Barnstable County, Massachusetts - Chapter 14: Town of Sandwich, 1890 (part 2 of 2)

In 1862 the schools were placed under the town's care, called the Massachusetts system, abolishing that of districts, and from this date their progress was more rapid. The school houses were lessened in number, better teachers were employed, and the schools rapidly advanced in attendance and standing. In his report of 1874-75, Charles Dillingham suggested that the town avail itself of the law providing for the conveyance of pupils to and from public schools, which was . done. In 1876 the custom of a rigid examination at the close of every term was inaugurated, which proved eminently successful in advancing the grade by inducing greater care and industry on the part of the pupil as well as teacher. In 1877 Sandwich was third in the county in the value of its school property, a commendable liberality that has produced its reward. A list of meritorious scholars was next printed in the reports of the schools of the town, which fact was another incentive to regular attendance and proper industry. The adoption of by-laws in accordance with the statute regarding truant children, was also a help to the advancement of the schools. The town elected officers for the enforcement of these laws. The superintendent oif schools had given a large Share of his time to the schools while they were in session for the past few years; apparatus had been purchased and other and better text books placed in the hands of the pupils, and in 1886 the schools were found by comparison, as reported by George H. Martin of the state board, to be on a higher plane of excellence than most of the towns of the county and equal to the best. The printed list of meritorious scholars, given for 1883 by the .superintendent, forms an army of young soldiers struggling for an education, and strongly supported by parents and school oflBcers. The erection of the town of Bourne in 1884 reduced the number of schools to nine, the village school having three departments and the Jarvisville two. Free text books were supplied by the town the same year, and under the laws of 1885, text books and charts on physiology were added.

The Cape Cod Mutual Benefit Association was instituted February 7, 1879, for mutual life insurance, and has a large number of beneficiaries. Charles Dillingham was elected its first president and I. K. Chipman vice-president, which offices they were chosen to fill each year after, including 1889. Charles H. Lapham was chosen secretary and treasurer at the meeting of February, 1889.

1879, and their tenth anniversary was celebrated on that date of the past year. The charter members were thirteen in number, and the Lodge now embraces a large number of the best citizens of the town. Its dictators have been: A. F. Sherman, 1879; F. S. Pope, 1880; S. R. Bourne, 1881; S. W. Hunt, 1882; P. T. Brown, 1883; F. W. Holway, 1884; E. G. Hamlen, 1885; J. H. Stevens. 1886; F. W. Holway, 1887; and B. F. Chamberlain, 1888-89.

A flourishing G. A. R. Post, Charles Chipman No. 132, is also found here, organized February 24, 1882, and meeting in Hunt's Hall. It has seventy members. S. W. Hunt has filled the post of commander during the years 1882-83-85 and 86; John F. Cunningham for 1884; and William C. GiflFord for 1887-88-89.

The Women's Relief Corps is an organization to assist the G. A. R., and meets the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. The organization was eflfected June 23, 1887.

The ladies have also the usual W. C. T. U., organized March 18, 1887, of which Mrs. .Mercy Littlefield was two years president. The officers elected for 1889 were; Miss Lydia Jenkins, pres.; Mrs. Fletcher Clark, vice-pres.; Delia R. Baker, sec; and Mrs. Vina Blackwell, treas.

The village has three halls for public use, the principal one being the Casino on School street, built in 1884 by ten men. It is a very large and pleasant hall, accommodating an audience of eight hundred. The front offices are occupied by the engineer and treasurer of the Cape Cod Canal Company. The others are Carlton Hall on Jarvis street, and Hunt's over Benjamin G. Bartley's store.

The first station agent of the Old Colony railroad was Captain George Atkins, who in 1859 at his death was succeeded by his son, Thomas Atkins; Alvin P. Wing succeeded him a short term, and March 13, 1876, James D. Lloyd, the present agent, was appointed.

Cemeteries. - The records of the proprietors designated these places of the dead as burial places. The first mentioned by the records is July 6, 1663, when it was ordered " that the little neck of land that lies by Wm. Newland's house shall be appropriated as a burial place for the town." This is known as the old burying ground, partially surrounded by the ponds in Sandwich village. In 1695 " The town did give to those of their neighbors, called Quakers, half an acre of ground for a burial place, on the hill above the Canoe Swamp between the ways." This is now the Friends' burying ground and near it the present one is located. All grounds are now kept in better order and with more reverence than by the proprietors themselves, for in 1715 by a vote, Mr. Cotton, the minister, had the privilege of pasturing his horse in the burying place by the pond, if he would

The Catholics have a small cemetery northeast of the village, and have more recently purchased land for another to the southwest. The Plowed Neck Cemetery in the eastern part of the town and the Wing, Spring Hill or Chipman, are also names given to another old burying ground; at Sand Hill (by some called Plain Hill), Farmersville, formerly Hog Pond; and Greenville or Forestdale, are others. There is also a small one at Wakeby.

As early as 1829 the Freeman Cemetery was used for burial, and was incorporated April 13, 1889. The trustees elected were Watson Freeman, C. I. Gibbs, and George F. Lapham; the clerk elected was William L. Nye.

Bay View Cemetery was incorporated June 23, 1868, and contains over six acres of land situated near the Freeman Cemetery. The original purchasers were W. H. F. Burbank, H. G. O. Ellis, John C. C. Ellis, Samuel Fessenden, S. W. Hunt, James M. Atherton, Seth O. Ellis, James D. Lloyd, James H. Faunce, Samuel C. Burbank, and Charles E. Pope. W. H. F. Burbank was president until March 12, 1889, when Samuel Fessenden was elected; Charles Dillingham was elected vice-president; and Charles E. Pope, who has served since the incorporation, was elected secretary.