Bristol County, Massachusetts - Chapter 6: The Municipality of Fall River, 1924

A glance of the eye cannot range the Fall River of today, even from the vantage-point of her highest elevation. Neither can several interviews or many strokes of the pen sufficiently set forth all the salient portions of the story of this city of great industry. The narrative of the town's progress and the city's annals at one time might well be comprehended in detail within the covers of an ordinary book. But we have arrived at a goal of the municipality's history beyond the chapter of the incredible World War events, that historians of old could not in any wise prophesy. Of a sudden, the story of the city has become encyclopedic in its proportions, so that a score of historians within the modern community might indite each his volume upon any topic, municipal, educational, ecclesiastical, industrial, lingual, as witness, for example, one recent work, "Le Guide Francais de Fall River," with its more than eight hundred pages. And many are the as yet unwritten histories upon related subjects within the one city. Therefore, it must be granted that an historian shall undertake a labor of immense magnitude who shall attempt to make even a general survey of Fall River - city of expanding toil, of manifold institutions, of delectable situation. Now indeed have we come upon those times when every hour is herald of wonderful development - this being the annus mirabilis and not yesterday, after all.

While there is to come our chapter that shall have for its special concern the rise and progress of the city's industries, our earlier procedure thereto must be by way of those municipal milestones whereat the city has placed her chosen sentinels and guides, who have challenged the advance to the present. The prideful announcement is now upon the tongue's end that we are a city of a population of more than 130,000, and the declaration that Fall River operates millions of spindles in her mills is put forth with justifiable satisfaction. The city's total valuation, the visitor is told, is close to one hundred and thirty-three millions; and the provision for the cosmopolitan populace is comprehensive and on a par with that of any city of this size upon our coast. Yet such statements are best approved and realized as we again in retrospect familiarize ourselves with those steps in the municipal journey that have secured to us this summit.

Incorporation as a City - Unlike most New England communities, Fall River has even now been invested with its municipal honors much longer than with those of the town, and since April 12, 1854, when this city was incorporated, a succession of city-making and industry-increasing events has transpired that is rarely the lot of any New England community.. In 1854, then, with the population at 12,000, and with the valuation of the town placed at close to $9,000,000, with thrift and promise of future great . success as incentives, the city entered into its own. There were progressive and enterprising men in charge of the destinies of the city charter proposition, Dr. Foster Hooper being the chairman, and his aids being John Westall, Nathaniel B. Borden, Israel Buffinton, Eliab Williams, Samuel L. Thaxter, Robert C. Brown, Thomas Wilbur and Louis Lapham.

On April 22, 1854, the report of the city charter committee was accepted by a vote of the town, 529 for, and 247 against the proposition. There were three leading candidates for the city's first mayoralty, namely: James Buffinton, Dr. Foster Hooper, and Nathaniel Durfee, but Mr. Buffinton received the majority of votes over all, of 331 in the aggregate of 1261, at the election that took place May 6, 1854, the inauguration ensuing at the City Hall on May 15. Mayor Buffinton proved to be a peerless mayor at the launching of the city. He was a self-sacrificing citizen, not only carrying out the wishes of the community and his constituency while in office, but proving his humanity during the prevalence at that time of the Asiatic cholera scourge, when he personally cared for sick and dying, and even prepared the dead for burial. For this and for all his enduring qualities as citizen and mayor, his friends were legion. He was reélected to the mayoralty in 1855, but in the autumn of that year he was chosen as representative to Congress. No generation will ever see quite his like again. He was an avowed Abolitionist, and at the outbreak of the Civil War he raised a company of volunteers and shared with them in their daily drill. Hon. Edward P. Buffinton then filled the unexpired term of the first mayor. He had been a member of the State House of Representatives in 1852, and was a member of the city's first board of aldermen. After serving the previous part term of his predecessor, he was elected mayor in 1856.

Like Mayor Buffinton, Hon. Nathaniel B. Borden, the third mayor, had served both in the Massachusetts Legislature and as representative in the National Congress. He, too, was a philanthropist of the highest type, a believer in and co-worker with his fellow-men for the upbuilding of the city. It was during the hard times of the winter of 1856-1857 when but few of the mills were running, and when thousands of people were out of work, that he found means of employment for the needy, and that for the first time here he had district committees of relief appointed.

Hon. Josiah C. Blaisdell was the choice of the people of Fall River for their executive head in 1858 and 1859, and again as in the case of the other mayors, he had served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. As mayor of this city, he is remembered for his methods of rigid economy, and as Henry H. Earl, A. M., historian, graphically says "The administration lived within its income." While he held office, and in 1858, some movement was made towards bringing about a surrender of the city charter, but the popular vote that was taken in the matter, of two to one in favor of upholding and continuing the charter, set aside the opposition. It is conceded that it was largely through the economy of Judge Blaisdell that the city was enabled to enter upon a new era of prosperity.

The Civil War made its demands upon Fall River, and a bulwark of strength and a man of unfailing resource was Hon. Edward P. Buffinton, war mayor, who was again chosen to the office in 1860. He had made his worth secure while formerly in office as the second mayor, and his tenure of office was now to continue throughout the war, and until 1867. In our chapter concerning the Civil War, reference is made to this mayor's tireless exertions in behalf of the Union cause, and for the welfare of the soldier boys of Fall River. Day and night he gave himself unstintedly and unwaveringly for the restoration of peace and liberty, so far as Fall River might be concerned. During this administration, and even while the war was at its height, some of the city's famous mills were erected, the old boundary dispute between Fall River and Rhode Island was settled, and the work of the public library and the other like useful institutions was begun.

Hon. George O. Fairbanks, who had most acceptably presided over Fall River's first common council, and who for many years was a leading dentist here, was elected mayor in 1867 and in 1868. This administration saw the establishment of the first public baths in the city, and it was during Mr. Fairbanks' mayoralty that the north and south parks were secured to the city, the Highland road was laid out, and the Morgan school, first of the more commodious modern schools, was built.

Mayor Fairbanks was succeeded in 1869 by Hon. Samuel M. Brown, who was thereafter annually to be reélected to the office, to 1872. This is an era that the late Leontine Lincoln always referred to as one in which the doors of industry in this city were thrown wide open, with an unprecedented construction of mill buildings, eleven mills being erected in the one year, 1872. Mayor Brown had already served as city treasurer and assessor. and as a member of the school committee, and he was thoroughly acquainted with the city's needs and its opportunities. Almost by leaps and bounds the city was growing, for whereas the population in 1870 had been 27,191, in 1872 it had attained to 34,835, and the total valuation of the city had nearly doubled from 1865 to 1870, an increase from $12,134,990 to $23,612,214. Now came the project of the water works, the adoption of the fire-alarm system, and extensive improvements made in the city streets.

Hon. Robert T. Davis, at one time president of the Bristol South District Medical Society, was elected mayor in 1873. He had been State Senator, and was a member of the State Constitutional Convention of 1853, and a member of the National Republican committee that had nominated Abraham Lincoln for the Presidency of the United States. As mayor, he was enterprising and progressive. More than twenty streets were improved. the water works were completed, and a number of public buildings were begun or ordered. The city hall was completed, and that building was dedicated in 1873.

Hon. James F. Davenport, an alderman, and who had been president of the Common Council in 1872, was elected mayor of the city in 1874, so continuing through 1877. The water works were now in operation, the Slade's Ferry bridge was completed, sewers were constructed, the Davenport school was completed. Despite the strikes of 1875, and the great unrest of labor, many features of municipal value were attained, such as the opening of the new postoffice, the reorganization of the police force, the establishment of fire insurance districts, the construction of the city hospital. A continuation of the succession of fundamental events in citymaking thus in progress was the rule throughout the mayoralty of Hon. Crawford E. Lindsey, in 1878 and 1879. Highways were increased and improved, and miles of sewers were extended; and the Board of Health was established, consisting of B. F. Winslow, J. S. Anthony and C. W. Copeland.

United States Congressman William $. Greene was the most widely known as well as one of the most highly honored of the mayors of Fall River. He was elected mayor in 1880 and 1881. His incumbency signified still further advancement and prosperity for the city, with the laying of the first paving in 1880, and the continuing of two miles of that needful improvement the following year, the establishment of the office of city engineer, the establishment of banks and the forwarding of industry in general.

City Development. - A new city charter that was drafted in 1880 came to naught. Hon. Robert Henry was elected to fill Mayor Greene's unexpired term in 1881, upon the appointment of the latter to the Fall River postmastership that year. Philip D. Borden was appointed city engineer. Judge Henry K. Braley, of the Supreme Court, was elected to the mayoralty in 1882 and 1883, and he pursued the same progressive trend in municipal activities as had his predecessors. For example, sewerage construction of nearly a mile in length was one of the chief features of the city work of 1882, as well as the opening of Rock street, from Prospect to French streets; and extension of streets and sewersconstruction continued in 1883, in which year is recorded the beginning of electric street lighting here.

Hon. Milton Reed, publisher, writer and public speaker, was mayor in 1884, when new schools were built, and street paving and electric lighting of streets were continued. Hon. John W. Cummings succeeded to the office in 1886, when one of the most traveled thoroughfares in the city, South Main street from Pocasset to Anawan, was given a full width of sixty feet. Again Hon. William S$. Greene occupied the mayor's chair in 1886, but Hon. John W. Cummings was returned in 1887 and 1888, these years increasing the record of street widening and paving and of sewer construction, that in themselves opened the way for the city's further growth and progress. Great mill corporations were in process of formation, and the city's population and valuation were well-nigh doubled.

The street railroad was built during the activities of Hon. James F. Jackson as mayor in 1889 and 1890; the board of Overseers of the Poor was established, the appointment of a plumbing inspector was made, the Third street bridge was constructed, the police signal system was instituted, the high school building was erected, and cotton and iron works and mills added to the industry and prosperity of the city.

Dr. John W. Coughlin was given the honor of the city's chief executive in 1891 - a mayoralty remembered for its forward movement in all city departments. More than two hundred thousand dollars were expended in the first two years, while Dr. Coughlin was mayor; the new city hospital and city dispensary were opened, school buildings were completed; and, as formerly, street construction took a leading place. Electricity was first used here as street car motor power. In 1892 the Borden trial was begun, concluding in 1893. Dr. Coughlin was mayor four years.

Yet again, in 1895, Hon. William S. Greene was returned as mayor, this making the fourth time that he was elected to the office. The highways and streets questions, always absorbing ones through this decade in particular, were benefitted by appropriations of close to two hundred thousand dollars. Seven miles of macadam were constructed, a reservoir commission was established, and the new police building on Granite street was occupied.

Hon. Amos M. Jackson was mayor of the city in 1898 and 1899, his last year in office finding more than two million spindles in operation in the Fall River mills. Mayor Jackson was succeeded in office by Hon. John H. Abbott, he having been elected mayor in 1900 and 1901. New mills continued to be constructed, industry in general was on the increase, and the city's value enhanced. A half score of mills, to which reference is made in the chapter that has to do with the city's industries, began business in these and succeeding years.

Hon. George Grime became mayor in 1902, and so continued through 1904, during which period the park commission was established. In 1902, the first year of this mayoralty, was brought about the adoption of a new city charter, that had been under discussion more than thirty years. The charter was accepted by the voters at the State election of November 4, 1902, the vote therefor standing 6835 for and 3689 against, that document having been drawn up by a citizens' committee of thirty, with Simeon B. Chase as chairman, John §. B. Clarke as secretary. While Hon. George Grime was mayor, the instrument went into effect, in 1903. From that time onwards, a new board of twenty-seven aldermen, three selected from each ward and one by all the voters of the city, took the place of the former organization of aldermen and council. The aldermanic terms were now to be two years, and a part of the board was to be elected each year; the same applied to the heads of other departments, with the exception of those of the board of health and the fire commissioners, which were to be three years. In this administration a fire commission was established.

About thirty thousand mill operatives were thrown out of work for about six months in 1904, on account of the strike against the wage reduction, and during the year some seven thousand people removed from the city. June 16, 1905, witnessed the elimination of the steam railroad grade crossings within the city limits, at Brownell, Lindsey, Ballard, Davol, Turner, Danforth, Perry, Pond and Water streets; and seven railroad bridges and five highway bridges were constructed, the total cost of all being close to $1,500,000. It was during this administration that electric car sprinkling was brought about; and the Dartmouth and Wiest ons street railway received its franchise ria carrying freight.

as in his former administration, a mayoralty in which both harmony and economy were leading qualities. Dr. Coughlin continued as mayor to 1910, the city's assessed valuation at the close of the decade being $92,488,520, the rate of taxation being $18.00 per $1000. Playgrounds were purchased and laid out, more schools were completed and others begun; Purchase street was extended to Court Square; the contagious hospital was completed, and on October 10, 1908, the new bridge at Brightman street was completed. In 1910, kerosene lamps along the boulevards were supplanted with electric lights.

Hon. Thomas F. Higgins was elected mayor in 1911; John Crowther was city clerk, John Fleet city marshal. John B. Grinnell was appointed superintendent of streets upon the death of Fred A. Thurston, who had succeeded to that office in 1894 on the death of his father. The tax rate increased to $19.20 per $1000. In 1913, the Watuppa Ponds and Quequechan river commission was created. Philip D. Borden, city engineer since 1881, and clerk of the reservoir commission since 1895, resigned his position, and J. Edgar Borden was given the appointment. That year, Edmund P. Talbot was elected to the chairmanship of the board of park commissioners. William Grinnell, assistant superintendent of the street department, after forty years of service, died November 25, 1913. The board of trustees of all the municipal hospitals and dispensaries entered upon their duties July 1, that year.

Hon. James H. Kay was mayor in 1914; the population of the city was 122,231, the assessed valuation being $102,528,168. This year will be remembered for the double loop that was established for the street railway, thereby lessening the congestion of travel on South Main street, between Bedford and Pleasant streets. Charles P. Brightman was city treasurer. In 1915, the county building on Bay street was purchased for a city home, at a total cost of $165,000, and equipped for the housing of about four hundred inmates. George F. Johnson was elected city treasurer this year, the city's assessed valuation being $113,360,748, and the population being recorded as 124,791. A great fire in 1916 destroyed a large portion of the South Main street district.

"Our real business from now on," declared Hon. James H. Kay in his 1917 inaugural, "is to win the war, and even at great inconvenience all other matters must be made secondary to that great object." 'Thus he voiced the sentiment of the entire community of Fall River. Owing to the war and the high cost of living, heavy burdens necessarily were placed upon the taxpayers. In 1918, the board of hospitals and dispensaries encountered a formidable foe during the epidemic, but that board was splendidly served by the canteen organization, the school teachers, who gave service in the wards of the various hospitals; the Red Cross, St. Patrick's and St. Mary's parishes, which offered their day nurseries as emergency hospitals; the State Guard; the school committee, which opened the new high school building as an emergency hospital; the First Baptist Church, which donated its new parish house. The total expenditure of the department throughout the epidemic was $136,580. The first record of the arrival of the disease was that of September 16, seven cases being reported on that day; the scourge remained at its height to October 31. The State Guard performed excellent work under Lieutenant Charles D. Davol, and at Red Cross head- quarters was maintained a general clearing house. 'Two hundred and fiftyone members of the city teaching corps volunteered as nurses. To the District Nursing Association was assigned the work of directing the activities of the nurses provided by the State Department of Health. The work of directing the canteens was delegated to the Association for Community Welfare and the Woman's Union, the King Philip Settlement House and others assisting. During the epidemic, of the total of 10,624 cases, 620 died.

During the year 1919 the city passed through a period of social and industrial unrest, though business and industry were unprecedentedly prosperous. The city's total valuation now was placed at $132,225,023, the population as 122,926, and the park area at this time was about 130.75 acres. The uppermost question in 1920 was that of relieving the effects of protracted unemployment. The building this year was the most expensive in the history of that department, with the construction of twelve portable schools, and the rebuilding and renovation of others for various purposes.

An agreement between the Watuppa Reservoir Company and the city was approved in the spring of 1920, providing that full right, title and interest in the North Watuppa Pond and exclusive right of its waters be vested in the city; that Quequechan river improvements be carried out, and that the city pay $75,000 as equitable settlement to the Watuppa Reservoir Company. Great improvement was continued in the street work, the street railway laying new rails, which facilitated the plans of the street department.

Hon. Edmund P. Talbot was elected mayor of the city and entered upon his duties as executive head of the municipality in 1923. He has continued with the progressive program of his predecessors, particularly in the matter of street improvement and having the highways of the city and its approaches second to none in this part of the State. Mayor Talbot has mapped out a plan of street widening that meets with general approval. Before his entry into office, the street railway practically built a new road, the rails being laid with cement foundations through most of the main streets, so that from now onwards the work of the street commission will be facilitated and strengthened. A practical system of city government is being exemplified annually through the increasing and improvement of the fire-fighting apparatus, its officials and membership, the extension and beautifying of the parks, the application to present-day requirements of both the police and the municipal hospital departments. -

That the city of Fall River is continuing to improve and to advance and grow, to add to the number and the value of its industries and, so far as possible, to make a happy and satisfied citizenry, is evident at least from the harmony that exists between the various peoples that make up» modern Fall River, and the organizations, civic, religious and social, whose name they bear. Though the old Fall River is no longer existent, this present city is undergoing its wholesale and speedy changes by means of the enlargement of the business limits and the surprising increase in population, and the metropolitan provisions for the newcomer and his religious and social demands, that to the citizen of broad mind and humanitarian views are but the natural developments of the plan and purpose of the founders.

In the main, then, we have made our survey of the municipality and its executive officiary, setting down the principal measures enacted that made for city progress. In their own place.shall be recounted the advance of the public utilities and annals of eventful matters. With the help of the historians - Fowler, Earl and Fenner - we may review in brief those corporate epochs that have been steps upward and city-ward. Fall River was incorporated as the town of Fall River, February 26, 1803. And at that time, says Mr. Fowler, "there were only eighteen dwelling houses and about 100 inhabitants here." In North Main street there were six houses, occupied by Charles Durfee, Daniel Buffinton, John Luther, Abner Davol, John Cook and Mary Borden. In East Central street there were four, occupied by Nathan Bowen, Perry Borden, Seth Borden and Elihu Cook. In West Central street there were two, occupied by Nathan Borden and Daniel Borden. In South Main street there were five, occupied by Simeon Borden, Richard Borden, Thomas Borden, Benjamin Brayton and Francis Brayton. Near the shore, there was one occupied by Thomas Borden. Of these eighteen families, nine were Bordens.

As early as 1802, Thomas Borden and one hundred and fifty-five others, representing the southern portion of the town of Freetown, petitioned for separation from the mother town because of the great distance from town meeting, and the impassability of intervening swamp lands a large part of the year. On February 4, 1802, at town meeting, with Nathaniel Morton, moderator, it was unanimously decided by vote that Freetown should not be divided; yet at the same meeting it is recorded that the vote received consideration, and a committee was appointed for town division.

It would appear that the people in the north part of the town foresaw the superior advantages that would accrue to the residents of the south portion if division were made, as the south was far better off for situation, property, and its shell fishery. One remonstrance from the old town was that the line, if made, be placed farther south than at the present point, and another came from the Dartmouth line residents who claimed that division would isolate them. Eventually, on February 5, 1803, the General Court reported in favor of division on the old lines, and then followed the incorporation of the new town. Just a year later, May 19, 1804, the town voted to change the name of the community to Troy, a tradition holding that a leading resident favored the naming for the Troy of New York. A Dill brought before the Legislature to that effect was passed and became an act June 18, 1804. But three decades later, or on February 12, 1834, the general court acceded to the request and vote of Troy town meeting of March 18, 1833, that the old name Fall River be restored, this act being the result of the petition made by Ebenezer Andrews and one hundred and thirfy-four others, for the leading reason that Troy was already too common a town title throughout the country, and postoffice and express officials were greatly inconvenienced by the mis-sending of mail and packages. Thus the launching of the town of Fall River, Freetown from her quieter situation looking on thenceforth to the advent of great prosperity and growth on the part of the new town.

Very concisely the oft-told story of the boundary dispute between Fall River and Rhode Island is narrated by Henry H. Earl, A. M., thus: Before the embryo municipality should find itself permanently bounded, or even an undivided whole under a single state or township government, a question long at issue, between first the provinces, and subsequently' the. Federal States of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, was to be settled. The question, due to an original conflict of royal patents granted to the two provinces, finally resolved itself into a dispute as to boundaries, a royal confirmation of a commission's report in 1746 having set over. to Rhode Island several towns previously within the sovereignty of Massachusetts. One of these towns was Tiverton, the old Pocasset proprietary. For many years, so far as the territorial transfer was concerned, it was conceded by Massachusetts; but an uncertainty existed as to the correct execution of the King's orders defining the line of boundary. Even after the colonial independence was established, this indefiniteness of the survey remained, succeeding commissions in 1791 and 1844 being unable to determine the matter. The difficulty grew with consecutive years, and with a greater ratio as the manufacturing enterprise of Fall River developed, annually adding both to the population and the capital absorbed in its special industries; the assumed and conceded northern line of Tiverton though quite a remove south of the purchase boundary, upon the stream itself, under the status quo exercising jurisdiction over and claiming taxes from a very considerable part of its people and property. In 1854, when the town became a city, the complication became more serious, but in 1862 the object was finally accomplished and Fall River found herself richer in territory by nine square miles, in population by 3593, and in taxable property by $1,948,378.

Such as these were helps in the evolution of village and town unto the city-summit. But it must be in the final chapter, that concerning the industries of town and city, that we shall discern the actual stepping-stones to the present city of great milling interests. Industry is the keynote throughout these volumes, but nowhere does it sound more clearly than during the various transitions of Troy and Fall River.