Essex County, Massachusetts - Chapter 31: Town of Methuen, 1922

The town of Methuen is situated in the west part of Essex county, bordering on New Hampshire, and contains about twenty-two square miles. Before the incorporation of the city of Lawrence it was a section of land on the north bank of the Merrimack river, about nine miles long by three wide, following the curves of the river. The north part of the city of Lawrence was taken out of Methuen on the side next to the river, near the middle of the town, thus leaving the two ends three miles wide, and the middle of the town a little more than a mile at its narrowest part. The towns surrounding Methuen are the city of Lawrence and the town of Andover on the south ; Dracut and Salem, New Hampshire, on the west ; Salem, New Hampshire, and Haverhill, on the north ; and Haverhill and Bradford on the east.

Probably the white man first set foot in Methuen about 1637. The settlers at Ipswich and other places along the coast explored the countiy before its settlement, to find the most desirable places to locate. About 1640 a dozen or more colonists from Newbury, with Nathaniel Ward, settled at Haverhill, where the city proper now stands. Two years later they bought of the Indians a tract of land embracing a large part of what is now Methuen. It is certain that the east and south portions of the town near the river were first occupied, probably on account of the places of Haverhill and Andover being nearer. It is said that while repairing the old "Bodwell House," in what was later Lawrence, a brick was found with the date "1660" which had been marked before the burning of the brick. This really established the fact that there had been a settlement as early as that date. However, it is doubtful whether there were many settlers until Methuen was set off from Haverhill. The Indians had troubles Vv^^ith the whites previous to 1700, and seriously checked, if not entirely prevented, the farm settlements. Andover and Haverhill were both frontier towns by act of the General Court, and both towns suffered severely during the Indian War. Yet there is no account of any Indian battles on the land where the name Methuen applies today. In Andover and West Haverhill, there were many bad attacks, as will be seen by reference to their local histories in this work. Again, it! is likely that but few if any settlers were then in Methuen, or the savages would not have passed them by.

In 1712, nine persons living in that part of Haverhill in what is now Methuen petitioned the town to abate their rate for the support of the ministry and the schools, "on account of the great distance they lived from the town, and the difficulty they met with in coming," and the town voted to abate one-half the ministry rates. The names of these persons were Henry Bodwell, John Gutterson, Thomas Austin, Joshua Stephens, Robert Swan, John Cross, William Cross, Robert Swan, Jr., and Joshua Swan.

In order to organize this town, it was ordered by the court "That Mr. Stephen Barker, a principal inhabitant of the Town of Methuen, be and hereby is empowered and directed to notify the inhabitants of the said town, duly qualified for voters, to assemble and meet some time in the month of March, to choose town officers according to law, to stand for the year." In compliance with this order, a meeting was appointed for the ninth of March, 1726. Thus the date of town organization is fixed for Methuen. From that time on until the village of Methuen was changed to that of a city, a few years ago, this town had its governmental affairs carried on about in keeping with all towns in Essex county. After a short duration as a "city," the State Supreme Court decided it was not constitutionally incorporated, and hence it was thrown back as a town, such act going into effect January 8, 1921. At about the date last given, the town had an indebtedness of $576,127.12.

The town officers for 1921 are James H. Lyons, George H. Richardson, selectmen; Henry N. Hall, Howard Hammons and G. L. Butler, assessors; Everett L. Bragdon, street commissioner; John T. Douglas, town clerk; B. Clinton Buswell, treasurer and collector; Josephus Matthews, building inspector; Lewis V. Golden, Louis Barnes and Wil- liam H. Whitman, water commissioners; Albion G. Pierce, moderator; Alfred H, Wagland, tree warden; Charles R. Bower, Frank A. Sherman and Stephen E. Smith, school committee.

In 1920 the United States census gave the city (now town) of Methuen a population of 15,189. Its schools and churches are treated in general chapters of this work. The great milling industry is coupled largely with that of near-by Lawrence, and has been treated in the city history of that corporation. The chief trading of the people in Methuen goes to Lawrence, with which it is connected by electric cars running every few minutes. The internal improvements of Methuen are fully up to date, and show progress and culture, as well as genuine thrift.

The records show the beginning of church life in Methuen was when "the first church in Methuen was founded by Rev. Samuel Phillips, of Andover, October 29, 1729," as reads the church record kept by Rev. Christopher Sargent during his ministry at that place. This man of God gathered together twenty-four persons, and within a month thirtyfive others united with the church. Rev. Sargent was ordained a week later and remained pastor until 1783. He was bom in Amesbury in 1704, and graduated from Harvard in 1725. He built up a church of more than five hundred members, and was faithful throughout his pastorate. He died in 1720, and was buried in the old gi*ave-yard on Meeting House Hill, near the church where he had so long labored. Despite his excellent qualities, he could not please all, and in 1766 the records show that a cei-tain number withdrew from this church and established the Second Church of Methuen. Rev. Chapman was ordained pastor of Second Church in 1772; about the same time the "Second Parish" was set off by the legislature, and every taxable person in the parish had to help pay for the support of the ministry. In 1887 this church had a membership of two hundred and fifty.

In 1796 the old meeting-house was torn down and a new one was erected on its site. To show the habits of the times (contrast, please, with today, when we are enforcing the United States Prohibitory Amendment to our National Constitution), the statement that at the church raising "The Spectators be given a drink of gi-og apiece at the raising." In 1832 the location of the church was no longer considered central, hence it was moved where later stood the stone church, built in 1855. In 1880, through generous gifts, the church was able to construct the handsome stone chapel.

The first Baptist church of Methuen was organized in 1815, and now has a membership of two hundred and sixty-four communicants. The attendance in Sunday school is about one hundred and ten, and the present superintendent is Eugene Strout. It appears there had been a Baptist society in that neighborhood many years before the date just named, but records have long since gone to dust, so it may be as well to start this narrative of the church with the present organization, dating

Howe Street Baptist Sunday School - In 1913 a chapel was erected in Methuen by the Howe Street Sunday school. It is a wooden structure, and is now valued at about $3,000. It was really built by the school and neighborhood, by earning money in various ways. The Ladies' Sewing Circle gave the fine piano. The expense of canying on the school has been one-half by the Home Missionary Society, while the people have raised the other half. Sei-vices are held nine months of the year, Sunday evenings, with students from the Baptist Seminaiy acting as preachers. It is designed eventually to organize a regular church at this point.

The Forest Street Union Church was organized June 11, 1913, and now has a membership of one hundred and eighty. A fine Sunday school is conducted, in connection with other church work. Ammi P. Whiton is the present superintendent. A stone edifice was given by the conmiunity, people removing their stone walls for building purposes. A large boulder is placed as the comer stone. The land was donated as a memorial to a former resident. The building was dedicated June 7, 1914. Eight or nine denominations are here represented. Not long since a handsome parsonage was provided on land donated by S. E. Smith. The pastors have been Rev. Ernest C. Davis, 1913-20, died April, 1920 ; Rev. Oliver B. Loud, who began his ministry October, 1920. The charter members were as follows: Clarence E. Young, Mabel A. Young, Ruth B. Young, Elmer E. Young, Ella Robertson, Addington Tobertson, Ina Taylor, James Robinson, Agnes Robinson, George Bennett, Gertrude Bennett, Lonzo S. Crosby, Florena D. Crosby, Seth Lambert, Mary Robinson, Herbert P. Wilkinson, Blanche Wilkinson, Mary E. Blood, J. R. Milton, Mrs. Milton, Jennie Milton, Rosalie Milton, Eva S. Larrivee, Salome S. Larrivee, Nels Mathisson, Catherine Cole, Mary Cole, Eveljm Cole, Annie Hill, Emily J. Cole, Orton M. Flye, Gordon N. Smith, Guy Robinson, Anna McLeod, Althea K. Smith, Stephen E. Smith, Avis F. Smith, Florence S. Smith, Mary Finucane, James W. Allen, Stanley Cokum, Ernest Larrivee, Clarence L. Young, Edith L. Young, Anna I. Giles, Helen B. Gage, Mary V. Davis, Edith C. Davis, Mabel Robinson,

Tyler Street Primitive Methodist Church was organized at Methuen, June, 1914, and nov/ has a membership of thirty-seven souls. The Sunday school connected has a membership of sixty-six, with J. W. Hartley as superintendent. A church edifice was erected in 1915, costing $3,000 ; its present value is about $4,500. The church is v/ithout a regular pastor at this time, but is cared for by Rev. J. Holden, pastor of St. George's Primitive Methodist Church.

Emmanuel Primitive Methodist Church v/as formed in January, 1897, by T. A. Humphries. Among the first members are recalled Thomas White, Lena White, Joseph M. Emsley, Mrs. Joseph M. Emsley, Margaret White, William Craven, Mrs. V/illiam Craven. The organization now has a membership of one hundred. The Sunday school has a membership of about two hundred and fifty pupils and teachers, with Willi^tm White as superintendent. A chapel was built in 1903 and a schoolroom in 1914. In 1908 the parsonage was purchased. The present value of church property is $20,000. A ten thousand feet tract of land was donated by Alfred Newsholm. The chapel and about fifty thousand feet of land were given by Edward F. Searles.

About 1833 an Episcopal church was formed in Methuen, but it appears to have been short-lived. It held its meetings in Wilson Hall. In 1878 another Episcopal church was organized, under the name of St. Thomas,' and a church building was erected on Broadway, near the Lawrence line. The first rector was Rev. Belno A. BrowTi. In the eighties the church was in charge of Rev. Thomas De Learsy. Conceraing the present organization no data have been furnished by the authorities of the church.

The Roman Catholic denomination has always been strong in Methuen. For many years the people attended church at Lawrence. In January, 1878, a movement was made by leading Catholics of Methuen and approved by the priest at Lawrence, to establish religious services. The town hall was engaged and served as a meeting house for many years. From the beginning. Father Marsden was officiating priest. Later pastors included Father O'Farrell, Father Riley, Father O'Connell, Father Rowan and Father Murphy. In 1887 the congregation numbered four hundred souls. At present there are two Catholic churches - St. Monica's, and the French Catholic church - both in a prosperous condition.

The Universalist society was organized in Methuen in 1824. At first services were irregular and were held in school houses and in the old McKay building. A church edifice was erected, so as to be dedicated in July, 1836, The first settled minister was Rev. John A. Gurley. In 1871 the church building was remodelled, and the surrounding gi'ounds were greatly improved. The society is still one of the numerous religious bodies of the city.

We are informed that the Methodists first held meetings in Methuen in 1834 or 1835. They occasionally occupied the Second Parish meeting-house, and held meetings in the school-houses, but after the institution of regular religious services they occupied "Wilson's Hall." The building used in 1886 as a school-house, on Lowell street, was built by them for a meeting-house, and occupied several years, until the establishment of a Methodist church and society in the new city of Lawrence drew off a portion of the members, and so weakened the society in Methuen that it was thought best to sell the building. After the sale of the meeting-house no regular services were held in Methuen by that denomination until 1853 or 1854, when a reorganization was effected and religious services were held in the library room in the town hall. As the society increased in numbers, more commodious quarters were needed, and the society held their m.eetings in the town hall until 1871, when a meeting-house was built at the junction of Lowell and Pelham streets. John Barnes, of Lawrence, was the first pastor after the reorganization. Since then, Methodism has prospered in the city and today there are two societies - the Methodist Episcopal and Oakland Methodist churches, both doing excellent service.