Norfolk County, Massachusetts - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 7 of those read), 1884

Chapter with an unread heading (no. 7 of those read)

Later Town History - Eeclesiastical - Ministers of the First Church - Other Churches and Meeting-Houses - South Franklin Congregational - Grace Universalist - Baptist - Catholic

- Franklin Academy - Dean Academy - College Graduates - Statistics of Growth - Town Industries - Straw Goods - Feltings, etec. - Newspapers - Railroads - Banks - Fire Protection - The Rebellion - List of Soldiers - Precincet and Town Officers - Centennial Celebration.

Ministers of the First Congregational Church. - Rery. ELam SMALLEY was settled as the successor, not colleague, of Dr. Emmons, June 17, 1829. He was dismissed July 5, 1839, and installed September 19th over the Union Church, Worcester. He remained there until 1853, when he was dismissed to become pastor of the Fourth Presbyterian Church, Troy, N. Y., but was soon compelled by failing health to give up his work and try a voyage to Europe, seeking restoration and strength ; but without benefit, for he died soon after his return, in New York City, July 30, 1858, aged fifty-eight. Mr. Smalley was born in Dartmouth, fitted himself for college, and was graduated at Brown University, 1827, whence he received D.D. in 1849. He studied theology with Rey. Otis Thompson, of Rehoboth. He supported himself while in college mainly by teaching singing-schools, in which he was eminently successful. His only son, George W., is the wellknown London correspondent of the New York Tribune.

Rey. Tertius DuNNING SouTHWORTH was inand dismissed April 25, 1850. After leaving Franklin he preached statedly in Lyndon, Pownall, and Bennington, Vt., nearly five years, teaching a school at the same time in his house. Pleasant Prairie, Wis., where he preached for ten years, part of the time under commission of the the American Home Mission Society, until a rheumatic fever disabled him from further active service. He returned in 1869 to his early home in Bridgewater, N. Y., where he died Aug. 2, 1874. He was buried in a silken surplice given him by the ladies of Franklin thirty years before. was born in Rome, N. Y., July 25,1801; graduated at Hamilton College, 1827; spent one year at Au- | burn Theological Seminary, N. Y., and graduated at Andover, 1829; ordained at Utica, N. Y., Oct. 7, |

Rey. SAmueL Hun was installed Dec. 4, 1850, He next entered the service of the American Missionary Association in establishing schools among the freedmen in North Carolina. He became associated in 1868, as seeretary, with Hon. Henry Wilson, afterwards Vice- He aided in preparing Mr. Wilson's work, '' The Rise and Fall of the Slave Power in America,' and edited the last volume after Mr. Wilson's death. Mr. Hunt was born in West Attleborough, March 18, 1810; graduated at Amherst College, 1852 ; studied theology from 1836 to 1838 in Princeton, N. J.; preached a year in Mansfield, Mass., and was ordained in Natick, July 17, 1839, whence he came to Franklin. He died in Boston, July 23, 1878.

Rey. Luruer Keene, the eighth regularly installed pastor of the old church, was installed Oct. 9, 1867, and died suddenly in the midst of his days April 17, 1874, aged forty-four. His last public service was April 5th. He was born in Milo, Me., Jan. 30, 1830; graduated at Amherst College, 1859, and at Bangor in 1862. He was first settled in North Brookfield, in October, 1862, as pastor of a Union Congregational Church. After five years he resigned His ministerial labors, though The membership of the church was nearly doubled, and a new meeting-house

After Mr. Keene's death the church remained without a settled pastor, depending on the broken and evanescent impressions of transient supplies, until the wiser conclusion of the church led to the installation of the present efficient pastor on Dec. 8, 1880.

Rev. GEorGE KE. Lovesoy, now in office, is a native of Bradford, Mass., and was resident licentiate at Andover, 1873. His pastorate previous to Franklin was in Bedford, Mass. Since his ministry here between sixty and seventy have been added to the church, increasing its present membership to two hundred and ninety-two.

The present Congregational Church was built during 1871, as has been mentioned. Its site was bought, bordering the southeast corner of the Common, and the building committee in charge pushed the work through with business-like energy. They were Messrs.

Franklin

Davis Thayer, Jr., Henry M. Greene, Albert E. Daniels, Osman A. Stanley, Dr. George King, E. H. Sherman, and Frank B. Ray. John Stevens was the | architect, and Hanson & Hunniwell the builders. The organ was built by Stevens, of Cambridge. The dimensions of the main building are 100 by 60 feet ; audience-room, 60 by 80, and 29 feet high; chapel | attached to the rear, 45 by 55 feet ; two wings, 25 by | 14 feet; height of steeple, 164 feet; whole cost of | the house furnished, $36,000. It has 650 sittings in: the main audience-room, and 100 in the gallery. The | chapel will seat 500, and the dining-room 400.

Other Churches and Houses of Worship. - | SourH FRANKLIN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. - | Through the summer of 1855 meetings were held on | alternate Sundays in the South Franklin district | school-house. A Sunday-school was formed, and a | library given by friends.

The scattered families of that region showed so much interest in meetings near their homes, that a council of churches was called Aug. 20, 1855, at the house of Willard C. Whiting. | As a result, September 13th, a church of eighteen members was organized. During the spring following fifteen hundred dollars were secured by subscription for a meeting-house. The corner-stone was laid Sept. | 5, 1856, and the house was dedicated July 25, 1857. | This church has not yet felt strong enough to enjoy a settled ministry, but has been supplied by acting pastors to the present date.

Grace CHuRcH, UNIVERSALIST. - On Oct. 4, 1856, a Universalist parish was organized. At first their services were held in the town hall, but under | the inspiration of a generous offer from the late Oliver | Dean, M.D., it was determined to build a house. | This was located close upon Main Street, and was | consecrated May 5, 1858. The cost, besides the land, | was about seven thousand dollars. The building was | used until June, 1874, when it was sold to the Baptists, and removed to School Street. In 1873 the parish built the present '* Grace Church" directly in | the rear of its first building. This graceful and | beautiful house of worship is one of the architectural attractions of Franklin.

It cost, with all its appoint- | ments, furniture, organ, and steam-heating apparatus, fifty-two thousand dollars, of which sum Dr. Dean originally gave two thousand dollars. Rev. A. N. Adams was the first settled pastor. He was installed | May 5, 1858, and on the same day in which the first | church building was dedicated, and was dismissed in 1860.

In 1860 a church was organized, also a Sundayschool, and all the other auxiliaries which help to sustain vigorous church work. The pastors have been |

Rev. A. N. Adams, 1858-60; Rev. N. R. Wright, 1861-62 ; Rev. 8. W. Squires, 1862-66; Rev. H. D. L. Webster for a few months, succeeded by Rev. Richard Eddy, 1867-69. After being without a pastor for nearly three years, Rev. A. St. John Chambre (D.D. 1878) was installed July 1, 1872. He closed his pastorate in 1880, and was followed by Rev. L. J. Fletcher, D D., just deceased. The list of church members numbers now about one hundred and eight from a parish of about ninety families.

THe Baprist CHURCH was organized in 1868 Its pastors have been Rev. J. W. Holman, M.D., succeeded by Rev. George Ryan in May, 1873. In 1876 the church was disbanded. September, 1881, Rev. A. W. Jefferson, from Poultney, Vt., was sent into this field to awaken anew the denominational interest. Asa result of his labors the church was reorganized in June, 1882, and now numbers thirty-five, with a Sunday-school of about sixty-five. This society first held their services in the town hall until a neat chapel was built on Kast Street during the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Rounds. In 1874 the society purchased the building in which they now worship of the Unuiversalists, moved it to School Street, and made some alterations.

CatHoLic CHurcH. - In 1851 the Catholics were given the use of the town hall for a service, conducted monthly by Rev. M. X. Carroll, from Foxborough. In 1862 he was succeeded by Rev. M. McCabe, of From 1863 to 1873, Rev. P. Gillie, of From 1872- 76, Rev. Francis Gonesse, of Walpole, had charge of the parish. In February, 1877, Rev. J. Griffin became and still remains the resident pastor. In 1871 the society bought the old Congregational Church, and remodeled its interior for their forms

THe Meruopist CuurcH. - As early as 1853 a Methodist meeting was held in the town hall by Rey. John M. Merrill. He gathered quite a large congregation. In 1855, Rev. Pliny Wood succeeded

Conference decided in 1857 to suspend the services, In 1871 meetings were again started under the charge of Rev. John R. Cushing, of Boston. a Sunday-school, and gathered a good congregation. In April, 1872, the Conference sent Rev. KE. P. King into this field. He organized a church of thirteen members, and laid the corner-stone of a church building October 3d. The house was dedicated June 25, 1873. The same year the church membership in- ereased to sixty-six. April, 1874, Mr. King was transferred, and Rev. J. N. Short became pastor for three years. He was followed in 1878 by Rev. William Wignall, 1878-79; Rev. O. W. Adams, 1880-81; Rev. A. C. Godfrey, 1882 ; and Rev. M. D. Hornbeck, the present pastor, since April, 1883.

Town Library. - Mention has been made of the library presented by Dr. Franklin to the town asa birthday-gift. With its one hundred volumes was afterwards connected a private library of one hundred and twenty-five volumes for the use town shall order otherwise." became so little esteemed, that in 1840 they were found stowed away in their venerable bookcase in a barn. In 1856 a library association was formed to which the town by vote gave in charge the old Franklin and Social Library.

tween the ages of four and sixteen. The grants of money in succeeding years have steadily increased with the increase of school attendance. was only £80, and varied but little till 1796, when it was $320; increasing till in 1814 it was $600, and in 1839, $1000. In 1873 it reached $6000.

In 1795 the number of children in town required six school-houses, whose location was decided by a committee chosen for the purpose. Now the town supports ten mixed schools, exclusive of the High School. The Central School is graded into four departments and six schools.

At first the clergyman visited and catechised each school annually. As the notice of his coming visit was announced from the pulpit the previous Sunday, After the close of Dr. Emmons' ministry this duty of examination

A High School was established by the town in 1868. It was opened on May 20th with twenty-two scholars, Miss Mary A. Bryant, principal. She was succeeded by Miss Annie HE. Patten and Thomas Curly. Lucien I. Blake, of Amherst College, was principal in 1877-78, followed by Theodore Parker Farr, a graduate of Tufts College. The present principal is Mrs. M. A. B. Wiggins.

Private Schools. - <At the request of many parents, Mortimer Blake, a graduate of Amherst College, began in September, 1835, at his own charges, a from other towns; but within the first year of this school's existence a large two-story building was erected at the western foot of the Common by a stock company with accommodations for one hundred pupils, This building was in after-years used for a store and strawshop alternately, till now - minus the cupola - it is used entirely for tenements. The bell now hangs in The school continued for several years, and during the first principal's connection with it its term-rolls often numbered It included the names of many scholars since well known, and not a few renowned as educators and heads of important institutions of instruction, as well as lawyers, physicians, and ministers. The academy gradually subsided under the rise of public high schools, although the succeeding principals, Bigelow and Baker, endeavored faithfully to maintain it.

A Kindergarten was opened a few years since by Miss Lydia P. Ray, a graduate of Vassar College, ina building fitted especially for the purpose. It is now taught by Mrs. J. C. Blaisdell, and numbers about twenty little children.

denominational school, to be of the highest grade below that of colleges, was brought before the Council by Dr. A. A. Miner, president of Tufts College. A committee was appointed with full discretionary powers, Rev. A. St. John Chambre, of Stoughton, chairman. Dr. Oliver Dean offered a tract of eight or

Emmons, and $10,000 towards a building, besides $50,000 as a permanent fund, and his offer was ac: cepted. May 16, 1867, the corner-stone of Dean Academy building was laid with appropriate public As the work of building went on, Dr. Dean increased his donations to nearly $75,000. The style of the edifice was French Lombardic, and its total cost, exclusive of furniture and gas apparatus, was $154,000. It was two hundred and twenty feet front; the main centre fifty by sixty feet deep, of four stories ; and two wings, each fifty-eight by fortyceremonies.

and three stories high. It was dedicated May 28, 1868, Rev. E. C. Bolles, of Portland, giving the address. The school had been commenced with fortyfour pupils, Oct. 1, 1866, in the vestry of the Universalist Church, under Mr. T. G. Senter, principal. The summer term of 1868 was opened in the new edifice.

and the present edifice was completed and dedicated June 24,1874. It occupies substantially the same foundations, and differs but little from the previous one, except being in Gothic style.

Until the year 1877, Dean Academy was open to both sexes; but the demand for a young ladies' school led the trustees to limit it accordingly. The new arrangement opened in 1877-78, with about fifty pupils, under Miss H. M. Parkhurst, principal. After two years' trial the limitation was removed, and the school is now open to both sexes. Professor Lester L. Burrington, from the Illinois State Normal University, became the principal in 1879, and the school is still under this faithful and devoted teacher.

Since its incorporation as a precinct, fifty-three of its young men and one lady are known to have graduated from college. Their names are here given. Many others, natives, but hailing elsewhere, are graduates. The honorable women of the town who married professiona! men are nota few. The total number given in Blake's " History of Franklin" is one hundred and

List Of Graduates

In addition to those mentioned in the above list were several others who died in the course of their collegiate studies or were arrested by change of circumstances.

Later Industries. - The beginning of the present century marks the introduction of the straw business, in which the town still holds a foremost rank. The braiding and making of rye-straw into bonnets came from Providence, R. I. A milliner of that city, Mrs.

calf, unraveled a piece of imported braid and learned the secret of its plaited strands. She made and sent a case of bonnets, from braid of her own manufacture, to New York, which sold with the rapidity of foreign goods. Sally Richmond, a scholar at Wrentham Academy in the summer of 1799, taught the art of braiding to the ladies where she boarded, and thus came the new industry to Wrentham and Franklin. The storekeepers at first exchanged their goods for the braid ; but as it accumulated, they began to make house to house to be sewed into shape by the farmers' wives and daughters. The bonnets so made were gathered and pressed at first with common hand-flats, afterwards with jack-presses worked by the foot. So grew up the great industry which now employs thousands of people in this region.

The first straw manufactory in Franklin was begun in 1812 by Asa and Davis Thayer. After the death of Asa Thayer, in 1816, a partnership was formed between Davis Thayer and Herman C. Fisher, to which, in 1825, Albert EK. Daniels was admitted. Another early firm was Asa Rockwood & Son.

steamer. They went with a horse and wagon to Providence and thence in a sailing-vessel, whenever a cargo and wind and tide were ready, waiting sometimes two weeks for a favorable wind. When they should return

Thayer, Fisher & Daniels after a while separated Thayer became Thayer, Gay & Co., then D. Thayer, Jr., & Bros., until their final transfer to Hubbard, Snow & Co.

Adams, and, after the death of Mr. Simeon Adams, Fisher again until he was succeeded in the business by Horace M. Gowen. This line is now extinct.

Albert E. Daniels became Daniels & Green, then Daniels & Son, when the business was transferred to Green & Baker, then to Henry M. Green alone; again it became Farmer & Sherman, then Bassett, Sherman & Co., and now is Oscar M. Bassett & Co. Other firms have also engaged in the straw business, - Hartwell Morse & Co., for twenty years; Horace S. Morse & Capron, for twelve years, in the old academy building; Foster, Pratt & Day, and Gen. Sumner & Co., about 1855-60. In 1869 no less than seven manufactories of straw goods were in active operation, making a million hats and bonnets per year. 'These were at that time all made, pressed, and finished by hand; but about 1872 the hydraulic press was introduced, and in 1875 sewing-machines came into use. They greatly increased the amount of production, but with a large decrease of employés as well as a reduced value in products. 'Two firms only are now manufacturing straw goods in Franklin, as below: .

Hupparp, Basserr & Co. are at the New York end of the line, and HuBBARD, Snow & Co. occupy in Franklin the large factory formerly used by Davis They have three hundred and twentyfive employés at the factory, and two hundred and fifty outside to whom work is carried. They manufactured in 1883 nineteen thousand cases, each containing on an average four dozen hats or bonnets ; total, nine hundred and twelve thousand. Oscar M. Bassett & Co., successors of Bassett & Sherman, have manufactured only since Sept. 1, 1883; but they already employ about two hundred hands and make all varieties of straw goods.

FET', SATINET, AND CASSIMERE MANUFACTURES have become another leading industry in Franklin. Col. Joseph Ray came with his family to Franklin in 1839, and engaged in making cotton goods. One of his sons, Frank B. Ray, started the first woolen-mill in town at Unionville, a village a mile and a half west of the Centre. He at first prepared wool shoddy to sell to others, using probably the first shoddy picker

In 1870 he started the first felt machinery in town. | bought Dr. Emmons' barn, moved it, and began This enterprise of felt manufactures grew rapidly by | manufacturing therein. He was succeeded by James the forming of new firms and the addition of cassimere and satinet goods. were followed by Rays, Rathburn & McKenzie, and The Franklin Felting Company, - Enoch Waite, sets, one hundred and fifty hands, and 1,000,000 yards per year, - this mill is located in Bellingham ; the City Mills, now in Norfolk, for all kinds of feltgoods, eighty hands, and 500,000 yards per year. Their wool and waste trade amounts to one million dollars per year.

Wiuiiam F. Ray, son of Frank B. Ray, runs a mill at Norfolk, for wool extracts and shoddy, employing fifteen hands'and producing 400,000 pounds per year.

THE FRANKLIN Rupser-Boot CoMPANY was organized, 1882, with a capital of seventy-five thousand dollars. Moses Farnum, president; Joseph G. Ray, treasurer; Horace Jenks, superintendent of They are located near Beaver Pond, and are employing one hundred and twenty hands,

LuMBER AND Box Facrorigs. - kE. L. and O. F. Metcalf commenced as contractors and builders in 1843. In 1847-49 they were actively engaged in building depot, bridges, ete., for the Norfolk County Railroad and Southbridge branch. In 1856 they bought the Frost water-mill, about two miles from the Centre, fitting it up with wood-working machinery, and also opened a lumber-yard at the village. In 1867 they built a steam-mill near the railway station, which has been enlarged until its present dimensions are sixty by one hundred and eight feet, with wings thirty by fifty feet and thirty by forty In 1870 they added a sawmill and, in 1873 a grain-mill.

The original firm, after almost forty years of successful business, dissolved in 1881 by mutual consent, Erastus L. going out, and Walter M. Fisher taking his interest in the business, which is now as the supply serves. They will make a new kind of fancy cotton goods, with imported English machinery, and intend to commence Jan. 1, 1884. Capital, one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The officers are George Draper, of Milford, president; James P. Ray, of Franklin, treasurer.

year to At Nason's Crossing, about half a mile south of the Centre, JosepH M. Wurrina has been engaged for several years running a grist-mill. MACHINERY. - Joseph Clark owns the one machine-shop in Franklin, located at Nason's Crossing. He manufactures largely woolen machinery, as well

CANNED Goops. - North Franklin is a head centre of the canning industry. The large factory of Richardson & Hopkins commenced ten years ago on a Their buildings have been enlarged and machinery added, including two forty horse-power boilers. During the busy season, they now employ | about one hundred and fifty hands. They make their | own cans, of which in 1882 they produced 400,000. This firm put up last year 112,000 cans of corn, 90,-

722 of tomatoes, 45,387 of squash in three-pound cans, and 1267 in gallons; peas and beans, 15,000 ; pumpkins, 5140 ; cranberries, 3000. Fifteen thousand | cases were required to pack the shipped goods.

GrorGE BAcon commenced the same industry in 1881 with about twenty-five hands, making a good start the first year with 20,000 cans of corn, 23,000 | of tomatoes, and 3,200 of squash, he also making | his own cans.

Breer SuGar. - The experiment of making sugar | from beets was tried in Franklin for a year by a cor- | poration formed in 1879, with a capital of one hun- | But the en- | terprise was abandoned for lack of beets.

dred and thirty-three thousand dollars. It was thought that they could not be raised with profit to the farmer at prices which would also render it profitable to the corporation.

On Dean Street is L. W. MILirKEeNn, manufacturer of loom-pickers, straps, and other manufactures of leather. of R. Sommers, for toilet and laundry soap, carried

A company has been formed for the manufacture of jewelry, with a capital of six thousand dollars. Henry R. Jenks is president, and a building is nearly | completed on Dean Street. early in 1884.

town was The Franklin Register, a weekly. It was started October, 1872, by James M. Stewart, editor and proprietor. It was continued until the removal of Mr. Stewart in 1881. In 1878 The Franklin Sentinel began its weekly rounds. It was put on duty by R. EK. Capron. Since January, 1883, The Sentinel has been published by Houston & Lincoln, with a lengthened circuit and more imposing dimensions. May its circuit be enlarged as its value increases.

Railroads. - The Norfolk County Railroad was incorporated in 1847. In 1849 the road was completed and running its trains. The line connected |

Dedham and Blackstone, and was twenty-six miles long. The bridge just west of the Franklin station covers the summit of the road. Its elevation above the mean low-water level in Boston at this point is 296.25. feet. The Norfolk County Railroad has since

| become a link of the New York and New England Railroad, and has been gradually lengthened until, from Boston to Fishkill, - its proper western terminus, - it measures 227? miles of main track, exclusive of its branches.

In 1877 the Rhode Island and Massachusetts Railroad was completed, connecting Franklin and Providence via Valley Falls, twenty miles. It is owned

Railroad has been completed, and trains are now running regularly and often over its ten miles of length, connecting, through Hopkinton and Ashland, with the Boston and Albany Railroad. Franklin is thus amply provided with railway connections. Banks. - Franklin has two banks, - the FRANK-

Lin NATIONAL, with a capital of two hundred thousand dollars; President, James, P. Ray, and Cashier, | Moses Farnum; and the BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SAv- |inGs BANK, incorporated Feb. 21, 1871. President,

Davis Thayer, Jr.; Cashier, Charles W. Stewart. Number of depositors since 1871, two thousand four hundred and six; and eleven hundred and seventy Amount of net

Fire and Water. - For the protection of all the varied industries and their buildings, as well as the houses of the inhabitants of the town, there are as yet but two hand-engines. These, in case of fire, can throw water from cisterns or wells, if near and ample But several recent destructive fires, which literally devoured the buildings they attacked, have proved that Franklin is without sufficient protection

Several movements have been made towards the building of protective water-works, and preliminary surveys were made by P. M. Blake, C.E., in 1876. But nothing was done by the town until the townmeeting in March, 1883. A committee of three - Joseph G. Ray, Asa A. Fletcher, and William E. Nason - were then chosen to ascertain the cost and all other information necessary for the introduction of a water supply. The immediate and only present result appears in an act of incorporation passed by the Legislature May 16, 1883, authorizing the formae.

date of issue; the whole capital not to exceed seventy-five thousand dollars, in shares of one hundred dollars each. Associated with the committee in the

James M. Freeman, James P. Ray, George N. Wiggin, Henry R. Jenks, and Homer V. Snow. As yet the company have attempted no visible measures, though their next report to the town may contain to take charge of the question of a new town-house. This subject is awaiting decisive action, not to be much longer delayed, as the present town-house is inadequate for use.

" Resolved, That it is the duty of all good citizens to discountenance and frown upon every individual among us, if any there be, who shall express sentiments disloyal to the government of the United States, or offer aid or sympathy to the plotters of treason and rebellion."

But the town expressed itself not in words alone. It at once raised, on its quota of twenty-three, thirtyfour men, and three thousand dollars were promptly pledged as aid. On the call of August, 1862, for three hundred thousand more, forty-three were enlisted on its quota of thirty-four. The town responded | with a like promptness and profusion to every subsequent call for troops. Individual citizeus were generous in subscriptions to pay bounties and to aid the | families of volunteers.

When the first detachment - the overquota of. thirty-six, and called Company OC, Forty-fifth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers, under 2d Lieut. Lewis R. Whitaker, a soldier for freedom in Kansas - was leaving for the field, a farewell meeting was held in the town hall, at which their lieutenant was surprised with a fine sword from his men, and they in turn received each a Bible. When a temperance pledge was proposed, all, save one or two, enthusiastically attached their names. On the announcement that only twenty-three had been called for, one of | the thirteen said they would al/ go, if they went afoot and alone.

It is known that two hundred and eighteen soldiers - were furnished by the town during the war. How | many were natives cannot now be ascertained, as the | town's list is confessedly imperfect. But the record |

Many natives resident elsewhere enlisted in other places. Among them some are known to have attained honorable rank and distinction. Edmund Dean, son of Luther, became adjutant-general of Kansas; Charles H. Thayer, son of Nathaniel, was promoted to a captainey, confined in Libby prison, and exchanged.

It is an honorable record that only one of all the native soldiery deserted. No public monument, however, has yet been erected to the memory of the Union soldiers of Franklin. But it has a G. A. R. Post, and a public commemoration upon Decoration Day.

General Court

The event was commemorated by a historical sermon preached Feb. 25, 1838, by the then pastor, Rev. Elam Smalley, and afterwards printed. The close of the town's first century, March 2, 1878, was anticipated, in a town-meeting of March, 1873, by the choice of a committee "to prepare a plan for an appropriate celebration of the anniversary, to secure statistics, and to do whatever they may deem necessary in the matter, and report at a future town-meeting." The committee were Stephen W. Richardson, William M. Thayer, Waldo Daniels, William Rockwood, and Adin D. Sargent. They reported the plan of a public celebration, and an address by Rev. Mortimer Blake, D.D., a son of Franklin, then in Taunton. The plan was adopted, and in 1877 five hundred dollars were appropriated for expenses, including the publication of a town history. March, 1878, the committee was enlarged by the addition of A. St. John Chambré, Henry M. Green, James P. Ray, Paul B. Clark, and Edward A. Rand, as a committee of arrangements. As March is usually unfit for a public celebration, June 12th was selected, and the day proved most favorable for the occasion.

The chief features of the celebration were a procession, including the public schools, and a representation of the industries of the town; a historical address, with other services, in the Congregational Church ; a dinner under a large pavilion on the Common with twelve hundred guests, where history and prophecy, wisdom and wit, from the Governor of the State to the town official, abounded until the wester- More than ten thousand people came together from far and

A museum of local antiquities, collected by the industry of a committee of ladies in the vestry of the Congregational Church, was visited during the day by more than a thousand people, and elicited unanimous surprise at the valuable relics they had gathered. A vocal concert in the evening was fully attended, and closed the centennial day.

The history of Franklin, afterwards published, contains the historical address, enlarged by addenda ; biographical sketches ; genealogies in brief'; speeches at the dinner; with portraits, views of buildings, ete. It is an octavo of over three hundred pages, prepared by the author of the address, and published by the