Stoughton including private homes, municipal buildings, commercial buildings, cemeteries and burial grounds, landscapes and scenic views, and documents.”  The map of Historic Resources identifies almost 100 locations of historical interest. Obviously, the Stoughton Historical Commission and Historical Society will have to play key ongoing roles in this mission.

As a small part of this endeavor, sometime this winter, I hope to lead a field trip/workshop around the huge stone foundations at the site of the old Benjamin/Lemuel Bird (most likely three or four-level) barn, near the Leo Green Memorial at the Bird St. Conservation Area.  This cellar wall has had litter dumped beside it for a generation or two and some clean-up will be appropriate; Gerry McDonald has already begun clearing some trails in to the site.  There are a number of nearby locations from which stone has been removed, most likely for the cellar of the Bird house and the construction of this massive foundation wall, which is more than twenty feet high and sixty feet long.  We will review what we know of the Birds and Connors who inhabited the site between the 1700’s and the first half of the Twentieth Century, and view historical maps and aerial photos of the distinctive outlines of the farm and its stone walls.  The workshop will be held during the winter, because the site is much more visible when the leaves are off the trees and shrubs at the site, and the poison ivy is less of a factor. More details will follow via email and the Pennysaver, but you may email us immediately to express your interest and/or ability to contribute.

Also in need of attention, it the still-standing, but rapidly deteriorating Northeast end of the Gay-Hurley McNamara barn on West St., which is now owned by the Town.  “Fortunately,” the part which is losing its roofing is not the oldest part of the barn, but a much-later, shed-like addition.  Nevertheless, some action should be taken soon.

Moving from barns to documents, Intern Marissa Petersile, now a student at BU has helped locate more information relating to the contents of the Ezra Tilden 1779-81 Journal, which we will publish this year.  On page 62, Tilden wrote of carrying “a book concerning Barnett Davenport,” with no further comment:

An Account of things, that I Carry’d up, with me, to west-point, in the year, 1781: viz. a gun, a Cartridge Box, a Blanket, a spoon, 2-knives, a Pocket-book, with paper, in it, &, a Case to it: 3-pens, in it also an ink-horn, an almanack, 3 Loose pieces of paper, & a paper-Book Loose, in my pocket-Book, also: 16 Silver dollars, wanting 10 s. 0. T. in silver: 1 red & white silk hankerchief: 2 black-silk ditto’s: a snuff Box, & some snuff in it, a cap, 2-pipes: a Line, a gown, a piece of chalk & some tow, a hat, a canteen, 2 horns, a horn-comb: a tin cup: some tea, sugar, & chocolate, 1 coat, 1 jacket, 2 shirts, 1 pair of Trowsers, 1 pair of Breeches, 2 pair of stockings, 2 cheker’d handkerchiefs, 2 pair of shoes, 1 pair of shoe-Buckles, 1 pair of knee-Buckles: 10 pins, a pair of Sleeve Buttons a pair of gloves: a thing to pick my teeth: a  Book, Baxter’s call, & C. another Book, memorable accidents, & C. a Brown thread needle, some thread; &, a pair of garters, & C. a rasor, a girt to a saddle: &, also, a Book concerning barnett davenport, & C.(PAGE 63) Sat.d. decr. 9. 1780: I march’d, from west-point, 21. miles; &, staid, at night, at Hopewell: in the Edge of fish kills:

We have discovered that Davenport was a Connecticut soldier, who, like Tilden, had served at Ticonderoga and Saratoga, but had later committed a grisly murder of the family at whose home he was staying after his service; he was eventually hanged for the crime.  An internet search revealed that a Connecticut Historian, Michael J. Cavallaro, has just published a book which includes relevant material on Davenport. We have sent him a copy of the earlier Tilden Journal in which he will learn of some of the things which Davenport may have experienced in his campaigns, and he has sent us a copy of his book, which may identify the specific book above which Tilden would have been reading in 1781.

Intern Dahlia Kushinsky has continued transcribing the journal of our still-unidentified female school-teacher in 1858-59.  In the Spring of 1859, the school in which she was teaching in West North Bridgewater was closing.  A break-through occurred when David Lambert found the name of Alpheus Carr, a neighbor she mentioned in the journal, in the North Bridgewater census. Then I found that an 1858 map of the North Bridgewater, now Brockton, reveals a line of Gurneys (a family she identifies as living within sight of their school,) living along the current Route 27, just south of the Stoughton line.  The map has a special insert for the West North Bridgewater community, of which I had no previous knowledge; it consisted of the area around the junction of Rt 27 and Oak St. Bradford Kingman’s definitive history of North Bridgewater, written in 1866, provides more information and is available online at Google Books.

On learning of the imminent closing of her school, our writer had applied to teach at the Dry Pond School but soon thereafter, visited Nathaniel Morton in regard to starting a school in downtown Stoughton.  The previous summer, she and the wife of Lucius Clapp spent a week at the Methodist Campground (at Oak Bluffs) on Martha’s Vineyard.  We also hear of a man with whom our writer had broken off her relationship because he was not a Christian.  Ironically he subsequently became a Christian, married someone else, and visited the school at which she taught, possibly evoking second thoughts in our writer.  Here are pages from entries in July and August of 1858:

(July)20.  School duties are very pleasant this week.  Attended the Examination of the State Normal School at Bridgewater yesterday.  Enjoyed the ride. Dined with Class. There were five recitations yesterday. 1st Geometry, 2nd Algebra 3rd Physiology Afternoon 1st Court of the States  2nd National Philosophy. The last hour was mostly occupied by remarks from Gov. Banks. Mrs E. G. Gay, formerly Witham?? Is visiting us today.  A friend of hers, Miss Morgan came with her. It seems so sad to have her so averse  to have anything said about her husband. She seemed ashamed of him. Poor girl! Mary came up today.  How refreshing to see her.

Last evening a bridal party passed consisting of Mr. Isaac Smith & wife, Mr. Oliver Morse & wife & an escort.  One of the party looked earnestly towards the house.  The same renewing Wisdom that directed in my decision with him gives one grace to rise above regrets now that circumstances are changed and he has become a Christian.

22  Thurs. This morning indulged in feelings of dread relating to school duties but as usual they were nearly all imaginary.

For the most part lessons were well learned.

Christina has had a birth-day party this afternoon.

Elisa left last night. We learn that her friend whom she introduced as Miss Morgan is a married lady trying to get away from her husband. Poor silly girls!!

Have fastened botanical specimens into my herbarium tonight.

Have written Mrs. L. Clapp.

24 Sat.     Feel very happy tonight- feel entirely free from care. It is stormy this evening so I did not go to meeting. Feel the want of it but think on the whole my motive in attending the meetings is as much to encourage Christians as from any benefit I expect to receive.

(five pages later)

Aug 28 Saturday (Pressed leaf sewed at left top corner of page) English Ivy  from Arnold garden N. Bedford     Vacation is passing very pleasantly. On the evening of the last date rode over to Mrs. Clapp’s and made an arrangement to go with her to M. V.  Friday + Sat. were spent in making preparations for the trip,- washing-ironing + Friday afternoon went berrying on Rattlesnake Hill. We had a fine prospect of the ‘surrounding villages.  Massapog pond was full in view.

Sat. Annie was sent for. So I had more opportunity to assist Mother. Went to Class meeting at Uncle Russells. Went to meet James Sabbath morning. Mr. Wilson preached in the morning on the subject of Family Worships.

Was sorry to see so few people at church. James did not go he was very tired.

Mrs. C. told me Sunday. She did not feel entirely decided about going to camp-meeting- so my anticipations were checked.

Monday found me without a plan for the wk. but before night we decided to go.

My arrangements were all easily.  We left home Tuesday morning about 9 o’clock Father + Mother took us to N. B. Depot

Camp-meeting

On arriving there we found we were mistaken with regard to the train  + so must wait until next morning.

At first we were disappointed – but we found ways to employ our afternoon very pleasantly. – called at Mr. Wheeler’s – visited at Cemetery?- + spent the night at Russel’s.

Went to a dull meeting at Porter Vestry A Elizabeth was gone we did our own entertaining. Russell was being very kind.

Wednes. Morning we started from N. Bridgewater to Martha’s Vineyard.

Rev. Mr. Grant?, Blaisdell + wives accompanied us. Also Mr. Wheeler + wife.

The ride in cars was quite pleasant – not particularly fatiguing- but the sail- that was the pleasantest part of the journey. The little ferry boat from Fairhaven to N.B. was a delightful sail.

The water was unusually rough + I felt a little as if I would be safer on land, but I was not sick or dizzy and as we came in sight of the islands my fears vanished + I enjoyed it exceedingly.

After a walk of a mile from Steam boat we arrived at Camp ground about 1:30 o’clock. Feeling quite weary. We went directly to Falmouth tent to find Mrs. C’s sister but did not find her. - + that days adventures ended our disappointments.

The week passed very pleasantly. At first we hardly knew what we should do about lodging but some Prov. People gave us permission to lodge with them + the week’s enjoyment made up in no small degree by the kindness + Christian sympathy of those pleasant people, proved this to be a pleasant arrangement.

During several of our past programs on WWII, a number of our older members recalled the Prisoner-of-War trains which would pass through Stoughton on their way to Camp Miles Standish in Taunton.  Italian POW’s were treated differently than the Germans, as by that time, Italy had surrendered.  The Italians were kept in a separate area with lower security, and some were invited by the Sons of Italy in Stoughton to attend a dinner/dance.  On March 15, local historian Mark Hanna will give a presentation on Camp Miles Standish at 7 pm at the Old Colony Historical Society in Taunton.

We send our heart-felt condolences to the family of David Sears, whose sudden death in December shocked and saddened all of us.  A thank you to Chris Peduto for making a donation in his name and another one for John O’Meara.

Archivist’s Report

We are beginning folders for local singer-songwriter Lori McKenna and dancer-actor Kenny Wormald.

Acquisitions

Thirteen loose-leaf notebooks from former Town Engineer Charles Starkowsky including documents pertaining to the sale of CW Welch land to the Town of Stoughton and various other items of business; A collection of items from the Smith and Campbell families including photos of the Class of 1938, a 1940 Brockton District Telephone book, SHS 1936 Graduation Program, 1935 Canton vs. Stoughton football program, Boy Scout items, Stoughton Theater items, Letter to Virginia Campbell from “USS Chicago 1945 Tokyo,” various news items donated by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bittner;  Clapp School photos c. 1911-1914, Grade 3, 4, 5, 6, all with William W. Legge, News clipping and photo Shawnut’s “Board of Experts” Pick the scores of Saturday’s games in bid to win a radio, American Wool Handbook – 1948, American Cotton Handbook – 1949, Display pages for exhibit - Raw cotton to finished fabric, Annual Stoughton Town Report 1886, all donated by Wayne Legge. .- Richard Fitzpatrick

Ruthie Fitzpatrick has helped with cataloguing of new acquisitions, swept the floors, straightened out file drawers, worked on collating and adding captions to Mikayla Williams' drawings for the coloring book, which is about two thirds complete. Ruthie was one of the group who decorated and undecorated the Christmas tree.  She has updated the bylaws which will be voted on at the March meeting: updated language (i.e. changed "clerk" to secretary", maybe next version can be "administrative assistant, thought 19th to 20th century enough of a leap for the moment).  Tried to make it more grammatically correct and revised the section on dues to reflect present practice.  Also added two officers: Corresponding Secretary and Clothing Curator.  There are copies of the revised bylaws available at the Historical Society and as an attachment to e-mailed copies of the newsletter. Joe DeVito has added panels on Glen Echo to our map display case, and is working on similar ones for Camp Whispering Willows and the Gay Cotton Manufacturing Company/French and Ward photos.

Curator’s Report

I have been exploring one of our boxes with pieces of wood from various historical sites.  We have a piece of the window sill from Daniel (son of George) Talbot’s house, which was built in 1736. It was torn down in1879 by Samuel Clapp, and its lumber used in coal sheds by Robert Porter.  We also have a piece of apple tree from Peregrine White’s apple trees in Marshfield. White was the first English child born in New England (Nov. 20, 1620 on the Mayflower) and was the first to plant apple trees in New England.  We have a brick and broken pieces of pottery from the cellar-hole of the Isaac Stearns 1716 house, the first house built in the current Stoughton; they were found by Robert Benson in 1970.  We also have a wooden house shingle removed by David Lambert from the Methodist Meeting House on Central St when the building was demolished in 1987. Acquisitions: a bag of old marbles from Janet Clough; a pair of rug beaters from the Fitzpatrick family, who got them from Barbara O’Donnell; a wooden shipping crate with the George Belcher Last Co. stamped on it from Wayne Legge, a small wooden container stamped “One Dozen – Packard’s Special Pure White Dressing” purchased from eBay.

-Brian Daley

Clothing Curator’s Report

My time spent for the Historical Society the past couple months has been attempting to organize our written records  into the Society’s computer. Most of the box contents and category lists have been typed and now need to be organized into a folder within our computer.  That is still a work in progress. When that project is completed, I would like to go through the contents of the boxes and check on the condition of all of the items.  We have found some mold in the boxes that I’m sure happened before the installation of the air monitoring system. When I begin that review, I will need some assistance.  The boxes are heavy and difficult to move from the high shelves. If you are available, please let me or someone else on the day crew know.

Thank you in advance.  - Janet Clough

Welcome to our new members: Charlie & Judy Fallon, Sean and Pam Carr (new owners of the Lucius Clapp/Carl Libby house on West St.), Edward Brouhard, Paula Pierce, and Stephen Farrell,

If you would like to receive a 2012 Membership Card, please send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to us and we will mail you one, or you may pick one up at the Society.

Historical Society Publications

• NEW! – Reproduction of our History of Stoughton Time-Line Panels on glossy photo paper  $2.00 Members $1.00
• Historical Maps of the 12 (1695) and 25 (1726) Divisions $15/M10 each (a ten page booklet of commentary, free, when you buy both of these beautiful colored maps.)
• October Stories by James Barber $13.00
• The Drake Letters from Stoughton to Strongsville by Sandee Le Masters $20/M15   
• “Exult O Americans and Rejoice”: The Revolutionary War Diaries of Ezra Tilden 15.00 Memb 10.00   
• -A Stoughton Sampler: 1895-1995;   $15.00, Members $10.00   
• ”The Civil War Diary of Stoughton Private Alfred Waldo: $20.00, Mem. $15.00   
• -Images of Stoughton,  Postcard Images of Stoughton both by David Allen Lambert - $22.00 @ Mem $20  
• Booklets: Price for each copy; $3/M$2  
  • A Few Farms of Dry Pond,   Billy White’s Field,  A Walk Through the Dry Pond Neighborhood of my Youth by Ernest Gilbert  
  • Pleasant Pines Farm- Frank Reynolds entries on his work at  the Capen-Reynolds Farm in the early 1900’s.
• Illustrated Commentary from past Community Calendars: $3.00@ M$2   Stoughton’s First Factory, The White Mill – The Bird St. Conservation Area, The History of West Street,  Glen Echo.
• Updated color-coded trail/topo maps of the Bird St. Conservation Area - $2.00   
• Large topo map(with two-foot elevation lines) of Bird St Conservation Area, showing stone-walls and lot lines - $10.00   

If you wish to order by mail, add $5.00 to your total purchase.  For the large maps, add $8. Address all requests to The Stoughton Historical Society, Box 542, Stoughton, MA 02072

Correction: the last Newsletter should have identified Middle School History teacher Joseph Bridgeforth as the man who brought his classes to the Historical Society.