Norfolk County, Massachusetts - Chapter 32: The Town of Walpole, 1918

Chapter 32: The Town of Walpole

Situated in the central portion of Norfolk County is the Town of Walpole. It is an irregularly shaped tract of land, bounded, beginning on the north and proceeding eastward, by the towns of Dover, Westwood, Norwood, Sharon, Foxboro, Norfolk and Medfield. The Neponset River flows in a northerly direction from the southern boundary to a point near the center, where it turns more to the northeast, and after passing through a long, narrow pond enters the Town of Norwood. There are several ponds in Walpole, the best known of which is probably Morey's Pond, lying a little west of the center of the town. The surface is generally rolling and in some places so rough and hilly as to be poorly adapted to cultivation.

Early History

When the Town of Dedham was incorporated in 1636 it included the territory now comprising the Town of Walpole, and for nearly a century the history of Walpole is part of the history of Dedham. There is abundant evidence that settlements were made within the limits of Walpole at an early date. The cedar swamp frequently mentioned in the early Dedham records is generally conceded to be the cedar swamp "lying between the plain and South Walpole." In May, 1658, Eleazer Lusher and Joshua Fisher were granted a privilege to erect a saw mill on the Neponset River. It has been stated by several writers on Norfolk County history that this mill was situated in what is now the Town of Norwood, but Henry E. Fales, in an address delivered at Walpole on September 28, 188 1, on the occasion of the dedication of the town hall, set up the claim that it was within the limits of Walpole.

When the first settlers came to this part of Dedham they found the uplands covered with timber. The meadows along the Neponset and in the vicinity of the larger ponds were open and afforded an abundant supply of hay for the live stock. These meadows formed the principal inducement to settle in the locality. Game was abundant in the woods and gave the settler an opportunity to provide his family with a large part of the meat consumed. Wild beasts of prey were likewise numerous, and after the Town of Walpole was incorporated bounties were paid for the destruction of wolves, wildcats and rattlesnakes.

Main Street, Wau'Olk Incorporation Of Walpole

As in the case of several of the Norfolk County towns, the moving cause of separation from the mother town was the inconvenience of attending church in Dedham. As early as 1721 a petition was presented to the General Court, asking that the south part of Dedham might be set off as a parish for the purpose of supporting religious worship, in accordance with the laws of the colony. There is no doubt but that petition was signed by some of the inhabitants living within the present limits of Walpole, but the petition itself has disappeared from the archives. Dedham opposed the movement and the General Court refused to grant the prayer of the petitioners. Three years later a more formidable petition was presented and a committee was appointed to urge that it be granted. This time the Town of Dedham gave consent and on December 10, 1724, the General Court passed the following

Organic Act

"Whereas, the South part of the Town of Dedham, within the County of Suffolk, is completely filled with inhabitants, who labor under great difficulties by their Remoteness from the place of public worship, etc., and have thereupon made their application to the said Town of Dedham, and likewise addressed this Court, that they may be set off a distinct and separate town, and be vested with all the powers and privileges of a town, and the inhabitants of Dedham having consented to their being set off" accordingly, and a committee of this Court having viewed the said Town of Dedham and reported a proper divisional line between the two parts thereof -

"Be it therefore enacted by the Lieutenant-Governor, Council and Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same. That the southerly part of the said Town of Dedham be and hereby is set off and constituted a seperate township by the name of Walpole.

"Provided that the inhabitants of the said Town of Walpole do, within the space of eighteen months from the publication of this act, erect and finish a suitable house for publick worship of God, and as soon as may be procure and settle a learned, Orthodox minister of good conversation, and make provision for his comfortable and honourable support ; and likewise provide a schoolmaster to instruct their youth in writing and reading; and that thereupon they be discharged from any further payments for the maintenance of the Ministry and school in the Town of Dedham."

The Town Name

The town was named for Sir Robert Walpole, the eminent English statesman, who was one of the leaders of the whig party and prime minister in the reigns of George I and George II. He was accused of corrupt practices and not without some grounds, as it was his custom to win public men to his side by giving bribes, either in money or public office. He is said to have been the author of the memorable saying, "Every man has his price." Notwithstanding this trait of character, he was recognized as one of the foremost statesmen of his day and his own acts in public life stand above reproach. He died in 1745, before the commencement of the troubles between the American colonies and the mother country that culminated in the Revolution.

The Meeting House

The oldest town record bears date of March 30, 1725. That a meeting had been held before that time is evident, and the records of that meeting no doubt contained the names of the first town officers. It is known that Samuel Kingsbury was the first town clerk - elected at the first town meeting and served until 1729.

At the meeting of March 30, 1725, it was voted to build a meeting house, in accordance with the provisions of the act of incorporation. Pending the completion of the meeting house, religious services were conducted by different ministers in the homes of the citizens. After several meetings, it was decided to build the meeting house near the center of the town, and that it was to be 32 by 38 feet in dimensions. It was commenced in 1726, but was not fully completed until several years later. Rev. Joseph Belcher was the first minister called by the town. (See chapters on Church History.)

French And Indian War

In the expedition organized for the invasion of Canada in 1759, a large part of the company commanded by Capt. William Bacon came from Walpole. There were also several men from Walpole in Capt. Eliphalet Fales' company from Dedham. Josiah Lyon and Ebenezer Pratt, of Captain Bacon's company, were either killed or captured ; thirteen died of disease during the campaign ; and two others - James Weatherbee and Simon Pittee - died soon after they returned to their homes.

The French and Indian war wielded an important influence upon the subsequent history of Massachusetts. It was closed by the treaty of Paris in 1763, and on March 10, 1764, Lord Grenville, then secretary of state for Great Britain, proposed to Parliament to provide for part of the expenses of the war by taxing the American colonies. Then followed the Stamp Act in March, 1765, the first of the acts levying taxes upon the colonists. The men of Walpole, who had fought under the British flag for the conquest of Canada, were now just as ready to resist what they regarded as unjust taxation. On September 26, 1774. they elected Nathaniel Guild as their representative to the Provincial Congress, and on the 19th of December following a town meeting adopted by a unanimous vote the fourteen articles of association submitted to the colonies by the Continental Congress that met at Philadelphia on September 5, 1774. The active part taken by Walpole in the Revolution is told in another chapter of this work.

Town Hall

When Walpole was incorporated there was neither meeting house nor school house in the town. The first town meetings were therefore held at the house of one of the residents. After the meeting house was sufficiently completed, the town meetings were held in that structure, and still later in the vestry of the First

Church, where they met as late as 1881, or until the completion of the present town hall. At the annual meeting in 1880 it was voted to build a town house and a building committee, of which George E. Craig was chairman, was appointed to superintend the work. The building was completed the following year and was dedicated on September 28, 1881, Henry E. Fales delivering the historical address. The hall is a substantial brick structure, standing upon an eminence at the corner of Main and Stone streets. The lower floor is fitted up for the town offices and on the second floor is a large hall. In the tower is a clock. The cost of the building was about thirty thousand dollars. It was thoroughly remodeled in 1916.

The Fountain

At one side of the square, almost in front of the town hall, stands a granite monument in the shape of a fountain, which was presented to the town by George A. Plimpton in 1907. On the front of the fountain is the inscription: "1755 - Erected in grateful recognition of the services of the men of Walpole and vicinity in the French and Indian war. They enlisted not for a livelihood, but with intent to return to their farms and trades, being chiefly influenced to take up arms by a regard for the honor of the King, the defense of their country and the preservation of their religion and liberties."

On the right of the reverse side are the names of Capt. Eliphalet Fales, Capt. Ephraim Wheelock, and thirty-four members of their companies, and on the left the names of Capt. William Bacon, John Clapp and thirty-four members of Captain Bacon's company.

By an act of the Legislature, approved on May 2, 1893, the Town of Walpole was authorized to supply its inhabitants with water, using therefor the waters of Spring Brook, Mill Brook, Traphole Brook, artesian or driven wells, etc., and for the purpose of constructing a system of waterworks the town was given power to borrow not more than $125,000, whenever two-thirds of the legal voters gave their assent to such a proposition. At a town meeting called for the purpose, the necessary two-thirds vote was obtained and early in 1894 work was commenced.

The source of supply consists of forty driven wells near Lower Brook, just off Washington Street. A pumping station, equipped with machinery installed by the George F. Blake Manufacturing Company, pumps the water from these wells into three standpipes having a combined capacity of 675,000 gallons. From these standpipes the water is distributed to about ninety per cent of the inhabitants through a little more than thirty-one miles of street mains. The water was first turned into the mains for the consumers in the early summer of 1895, in which year the board of water commissioners made their first annual report.

In 1916 the board of water commissioners was composed of Henry B. Plimpton. Harry L. Howard and John C. Donnelly. In their annual report for that year they state the net cost of the plant to December 31, 1916, as $214,798.55 ; net debt on December 31, 1916, as $60,300, and the net cost to the town as $51,169.75. During the year 271,032,682 gallons of water were pumped and distributed to the 5,200 consumers, for which the town received in water rates the sum of $22,965.92. There are 241 fire hydrants placed at convenient places throughout the town.

Fire Department

The board of fire engineers at the close of the year 1916 was composed of James J. Hennessey, Thomas H. Smith, Frank A. Fisher and Guy A. Williams. The fifth member of the board, elected at the annual meeting in 1916, was James E. Mahar, who removed to Norwood before the expiration of his term and consequently resigned his place on the board. According to the annual report of this board, the department consists of five engineers and fifty men, assigned to the three companies as follows : Company No. 1 at Walpole Centre, twenty men ; Company No. 2 at East Walpole, twenty men ; Company No. 3 at South Walpole, ten men. At the Central Station the equipment consists of one hose truck, one ladder truck, and one forest fire wagon. The same equipment is provided for Station No. 2 at East Walpole, and at the engine house in South Walpole is kept a hose truck and forest fire wagon. During the year 1916 the department answered twenty-three calls, exclusive of forest fires. Several new alarm boxes were installed during the year. The appropriations for the department at the last annual meeting were $3,200 for the department proper, and $1,250 for the maintenance of the fire alarm system. All in all Walpole has a fire department that compares favorably with those of other towns of its class.

Walpole Of The Present

Upon the town seal of Walpole is depicted an old water mill, presumably the old saw mill of Eleazer Lusher and Joshua Fisher on the Neponset River, with a forest of trees in the background, and in the margin are the words: "Walpole Massachusetts, Incorporated 1724." Quite a change has come to the town since the conditions represented by the corporate seal existed. The Walpole of the present day is one of the thriving towns of the Old Bay State, with a population of 5,490 in 1915, a gain of 598 during the preceding five years. The total valuation of property on April 1, 1916, according to the report of the assessors, was $7,636,198; an increase over the assessment of the preceding year of $757,i8i.

Walpole has a bank, a weekly newspaper (the Enterprise), a fine public library, six public school buildings, parks and playgrounds, well kept streets, a number of manufacturing establishments with an invested capital of over five millions of dollars, electric light, telephone connections with the surrounding towns and the City of Boston, three postoffices - Walpole, East Walpole and South Walpole - and a number of well tilled farms. Two lines of the New York, New Haven & Hartford railway system pass through the town, crossing each other at Walpole Junction, and there are electric lines to the adjoining towns. Evidence of prosperity is seen in the fact that the town carries insurance upon the municipal and public school buildings aggregating $273,663, while the net bonded debt at the close of the year 1916 was only $191,540.

Town Officers

At the beginning of the year 1917 the principal officers of Walpole were as follows: Henry M. Stowell, Louis E. Vose and Timothy E. Delaney. selectmen and overseers of the poor; Charles Brown, Melzar W. Allen and Nathan W. Fisher, assessors ; Harry L. Howard, clerk ; Harry A. Whiting, treasurer ; George H. Kingsbury, Michael F. McCarthy and Charles S. Bird, Jr., park commissioners ; Thomas D. Plimpton, George Cobb and Frederick H. Fuller, board of health ; Otis J. Dionne, tax collector ; William Jarvis, highway surveyor ; J. E. Plimpton, George M. Graves, P. H. Mahoney, Philip R. Allen, Ida N. Caldwell and Elizabeth H. Vose, school committee ; William F. Riordan, N. E. Winslow and William P. Crowley, constables.