Worcester County, Massachusetts - Chapter 39, 1889

On January 6, 1873, occurred the inauguration of the first city government at the city hall. The Inaugural Address of Mayor Norcross was carefully prepared and contained much of interest to the inhabitants of the infant city. It was a critical time in business affairs, and the mayor clearly and forcibly showed the necessity of the exercise of prudence, sagacity and, as far as compatible with the best interests of the city, economy on the part of those whom the people had chosen to conduct municipal affairs during the coming year.

The construction of the water-works and other public improvements had brought a debt of over six hundred thousand dollars upon the city at its start, and there was still much to be done in completing and maintaining these improvements. Nearly all the water debt was satisfactorily funded and about half the city debt proper. Early in 1873 a special act, authorizing the city of Fitchburg to fund its floating debt and issue additional scrip, passed the Legislature and was approved March 29, 1873. In conformity with this act, bonds of the denomination of one thousand dollars each, with coupons representing accruing interest at six per cent., payable semi-annually, for twenty years, from July 1, 1873, were obtained, and during the balance of the year sixty-three thousand dollars of the floating debt were funded by the sale of these bonds.

The fiscal year of the city ends November 30th, and on that date, in 1873, the net debt of the city was $650,775.50. However, in spite of the hard times and necessarily large outlay, Fitchburg's first year as a city was by no means a discouraging one. The good effect of these public improvements was beginning to be felt; population and valuation had increased, and more business blocks had been erected. The people were well satisfied with the administration of I\Iayor Norcross, and at the city election in December, 1873, he was reelected.

The year 1874 was not quite so prosperous, and during the following five years, or so, there was a small but steady annual decrease in the population and valuation of the city. One cause of this decrease was the removal from town of two large and prosperous manufacturing concerns, - the American Rattan Company and the Whitman & Miles Manufacturing Company.

In 1874 occurred an event of great interest, which will be spoken of more fully hereafter. This was the dedication of the Soldiers' Monument, June 24th. The city appropriated two thousand dollars for the dedication, and the oration was delivered by Major- General Nathaniel P. Banks.

November 30, 1874, the net debt of the city was $728,873.84, an increase of nearly $78,000 for the year, due wholly to discount on bonds, extension of the water-works and payment of the balance of the Soldiers' Monument contracts.

During 1874 death removed two of Fitchburg's prominent citizens, - Dr. Alfred Hitchcock, the beloved physician, eminent in his profession, and noted for his good qualities of mind and heart, and Hon. Alvah Crocker who, above all other men, brought prosperity to Fitchburg, and was ever ready to inaugurate and carry forward any project conducive to the advancement of the interests of the town.

The year 1875 was quite an active one in Fitchburg, in spite of the fact that the city felt severely the depression in business, the result, as it were, of the recoil of the preceding financial crisis. Another bank - the Wachusett National - was established here, mainly through the efforts of Hiram A. Blood, Esq. Several substantial brick business blocks were erected, among which were Crocker block and the Wachusett Bank block. The large and commodious machine-shop occupied by C. H. Brown & Co. was completed this year, as was al.so the fine business block built by James F. Stiles.

During this year the city expended upwards of $60,000 more on the water-works in the construction of Scott reservoir, extension of water-mains to West Fitchburg and extensions in the city proper. In consequence of this large necessary expenditure, the net debt of the city November 30, 1875, reached highwater mark, viz: $790,149.66. Since that time the city has had to make no very large expenditure for extraordinary improvements, and almost every year since 1875 has witnessed a considerable decrease in the net debt.

The year 1875 did not pass without taking from our midst a bright and shining light in the person of Hon. Charles H. B. Snow, the orator at the centennial celebration, who, on September 18, 1875, was called away from a busy and useful life. He was a man of great talent, and in the prime of life, and his death was a sad blow to this community, where he had always lived, and for which he was ever ready and willing to expend his best efforts.

Miles from the city during the last two months of his terra, the office of mayor was declared vacant on November 2, 1875. The Board of Aldermen and the Common Council elected Hon. Hiram A. Blood to fill out the unexpired period. At the annual city election, the following December, he was elected mayor for the ensuing year.

The three years following 1875 were years of gi'eat business depression in Fitchburg. Our mills, factories and machine-shops were, in most cases, obliged to curtail both the number of employes and the number of working-hours, because of the meagre amount of orders for their products. The manufacturing establishments of Fitchburg were put to a severe test during these three years, and the fact that, with a very few exceptions, they all withstood the strain, shows their financial stability, and reflects great credit upon the ability and sagacity of the men who superintended the affairs of these various heavy manufacturing concerns during these trying times.

As a natural consequence of this stagnation in business, the city retrograded, as regards both population and valuation. During this period it was unwise and, fortunately, unnecessary, to enter upon any new work. That which had been done in the years immediately preceding sufficed to tide the city over, and only an amount of money sufficient to keep the public works and institutions in statu quo was needed.

In 1876 death continued its ravages among our prominent citizen?, removing on June 2(5th ex-Mayor Eugene T. Miles, a man widely known and esteemed for his integrity and benevolence, and who for manv years had been prominent in the business interests and public affairs of Fitchburg ; and August 3d Hon- Nathaniel Wood, for over half a century one of our most prominent and active citizens. It was he who collated and preserved much of the early history of Fitchburg, which otherwise would probably have been irretrievably lost.

David H. Merriam was mayor during the years 1877-78. These two years were probably the darkest the city ever experienced, but public affairs were well cared for during Mayor Merriam's administration. The debt was reduced by something over twenty-five thousand dollars ; and in spite of the decrease in population, the tax rate during both years was kept at a lower figure than it was in the few years preceding - in fact, the rate was the lowest in 1877-78 that it has been from the incorporation of the city to the present time.

In 1878 the handsome and commodious Union Passenger Station was completed ; but aside from that, very little building was going on at that time.

In December, 1878, William H. Vose was elected mayor and served one year, declining a unanimous renomination. His valuable business experience and strict fidelity to the best interests of the city proved of great service to Fitchburg during the year 1879. The city was just beginning to see the glimmer of better times ahead, and a steady hand, guided by business tact, was necessary to keep the people from presuming too much on the "good time coming." During his administration the debt was reduced by nearly twenty-five thousand dollars.

Until this year no direct appropriation had ever been made for water-works construction and extension ; but in 1879 such an appropriation was made (four thousand dollars), and an annual appropriation for that purpose has been made since then.

In December, 1879, Eli Culley was elected mayor, and served the city in that capacity for two years. The appropriation bills for these two years (1880-81) were the smallest since our incorporation as a city ; and at the same time the accounts show that the debt November 30, 1881, was 1704,516.58, making a reduction of nearly $33,000 since the same date in 1879.

Population and valuation began to increase gradually in the course of these two years. In 1880 the population was 12,405. Business, too, began to take on a more healthy tone, and the city started on the up- grade.

In the fall of 1879 a company was formed here which marked the beginning of a new era in the industries of Fitchburg. This was the Parkhill Manufacturing Company. The company began business in February, 1880, and since that time has prospered, and is to-day one of the heaviest concerns in town. During this period there were other signs of business prosperity in town, prominent among which were the starting of the Fitchburg Worsted Company in 1880 and the erection of E. M. Dickinson & Co.'s large shoe factory in 1881.

In 1880 death again entered the ranks of our prominent citizens; JanuaryjlSth of that year died Stephen Shepley, for over forty-five years an active business man of Fitchburg and much interested in the early history of the town. In 1876 he wrote a paper of value in regard to John Fitch. August 1, 1880, died Walter Heywood, the founder of the extensive chair manufacturing company here.

During 1881 the city expended over thirteen thousand dollars in the construction of sewers, but this sum was more than counterbalanced by money received from sewer assessments, etc.

George Bobbins was the next mayor and served during the year 1882. Mr. Robbins was a member of the committee to procure the city charter, and has always taken considerable interest in public affairs. During his year of service matters went on satisfactorily. The debt was decreased by about thirty-two thousand dollars; over ten thousand dollars were expended on sewers, necessitating an appropriation of six thousand dollars by the City Council for that purpose.

new enterprises of special note were started that year. The owners of buildings on the lower part of Main Street were beginning to put new fronts to the business blocks and to furnish them with large plate-glass windows, thereby greatly improving the appearance of the street. Notable among the improvements of this kind was the brown-stone front put on to the L. J. Brown Block that year.

In 1882 the city purchased the "Upper Common," previously the property of the First Parish iu Fitchburg. Since that time the city has spent considerable for stone-work, grading and laying out paths, etc., and now the Common is a much more attractive spot than it was ten years ago. Moreover, through the gen erosity of certain citizens in the vicinity, a handsome bandstand has been erected near its lower extremity and makes a striking addition to the beauty of the park.

At the city election in December, 1882, Alonzo Davis was elected mayor, and so acceptable was his administration that he was re-elected to the office the two following years, and is the only man thus far in our history as a city wlio has held the office of mayor for three successive years.

In 18S3 it became necessary to build a fourth reservoir, and Falulah Reservoir was accordingly constructed that year at an expense of a little over fiftytwo thousand dollars. As the City Council made no appropriation for this expenditure, it became a part of the city debt, which, November 30, 1883, was $686,- 430.70, an increase of about fourteen thousand dollars over the debt a year previous, showing that had it not been for this extraordinary expense there would have been a very material decrease in the city debt that year.

In 1883 the Wachusett Electric Light Company was incorpoi'ated, and since the fall of that year has furnished most of the principal streets of the city with brilliant and satisfactory illumination.

The year 1884 will long be remembered by the citizens of Fitchburg as the year when the Hon. Eodney Wallace made and proceeded to carry out his generous proposition to provide the city with an elegant and commodious public library building, together with a site for the same. July 1, 1885, witnessed the completion of his noble project, the dedication of the costly and substantial structure and its formal presentation to the city by the donor. The Wallace Library and Art Building will be spoken of at greater length under the head of Libraries and Lectures, in the section on the educational history and progress of Fitchburg.

In his third inaugural address, in January, 1885, Mayor Davis recommended the construction of a system of sewers of larger capacity than tlieu existed in the city, and, in accordance with his suggestion, plans were drawn and the work of construction entered upon the following spring. During 1885 one and a quarter miles of sewer were built, of which seven hundred and twenty-five feet consisted of a

The net debt, November 30, 1885, was $635,124.11, a gratifying decrease of over $51,000 during the two previous years. The city was in a prosperous condition, and in 1885 had a population of 15,375 and a valuation of about $12,000,000. Building was brisk during the three years from 1883 to 1885 inclusive, and some new concerns were put into operation, notably the Cleghorn Mills in 1885.

Several prominent citizens died in the course of these three years. Charles Burleigh, one of Fitchburg'a most ingenious mechanics and competent business men and a prominent member of the Putnam Machine Company, died May 28, 1883. Of his many valuable inventions the most prominent are the Burleigh Rock-Drill and the Patent Air-Compressor, which have made his name familiar wherever great engineering feats have been accomplished.

March 12, 1884, died Cyrus Thurston - " Uncle Cy," as he was for many years familiarly called - prominent in musical circles in Fitchburg since the early years of this century, and noted for his long and valuable service on the Board of Overseers of the Poor of the town and city of Fitchburg. Only a few days after his decease our citizens were called upon to mourn the loss of a much younger, but more noted musician, AVarren S. Russell, leader of the Fitchburg Military Band.

In the autumn of 1885 the temperance people of Fitchburg made a strong effort to carry the city for " no license." They nominated Frederick Fosdick, president of the Fitchburg Steam-Engine Company, as their candidate for mayor, and at the election, in December, he was triumph.antly elected, and no license was established by a decided majority. Mr. Fosdick served the city two years as mayor, and made a good record for himself and the city in every way ; and his efibrts to carry out the principles of the temperance party, and the good success that rewarded these efforts, are deserving of tlie highest praise.

During 1886 and 1887 a number of changes were effected in the city affairs, which have proved to be advantageous. Mayor Fosdick, in his first inaugural address, recommended that Fitchburg follow the example of some other cities, and pay the Water Department for water used by it each year. This plan was adopted in 1886, and resulted satisfactorily, and has since been continued. By this me.ans some $15,000 per year is paid to the Water Department, which helps materially in extinguishing the water debt without making any perceptible increase in the rate of taxation. He also recommended the appropriation of $20,000 to the sinking fund, instead of $10,000, as heretofore, which was done.

About this time bursts were frequently occurring in the cement-lined water mains, and Maj'or FoscHck advocated replacing them with iron mains. This work was begun in the spring of 188G. The cementlined pipe in Main Street was replaced by a 16-inch iron main, and the pipe in several other streets was replaced by iron pipe of suitable size, during the summer, at a cost of a little over $34,000, which was covered by the issue of scrip to the amount of $35,000. This, of course, increased the debt somewhat, but the increase was comparatively small (about $8,000), the net debt, November 30, 1886, being $643,369.16. About $1.5,000 were expended in the same way in 1887, and the debt increased about $2,500, being $646,012.27 November 30, 1S87. It has been found that no repairs, or only very trifling ones, are necessary to keej> the iron mains and pipe in good condition, which causes an annual saving of several thousand dollars that would simply have been wasted on repairs of the old cement-lined pipe.

The rapid growth of the city during 1886-87 caused a great demand for new streets and sidewalks, and large sums were expended for these purposes. A brick trunk sewer, 36x29 inches, was built through Laurel Street, and smaller sewers through connecting streets, during the summer of 1887, at a cost of over $31,000; a substantial brick city stable was built in 1886, at an expense of about .$5,000. Thus it will be seen, that though the city spent a very large sura of money during these two years, yet it was wisely expended, and we are now in good condition to meet our constantly and rapidly-increasing prosperity.

In 1886 the Fitchburg Street Railway was incorporated, and began to lay their track in the early summer. The track-layers immediately followed the workmen engaged in replacing thecement pipe, so that Main Street was pretty thoroughly torn up during the greater part of the summer of 1886.

At the city election in December, 1887, Hon. Eli Culley, who was mayor in 1880-81, was elected by the people as their chief executive for the year 1888.

Early in 1888 the Fitchburg Railroad Company made a long contemplated move and one most advantageous to Fitchburg, by purchasing a large tract of land in what is now called East Fitchburg, about a mile east of Union Passenger Station, and announcing their intention of using it as a location for their extensive car-shops, heretofore established and maintained at the Boston end of the road. Work was soon begun on the necessary buildings, a description of which will be given in another section. When these shops ai'e completed and in full operation they will cause a very material increase in the population and add much to the prosperity of the city.

credit of getting up this celebration, and the city and our citizens generally helped to make it a success by liberal gifts of money. The principal feature was a very large trades' procession in the morning. The other exercises of the day were at the Fitchburg Park, and included a dinner, addresses, sports and a balloon ascension in the afternoon, and a fine display of fire-works in the evening.

During the portion of 1888 now past death has been busy here, and up to this time (autumn) has taken from us five men who have for a long time been prominent in the history of Fitchburg. February 7th died Gardner S. Burbank, since 1851 an influential citizen, and for fifteen years a member of the firm of Crocker, Burbank & Co. He accumulated a large property, the most of which he left in the hands of trustees, the income to be paid to Mrs. Burbank during her life, and at her death the whole amount is to be paid over to the city of Fitchburg and devoted to the building of a city hospital.

September 3d died Hon. Ebenezer Torrey, for over sixty years a prominent citizen of Fitchburg. A brief sketch of Mr. Torrey appears in the Professional chapter.

We will close this portion of the history of Fitchburg with a table showing statistics relative to the growth of the town since its incorporation. The population in 1888 is estimated from the number of polls, May 1st.