Ashland Town (part 1 of 3)

Ashland Town

history of which is given at lengtli in this volume; and which, under his care, grew into a large and influential church. He remained in this position till May 6, 1883, since which time he hiis not been settled, but has continued to preach in various localities, while using much of his time for literary work.

Their children are: Arthur Holbrook, who married, October 11, 1887, Jennie Louise Faulkner; Edward Wyman, who married, October 1, 1884, Emma R. Patch ; Ellen Holbrook, who married, October 24, 1883, Robert Cushman King, and Annie Durfee Wellman.

Mr. Wellman was elected a corporate member of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions in 1867, and he has been one of the managers of the Congregational Sunday-school and Publishing Society since 1870; and a trustee of Phillips Academy, in Andover, since 1870. He is a member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, a corporate member of the General Theological Library, of Boston, and for many years a director of the American College and Educational Society, of which he is now vice-president. He was a leading advocate of the formation of the Congregational Club of Boston, of which he was an original member. Olivet College, in 1868, and Dartmouth College, in 1870, bestowed upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity.

He has published: "The Church Polity of the Pilgrims ; " " Review of the Sabbath Hymn and Tune- Book ; " " Our Nation under the Government of God," a war sermon preached in 1862; '' Christianity and our Civil Institutions;" "A Review of Dr. A. V. G. Allen's Biography of Jonathan Edwards ; " besides numerous sermons, addresses and magazine articles. He made an argument before the Visitors of Andover Theological Seminary, in the famous "Andover Case," so called, which was published in the book called the "Andover Case."

Chapter Xl By George T. Higley

The Surface. - The town of Ashland is situated in the southwesterly part of Middlesex County, and is bounded northeast by Framingham, east by Sherborn, south by Holliston, southwest and west by Hopkinton, and northwest by Southborough. Its measurement from east to west is four miles, from north to south three miles, and it contains twelve and fiveeighths square miles. Its population in 1885 was 2633, and its latest valuation (1889), was $1,300,901. Its outline is irregular, the only straight divisional line against neighboring towns beingthe Holliston boundary. The Framingham line is nearly straight, having but a slight bend at Winter Street. Against Southborough there are three bearings, against Hopkinton four, and in the short distance bounding onSherborn, there are two, the bend in this line being but slight. The town was incorporated March 16, 1846, being composed of portions of the towns of Framingham, Holliston and Hopkinton. The part taken from Hopkinton was the territory lying between Cold Spring Brook and Sudbury River; from Holliston, that lying east of Cold Sjjring Brook and down the river to the old Framingham line traced below ; from Framingham, the rest of the territory on the south side of the river and all on the north side. The old line between Frandngham and Hoiliston, beginning at a point on the river a few rods below the iron bridge, crossing Union Street, ran easterly nearly parallel to the north boundary of Wildwood Cemetery, to a stone bound near the northeasterly corner of the " Old Orchard," in the woods on the Town Farm, thence southerly to abound intheroad about ten rods northof the houseof the iate W. D. Cole, and thence easterly with a slight southerly deflection past a stone bound situated on land of Mrs. W. H. Wright, at the entrance of the Cozzens meadow, to the angle in the middle of the Sherborn line. This old boundary line cut in two the farms of the two Grouts, Higley, Dearth and others. The surface of the land is moderately hilly. Taking a bird's eye view, the most marked feature is the depression caused by the Sudbury River, which flows through from west to east. A hardly less noticeable depression is the valley of Cold Spring Brook, which stream, after traveisiug the southwest part of the town, joins the river well to the east. Indian Brook, coming down to the river from the southwest, in the west part of the town, yields another line of low-lying surface. Away in the extreme east there is a wide plain of low land, mostly swamp and peat meadow, lying south and west of Waushakum Pond. Into this pond flow two brooks coming from the south, one from beyond the Holliston line. P>om these various deprf ssions. in all directions, the land rises to hills of moderate elevation. The low lands are wide or gently slope upward, and upon the elevations are plains, the surface everywhere affording convenient farms. On most of the elevated lands, woods and cultivated fiel Is are intermingled.

But few points in the landscape are so conspicuous as to have acquired distinctive names. What i.s new "the village" was, before the incorporation of the town, called Unionville. The extended hill which rises slowly at the southwest of the village is calhid " Magunko," in remembrance of an Indian settlemeat of the same or a similar name once located upon its eastern slope. In the north part of the town aslig.'itly higher elevation has received the name of " Wildcat Hill;" noith of the river, in the east, " Ballard Hill" and "Banner Hill," at the southwest of the cemetery, are names now seldom heard. Of the names which have formerly been applied to certain districts, names not always euphonious, none seem to survive except that of " Oregon," which designates a small cluster of houses bordering on Southborough, and " Chattanooga," which is the name of the new factory village at the westerly end of the town. These names are also applied to the schools in their respective districts. For the rest of the town the names given to the schools apply to the districts : " Number Two " designating the .southwest part of the town, and "Number Six" the southeasterly district. Reference is still made to the " Cutler District," to designate the school and territory about one mile northeast from the village, and otherwise known as "District Number Five." But this appellation is going out of use, the family for whom the district was named having now moved away. While to point out any particular locality the name of the person living near may be given, yet, at the present time, the influence of no family seems to be so pervasive as to give its name to the neighborhood.

Of the population of the town, which is now, doubtless, somewhat above the figures of 1885, about one-third live upon its farms, these inhabitants being scattered evenly over its surface, though somewhat less thickly in the northern part than elsewhere. The remainder are gathered in a village situated at nearly the geographical centre of the town, upon an almost level plain lying at the junction of the river aud Cold Spring Brook. Before these waters meet, the river, whose general flow is easterly, sweeps round by a bend to the south, thus cutting off or blunting the sharpness of the angle which would otherwise be formed by the junction of the streams, and forming an almost circular boundary to the village on the east. On the southwest this plain pushes up Cold Spring Brook, and up the river valley to the west, while it presses back against the land lying between these two valleys. Thus is formed the village plain, a basin more than half a mile in width, and extending far up the river, and having pleasant overlooking hills on all sides. Sudbury River forms the northerly and northeasterly boundary of the village, Cold iSpring Brook the southeasterly and southerly, and the steadily-rising slope of land which, at its elevation, is called " Magunko," the southwesterly.

'i'he whole town is traversed from west to east by the Boston and Albany Railroad, of which the Ashland Station is twenty-four miles distant from Boston. The New York and New Ivigland Railro.ad Com|)any run their cars from Ashland Centre, at tlieir junction with llie Boston and .Mliany, thri>ugh Hopkiiiton and Milford to Providence, Ithode Island.

Incoui-oration. - In 1837 tlie tirst petition for setting oil' the town, signed by James Jackson and 130 others, was presented to the Senate. The Committee on Towns reported a bill which, liowever, was denied a "third reading." The petition was afterward referred to the next General Court. In 1888 the subject was again brought up, many remonstrances from clusters of individuals being sent in. Each of the three towns from which it was proposed to take a portion of the territory voted to oppose the measure, and sent agents to carry out their wishes. The petition got no further than the committee of the Senate, whose report of " leave to withdraw " was accepted. The matter rested till 184G, when a new petition, drawn up and circulated by Calvin Shepherd, Jr., and signed by James Jackson and 209 others, was again presented to the Senate. This petition was reinforced by others until about all the voters residing within the limits of the proposed town had become petitioners. At this time the towns of Framingham and Holliston voted not to oppose; while Hopkinton passed a contrary vote - yeas, 159 ; nays, 115 - and appointed their resident lawyer, Samuel Walcott, Esq., agent to act for them in opposition. Remonstrances were sent in from various persons residing in the three towns interested. The petitioners were represented by .a lawyer from Sudbury. A very thorough hearing was had before the joint Committee on Towns ; all the facts favorable, or the contrary, were brought out by the opposing parties. The reports of this committee and of that of 1838 recite at length the statistics of population, resources and business, and present a showing favorable to the petitioners. The bill, as proposed by the committee, with the exception of the change of name fromUnionville to Ashland, suggested by Calvin Shepherd, Jr., who was then a member of the House of Representatives, was passed by both Houses, was signed by Governor Briggs, and took effect upon its passage, March 14, 1846. The boundaries of the town, which had been determined by the survey of William F. Ellis, are full}' defined in the act of incorporation. Within a year or two afterwards the selectmen of Ashland, meeting in conference with those of the neighboring towns, set up monuments at each of the angles. There have been gcveral efforts made, by persons interested, to change the boundaries, but only one has been successful. In 1853, for the benefit of parties who then occupied the mill at Cordaville, the bound on the south side of the river, which stood at first west of the road leading from the mill to Hopkinton Centre, was carried down stream to its present position, leaving that road wholly in the town of Hopkinton.

The act of incorporation attempted to apportion equitably the town burdens. Ashland was to support, (luring their natural lives, one-twelfth of the Framingham paupers, one-fifth of those belonging to Hopkinton, and one-eighth of the Holliston poor. Holliston pauper-farm, which remains to the present time within the Ashland limits, was not to be taxed, a provision which, at the request of Ashland, was annulled by the Legislature of 1848. Ashland was required to assume six hundred dollars of Hopkinton's debt, which sum was soon afterwards paid. It seems to have been admitted that Ashland became owner ol" all the public property located on its territory, which consisted principally of a very lew school-houses. Hopkinton, however, craved the fireengine, which one night certain of its inhabitants carried away, but in the law suit which followed, the Court decided that the engine must be returned, wliich was done.

Oeganization. - The first town-meeting was held March 31, 1840, in the Chapel Hall. At this meeting, which was called by Major Calvin Shepard, as a justice of the peace, a full corps of town officers was chosen. The town's first honors were bestowed upon Calvin Shepard, Jr., Josiah Burnham, Dexter Rockwood, Andrew AUard and Albert Ellis, they being chosen selectmen. Benjamin Homer began his twenty-years' term as treasurer. Among the other officers elected familiar names appear : William F. Ellis, S. N. Cutler, William Eames, William Seaver, James Jackson. Daniel Eames began his service as moderator. C. F. W. Parkhust was chosen town clerk, perhaps for his even, free penmanship, an illustration of which could afterwards, for many years, usually be seen posted at the side of the meetinghouse door, where he " published" all the proposed marriages. At lliat first meeting a rule was established, which has prevailed ever since, that warrants for town-meetings must be posted at least eight days before the meeting, and another attempt was then made, which has failed, whenever tried, to the present day, to enact a code of town by-laws.

At the second meeting, held on April Sth, the assessors were intrusted with the duty of arranging the highway districts, and they appear to have marked out thirteen, a number not substantially varied from, but for a short period, through the entire history of the town, to the abrogation of the law relating to highway surveyors in 1889. A committee of seven were chosen to take into consideration the whole subject of school districts, schools, school- houses, and the division of the school money. The names of Elias Grout and William F. Ellis stand respectively first and second on this list. Their report made at the adjourned meeting, with slight amendments, was adopted. No less than five town-meetings were held before the end of June. During those months about the whole work of the town seems to have been laid out, and particularly the subject of roads and schoolhouses was dealt with.

Further Acts of the Town. - At the annual meeting in 1847 the appropriations were $2000 for town expenses, $500 for highways, and $800 for schools, figures that were not much changed during the first years of the town. In 1850 the fire-engine called the "JIagunko" was bought for -$500. About the same time the town purchased of James Jackson bis interest in the Chapel building.

school provisions for the Centre District. It was not, however, until 1855, and after many plans had been proposed and votes passed, that the appropriation of .$10,000 was finally made, and a committee actually set about the work of building. The Building Committee were, Elias Urout, Andrew Allard, John A. Whitney, James Jackson and William Jennison. In December of that year this committee reported the building erected at a cost slightly less than the appropriation. They appear to have charged the town twenty-five dollars each for services. At the same meeting the superintending School Committee were authorized to make necessary changes in the system of conducting the schools and to hire a grammar-school teacher. The graded system for the Centre District was introduced the next year.

In 1858 the old custom of letting out the i)aupers to the lowest bidder was still in force, though the overseers of the poor were allowed the alternative of hiring a farm upon which to place the town paupers. Late in the following year the Thomas Fiske farm was purchased for that purpose. Six years later the town sold this place, and purchased of Elias Grout a more commodious farm in the e.asterly part of the town, which has since been occupied as the home of most of the Ashland paupers. From the year 1861, through the war, the town furnished its.'-everal quotas of soldiers, responding promptly with men and money, when called upon. Some account of its work may be found elsewhere.

Up t^ the year 1S71 the old "Magunko"had served to extinguish the few fires which had overtaken the town, " Capt." John A. Whitney standing high upon the engine and urging on the thirty laboring men who were working the brakes. But the days of hand-power were passing away. In that year the sum of $7500 was voted for a steam fire-engine, hosecarriage and house, and the next year hooks, ladders and a truck were added, the whole resulting in an excellent fire equipment, since appreciated on many occasions. The firemen at first paid $.3.50, annually, and allowed their poll taxes, later received .$(3, and in 1878 $12.

About this time action was taken by the town in favor of the Hopkinton Railroad, with the proviso that its northerly terminus should be at the centre of the town. Within two years following $10,000 were invested in the capital stock of the road, an investment which proved a loss to the town, .as a subsequent sale by the mortgagee divested the stockholders of all property in the road.

The purchasing of Wildwood Cemetery in 1869, and the establishment of the Public Library in 1880, will be spoken of in subsequent paragraphs.

For some .account of the laying out of roads, and provisions made by the town for schools, relerence may be had to the subsequent portions of this narrative, which treat of those subjects.

streets in 1881, an appropriation of $300 being then made for that purpose. Many individuals had before erected lamp-posts, and the town now furnished lamps and service. At a later date the town also set many of the posts, and the streets in the village were fairly well lighted with kerosene oil lamps. At the close of 1889 an electric light company from South Framingham was admitted to do business, and at the beginning of the following year had erected two arc and about forty incandescent lights.

At the close of the war the town's indebtedness was $30,000. The building of the school-house on Main Street, the subscriptions to the Hopkinton Railroad, the purchase of the land and preparing the grounds of Wildwood Cemetery, and the provision of a steam fire-engine, were extraordinary expenses incurred since the war, carrying up the indebtedness in 1872 to 153,000. Annually an appropriation has been made to reduce the debt, varying from $4000 to $1500. In 1882 the town debt was $25,000 and consisted principally of notes not soon to mature. To have in readiness the means of paying these obligations at maturity, a sinking fund was established and three commissioners were appointed. The sinking fund, by vote of the town, is to be discharged in 1890. At the beginning of 1889 the town debt had been reduced to about $10,000.

Town Officers. - When the voters of the town of Ashland first assembled in the Chapel Hall for the transaction of business, the work to be done was not new to them. They had learned the method of procedure by attending similar meetings in the towns from which they had come. A full proportion of those who gathered had been accustomed to take an active part in such meetings, and had held otBces in the parent towns. This will account for the directness with which they proceeded to lay out within the first few months the whole work of organization. The first town officers elected were therefore not a random or an experimental selection, but they were men who had been tried and found equal to similar work before. Thus was early established a rule which has been followed since, to elect to office those men who have proved themselves qualified. The burden of doing the town work has been assigned to substantially a certain few persons, who year after year have been chosen to the offices, sometimes upon one board, sometimes upon another, but almost always their names appearing somewhere in the list. Those men who have served as selectmen have often at other times been chosen assessors or overseers of the poor. Not unfrequently a new man will be elected as a third assessor or overseer, but it will always be found that at least one of the board has held some important office before and has demonstrated his fitness to be trusted. It has been the policy of the town usually to re-elect the town clerk in recognition of the fact that his knowledge of the doings of the town acquired in past service is valuable, and may be used in assisting other officers. For about the same reasons the treasurer is not often changed ; experience has taught him how best to manage the town's finances. Upon the board of school committee it has been the custom to elect one or more of the clergymen, if there i are such in town who are noted for scholarship, and have remained sufficiently long to form an acquaintance with the people. Politics have invariably been ruled out of meetings held for the election of town officers. The man supj)osed to be best fitted for. the office-according to the judgment generally prevailing, has as a rule been elected. The assessors, school committee, treasurer and tax collector have always been paid for services, the allowances, however, at first being small. The town's first treasurer, who retired at the end of 1866, never charged above thirty dollars annually, and for most of the time he was serving, only ten dollars. The treasurer for 1866 charged $100, setting an example which has been followed by all the succeeding treasurers. The school committee for many years were paid only one dollar per day, the assessors two dollars. The members of these boards now get two and one-half dollars. The selectmen made no charge for services for many years, nor did the overseers of the poor. More recently the work of the different boards has increased, and their pay has been advanced in proportion. The trustees of the library, the trustees of Wildwood Cemetery, the commissioners of the sinking fund and the park commissioners seem to be the only boards whose members now receive no pay for services. The matter of pay is never a just criterion by which to judge of services which have been rendered, as many of the town's agents have spent time and money freely, with no expectation of a recompense, and without even receiving afterwards any public acknowledgmentof their valuable services. The writer ;s happy to record that the town has once in its whole history, departed from its usual custom of unappreciative silence. When their first treasurer, after long and obliging services, retired from the office, the town, at their meeting of March 5, 1866 (so say the records), did " extend a vote of thanks to Benjamin Homer for his acceptable services as treasurer the past twenty years." The real agents of the town who have done the work are only partly represented in the lists of town officers, and of these there is allowed only space for two lists. The selectmen since the organization of the town are as follows, viz. :

Only one Senator has gone from Ashland, J. N. Pike, in 1872. Since 1856 Ashland has been united with Hopkinton in its representative district. For the years 1856 and 1857 the town passed votes not to send a representative. The following representatives from Ashland served in the years below specified :

Ways. - The public ways as they existed at the incorporation of the town were nearly all retained, while others have been added. By consulting a map of Ashland, it will be observed that the roads formerly extended through the town in three systems. Thus there were roads crossing from Holliston, Hopkinton and the southerly part of Southboro', and all centering in Framingham. The Hopkinton road lay through the village of Unionville, and the traveler could take his choice of ways, by the old road through Cherry Street, past what is now the Dwight Printing Company's grist-mill over the " Common," or by the more level way through Union and Fountain Streets and Park's Corner. The road from Holliston led past the old burying- ground, William Fames', the Poor Farm and Park's Corner, with a diversion by the Joseph Morse placeto South Framingham. The inhabitants of the southern part of Southborough and further west went by the " Oregon " road, traversing the northerly part of the town. All the inhabitants dwelling north of the river, as far west as " Chattanooga," and those south of the river living east of the paper-mill and north of W. D. Cole's, depended upon Framingham for school privileges, and went to Framingham Centre to trade, to vote and to attend church, excepting tha bought an additional acre of land at the entrance of the grounds, and removed therefrom the old buildings, so that now the inhabitants of Ashland have secured for all time a worthy place for the burial of their dead. The original committee appointed by the town to prepare the grounds, making a cemetery out of the forest, appear to have done their worlc well. Their names are Warren Whitney, Henry Cutler, Willard R. Eames, Charles Alden and Alvah Metcalf. The cemetery is now under the government of a board of five trustees chosen by the town, one of whom is chosen annually to serve for a term of five years.

Schools. - The town of Ashland adopted the method of conducting schools which had prevailed in Framingham. There was no division into territorial districts, each having a corporate standing, owning and holding its school property, as was the case in many country places, but the town bought the land and erected the school-houses. At the same time there was a quasi-district arrangement, the methodof the district system being in part followed. There were chosen at the annual town-meeting two committees, called respectively the school committee and the prudential school committee. The former had a legal standing, but the latter existed by custom and by acquiescence on the part of all concerned. Under this system the prudential committeeman had charge of the school-house in his district, provided fuel and hired the teachers. A meeting was usually held in each district at least once a year, at which the prudential committee for the ensuing year was nominated and the question determined, by bidding or otherwise, as to who should provide the fuel for the next year and the price to be paid for it. The nominee of the district was invariably elected at the succeeding townmeeting. The school committee proper, usually called the superintending school committee, in distinction from the prudential committee, consisted of three persons cho.sen for their fitness for the otfice. They were taken from the class of liberal, or at least welleducated men ; often they were old teachers. The duty of the school committee was to examine the candidates for teachers, to visit the schools, to have a general superintendence over them, including the text-books, and to make an annual report, in writing, to the town upon their condition. In this way the schools were conducted many years in an acceptable manner, especially to the inhabitants of the outside districts.

But the influence of the cities and larger towns began to be felt, where the cumbersome machinery of the system above described had been abandoned, and a simple system introduced of schools conducted under the sole charge of one committee, and graded by classes so far as practicable. In 1859 the town abandoned the election of a prudential committee, and added three members to the school committee, which, again increased in 1868, became a committee of nine, one-third elected each year. For a time care was taken that, at least, one member of the nine should be chosen from the residents of each district, in order to maintain tlie proper equilibrium of school influence throughout the town. The districts, too, at first, held their meetings, as before, to nominate the candidate for decision from their district. But it proved inconvenient always to maintain this rule, and deviations from it were more and more allowed, till the rule had at last become obsolete. Then it began to be felt that a committee of nine persons was larger than could be needed for a small town, and that the school business could be done more conveniently and no less efficiently by a board of a smaller number. The town about 1880 had reduced the number to three, one member to be elected annually, and this arrangement, proving entirely satisfactory, has prevailed to the present time.

The division of the school money among the districts was at first made by vote of the town, and seems to have been based on the number of families or scholars in the district. But the rule was varied, sometimes equal amounts being assigned to all the districts. Once the Centre District was allowed to count as one and one-half. Later the division was left to the judgment of the superintending school committee, and this committee appears to have recovered from the town gradually a recognition of the rights which the law really gave them.

Feeling that the burden upon scholars of purchasing school-books had become excessive, in order to reduce the price, in 1882 the town appropriated $300 to be used in purchasing a supply to be sold without profit for cash. This plan was pursued successfully two years, when the law requiring towns to furnish school-books free to their scholars went into effect. The supply on hand was then turned over to the new use. Books and supplies are now purchased as needed, and are issued by the agent of the town upon the requisition of the school-teachers.

In the spring of 1889, taking advantage of the new law, a union with the town of Hopkinton was efliected and a superintendent of schools was chosen for the two towns, who has now completed one year of successful service.

The locating of schools which pre-supposed a division of the town into districts was done by the committee on schools appointed at the second town-meeting held on April 8, 1840.

The limits of the district having been determined, to find the actual spot for the location of the schoolhouse, measurements were made to decide as to its geographical centre, and the house was built at a point on the road nearest that centre. There were originally seven districts, reduced to six when the school-house in District No. 3 was erected. Five new school-houses were built very early, and they stand today in their original locations, though in three of them no schools now assemble. The school in the

Centre District, otherwise called District No. 1, was kept in the chapel, a two-story brick building, which stood on the site of the town-hall, but more to the front. Only the fir^t story in this building was fitted with school furniture, and regularly occupied for school purposes. There were seats for about fifty scholars. Overflow schools were sometimes kept in the hall above and in other buildings in the village. Before 1850 the number of pupils attending the Centre School had become double that in District 6. Between these two schools there were many contests in spelling occurring on winter evenings. The schools in the other districts were smaller, particularly in Nos. 2 .and 4. After 1855 the attendance in the outlying schools began to decrease, a tendency which has not been checked even to the present time. The result has been seen in the clcsing of the schools in Districts 2, 3 and 5, though the last-named school was also weakened by the cutting off' of a portion of the district by the flowiige from " Dam 2." In the northerly part of the territory of District 3, in 1887, a new school-house was built to accommodate the children from the new village at Chattanooga Mills.

Meantime a great change has been going on in the centre of the town. It was early found that the school accommodations were insufficient, that something more than one school-room in the Chapel building was needed. It was also believed that there were now scholars enough in this district to put in successful operation the graded system, which had proved beneficial in the cities and larger towns. At a meeting of the town held in 1855, it was decided to erect a town building, upon the first floor of which provision should be made for the schools in the centre of the town. Four school-rooms of a size to seat fifty pupils each were provided and furnished in a substantial and, for the time, superior manner. The schools in this district then began anew under the graded system. From 1856 for two years a high school was taught by H. F. Allen, and about 1863 portions of the tuitions of scholars attending the private school of Warden Reynolds were paid for a year or two by the town. With these exceptions it was not attempted to carry scholars beyond the grade of the grammar-school, requiring those who desired to pursue more advanced studies either to go out of town for the needed instruction or to obtain it in the occasional private schools which were taught on the tuition plan.

High School. - In 1867 the uumber of scholars having increased, to meet the general desire, .as well as to keej) abreast with neighboring towns, it was again voted to organize a high school, though the number of resident families was not suflicient to compel the town to take such action. From the date of its final establishment there has been no interruption to the high school. At first the services of but one teacher were required. Later, when the number of scholars had increased, an assistant was furnished, and now for many years two teachers have devoted their time to the school, and, if short periods at the change of teachers be excepted, with almost uniformly satisfactory results. The principal, at least, has always had the preparation afforded by a college course of study ; the assistant now employed is a college graduate. So successfully has this school been conducted, that very few scholars have gone away to other schools, even for acquiring the necefsary preparation for college or the higher technical schools. Following is a list of the principals of the high school, with dates and periods of teaching :

Other Schools. - The grammar school, though belonging to the series of graded schools in the Centre District, has been open to pupils from all parts of the town, who have chosen to attend. This school has always been the special care of the committee, and none but teachers of sterling character and large experience have been employed, The appointments of teachers to the lower grades, and in the mixed schools, have usually been made from the graduates of the high school, or of one of the State normal schools. It has been the practice of the committee to retain gooo teachers, advaucing them in grade and pay, and marriage of a female teacher has not worked a forfeiture of her position. The schools have suffered at times from the excursions of marauding superintendents from larger places, but the offer of higher wages has not always proved a suflicient lure. Teachers have usually preferred to keep their present assured positions, though they get less money. An exception, however, must be allowed in the case of the high school principals, who have as a rule left at the end of from two to six years for better positions, as the town though liberal in all school matters, necessarily sets a limit to salaries. Contrary to the tendency in the outlying districts, the number of scholars in the centre of the town has always been increasing. Before 1870 the four rooms in the town hall building, with the addition of one of the ante-rooms upstairs, could not be made to seat all the scholars. A room was fitted up in Adams Block, at the corner of Railroad and Alden streets, providing for about forty of the smallest scholars. This arrangement not proving permanent, .is no other quarters could be secured, the school committee, with the consent of the selectmen, put up and furnished the small school building now standing east of the town hall. Still the rooms were crowded, the number of pupils running up as high as seventy-five in the lowest grade. In 1871 eighty rods of land were bought on South Main Street, and the four-room school-house now occupied was erected and furnished at a cost of about ten thousand dollars. This relieved the pressure, furnishing accommodations sufficient to the present time. More recently the conviction gained ground that the rooms in the town hall building did not meet the modern requirements of school-rooms, and that some of them were needed for other purposes ; as a result, in 1889 the town voted to erect an appropriate school building on their lot of land, situated on Central Street, lately bought for the purpose, and are now engaged in putting up a building which will accommodate the high and grammar schools, and one other school.

Until about the year 1855 there were only two sessions or terms of the schools, consisting usually of twelve weeks each. The summer term began in May, a female teacher being employed, and none but the smaller scholars attending. The principal school was in the winter term, commencing the first Monday after Thanksgiving. A male teacher was employed, and, as all the large boys and girls in the district attended, the strong qualities of the teacher were sure to be tested. Soon after the year above named, female teachers only began to be employed, and the number of weeks of schooling was increased. For many years the schools below the high school were kept thirty weeks annually, the time being divided into three equal terms. Recently, two to five weeks have been added to the length of the school year. The high school year has always been forty weeks. With the change from male to female teachers in the winter, the attendance of grown-up boys and girls in the district schools fell away. It may, however, be said that those who, under the early custom, would have attended school in the winter, but now remained at home, were few, for most of this class, about this time adopting the new fashions of living, went into the boot-shops, or, going away from home, struck out for themselves. But looking back and comparing the palmy days of the district school with those of later times, it cannot but be observed that a certain amount of sturdiness has been subtracted from the outlying districts, and its substitute for the people of those districts must be found, if at all, in the growth and culture afforded by the high school now convening in the centre of the town.

Two Teachers. - It is impossible to refer to each of the long line of teachers who have toiled in this town ; but going back a considerable period, a passing reference may be made to one or two who have left a specially lasting impression by virtue of their personal influence. Under the old district administration the names of L. H. Cobb and Samuel Upton will occur to the minds of residents who have now passed middle life. Upton taught in the Centre District for two or three winters, conducting a large school with very great ability. He was at the time taking his course in Dartmouth College. He afterwards became a lawyer, and is now a judge in the highest court in New Hampshire, his native State. Cobb was also a Dartmouth student, a classmate of Upton, and preceded him in school work in Ashland. Cobb taught five winters in District No. 0, taking the school through the period of its greatest strength. There were then in that school fifty scholars, of ages varying from four to twenty-one. His administration was severe but just, and truly inspiring. So much interested in hio work was he, that, in addition to his regular duties, he aided his scholars in forming a lyceum, the meetings of which were held weekly during the winter terms of several years. About everything of an intellectual order within the capacity of the scholars was planned and executed at these meetings. There was always a debate, with the regular array of disputants, after the manner of lyceums in those days. There was a " paper," upon the preparation of which much time had been spent; there was declamation, music, everything but a play. To add to the interest, other schools were invited to participate in the exercises, the final wind-up usually being a good-natured combat in spelling. At these meetings lectures were sometimes given by Cobb, Upton and others, including Sanborn Tenney, then the Park's Corner teacher, afterwards the professor in natural science. The result of all this fervor, breathing intellectual life into No. 6, was the awakening of aspirations among the youth of that district. Two of the boys at least who participated in the debates of that lyceum have, as men, made their mark : E. F. Dewing, after the war, judge of the District Court in New Orleans, and afterwards, for years, to the time of his decease, a prominent lawyer in a neighboring town, and Kev. J. E. Twitchell, D.D., for many years a successful pastor of prominent city churches, and now located in New Haven, Conn.

Libraries. - The earliest known library kept for use within the territorial limits of this town was the collection of books, principally novels, purchased and owned by Ephraim Bigelow. He lived on the place occupied by the late W. D. Cole in the easterly part of the town. From about 1815 for twenty-five years people came from all directions, within a radius of five miles, to take out books, paying for their use at the rate of two cents a week. When the school library was provided for the Park's Corner District in Framiugham, this collection was carried over to that point and placed in the care of George Fay, who also had charge of the school library.

About the year 18.30, Matthew Metcalf, Eiias Nason and Andrew Allard went to Boston together and bought one hundred and fifty volumes, paying two hundred dollars, and placed them in the counting- room of the cotton factory for general circulation. The selection was made mostly by Mr. Nason, who was then teaching school in the village. This library was in use about ten years, when the books were sold to ihe families interested in them. The original contributions were from one to five dollars, and no charge was made for the use of the books. About 1840 the State had a series of books prepared under the supervision of the Board of Education, which were furnished upon payment, to those towns that desired to introduce them. These books treated upon scientific and historical subjects, and were bound iii a uniform style. Fifty or more volumes were placed in each of the school-rooms in Frauiingham and Hopkinton and were issued to the households in the districts. Much interest was manifested in this movement, and the books were eagerly read; but no new books were added, so the interest gradually fell away. The library belonging to what is now the Centre District is supposed to have been scattered and lost. Twenty volumes, originally in the district now comprising the westerly part of the town, are still in existence and in a fair state of preservation.

Shortly before the war a few persons clubbing together bought about fifty volumes, mostly histories and biographies, and placed them in the office of the shoe-shop ofC. H. Tilton, in charge of George H. Ellis as librarian. The subscribers had free use of the books ; other persons were allowed to take them out upon |iayinent of a fee. After about one year the club suspended and divided the books among the members.

In the year 1859, with money raised by subscription, the Agricultural Library (so-called from the prevailing character of the books) was purchased and put into general circulation. This was the first ell'ort made, after the incorporation of the town, to furnish a free library. It would appear from the books of the librarian still preserved, that there were upwards of 125 volumes in this library. The principal patronage came from the farmers, but nearly all the families in town, at one time or another, appear to have taken out books. No additions were made and the books gradually disappeared. Mr. S. W. Wiggins, the librarian, at whose store the library was kept, still had in his possession at the establishment of the present Public Library, eight volumes, which he placed in that collection.

A period of twenty years now followed, in which discouraging views prevailed, and the untoward end of the Agricultural Library was cited by way of illustration, forgetting that to attain success other books than those on farming are needed, as well as frequent reinforcements by the addition of new books. But that the towns-people desired to read, if only books of the right kind could be furnished, was shown all through this period by the patronage given to private circulating libraries.

bringing 500 fresh volumes, mostly novels and histories, and putting them in circulation at a charge of two cents a day. This library was kept in the store of Horace Yeaton, in a building since burned. For two or three years this venture proved profitable to the owner, as the circulation was large. The period of popularity was prolonged by the addition from time to time of a few new volumes. After the interest had fallen off the library was sold.

Next, a club of a dozen persons was formed, and fifty dollars raised, by which a small library was purchased, to be kept at the drug-store of Billings & Oxley. This movement lasted a year, at the end of which time the books were sold by auction to the subscribers.

Then followed other circulating libraries, each in turn having its day. Mrs. Franklin Moulton purchased a small library of interesting books, which she kept at her residence on Railroad Street. W. T. Hill selected about 200 volumes, mostly novels, covering and labeling them neatly, and keeping them several years at his printing-office. Still later, S. A. Davis, profiting by the example of others who had turned an honest penny in the business, placed a library of about three hundred volumes in his periodical store on Railroad Street. This, like the libraries which preceded it, was composed of popular works, and was largely patronized until the opening of the Public Library. He still retains his books and loans them as they are called for.

In parallel movement with the libraries there have been circulations of books and magazines owned by clubs, which, after having gone the rounds, would be divided or sold at auction among the members. There have been few, if any, years in the history of the town when one or more clubs of this character have not been in the field.

At least one special effort has been made to furnish the public with the free use of magazines and papers. E. P. Tenney during his pastorate with the Congregational Church, raised funds by solicitation, hired a room in the then post-office building and had it furnished for a general reading-room. This room was kept open one year, day and evening, with, however, but a small attendance of readers.

Even after the partly successful experiment with the Agricultural Library before referred to, there were those who believed that a free public library, if properly managed, could be made to succeed, and furthermore that the interests of the town demanded that an effort should be made to establish such a library. In the spring of 1871 A. S. Roe, then principal of the high school, now m.astcr of the Worcester high sciiool, made strenuous eilbrts to awaken an interest in the subject; some of the citizens, at his request, met at the town hall building and discussed the question. It was thought that one thousand dollars would be needed to start a public library with prospect of success. Mr. Roe drew up a sub- scription paper and commenced its circulation. Alvah Metcalf, Henry Cutler and a few others put down liberal sums; but when two hundred and fifty dollars had been subscribed, it was found that the limit to which the people would then go had been reached. Many persons, when approached, proved to be unwilling to contribute, giving as a reason that the time had not yet come for a public library. The town, it was said, was struggling under a large war debt, and the consequent heavy taxes, and was suffering under the general depression in values and incomes, which had overtaken the whole land at that time. So the subject was reluctantly dropped.

Public Library. - The condition of the town's finances annually improved. Year by year some part of the debt was paid. In 1880 the opinion began to be entertained that the time had come for the establishment of a free public library. It was in the spi-ing of that year that (}. T. Higley, having requested the insertion of an article upon the subject in the warrant for the annual town-meeting, made a motion at that meeting, which was carried, that such a library be established by the town under the provisions of the statute law. This proved to be a beginning. A committee, consisting of G. T. Higley, W. F. Ellis, S. S. Baker, Adrian Foote, Elias Grout and Paul Stevens, were chosen to carry this vote into effect. No action was taken till the succeeding fall. At that time the committee, having called to their aid many of the citizens, planned a series of entertainments which afterwards took place, with the effect of raising the needed funds, and at the same time awakening a general interest in the subject. In this movement the churches and other public organizations participated. All the population, exceptions, if any, being very few, took an active personal interest. The funds obtained from entertainments were more than doubled by cash subscriptions, which immediately followed, the whole secured sum amounting to nearly one thousand dollars. With this eight hundred volumes were purchased, which became at once a working nucleus. The town voted to assign the dog tax to the library, and this, wiih two hundred dollars appropriated annually to the present time, has now served to collect a library of nearly three thousand volumes. The selections of books have been made by the trustees, principally through their secretary, who has made it a strict duty to study the subject. Books that have become standard are easily found. To acquire a knowledge ol new books, the notices which appear in the literary columns of the j^apers and in periodicals devoted to the subject are studied, and from notes taken the purchasing lists are made. Books asked for by persons using the library, especially by teachers and students, are bought if no valid reason exists for excluding them. This process of selection has been found to work satisfactorily, as only the best books and those that are wanted are admitted. All ages, and classes, and dwellers in all parts of the town use the library. 35-m

In it the schools find aid in their work, special privileges being granted in the use of the books to teachers and students. A board of six trustees chosen by the town, one-third annually, conduct the library. A printed catalogue has been prepared for home use, supplementary slips being added after each new purchase. Although the books are freely entrusted to the care of young persons to be taken to their homes, after nine years' constant'use, not half a dozen volumes have been lost, or were unaccounted for at the last annual examination of the library. The system in use, of fines, of charging upon personal cards, and of requiring each applicant for a book to fill out a slip to be left with the librarian, absolutely protects the library from all loss or damage, except the ordinary wear and tear.

Hitherto the library has occupied one of the anterooms in the town hall building. At the last meeting of the town a vote was pa-ssed to move it into one of the large rooms on the first floor of this building, where it is intended also to fit up a public readingroom.

Mills, Waters, Etc. - At the time the town was established, most of its business was done in the mills located upon the river. First in order of importance was the four-story frame mill of the Middlesex Union Factory Company, in which cotton-cloth was manufactured. This mill, which stood upon the present site of the Dwight Printing Company's machineshop, at the corner of Main and Myrtle Streets, had been built some thirty years before by a corporation called the Middlesex Manufacturing Company. In 1827 certain Boston parties had bought the property, and one year later had become incorporated under the name first mentioned.

James Jackson, who had had experience in a mill in Sutton, had come to this place about 1825. He was appointed renident manager of the new company, and had remained in this office to the time our narrative commences, in 1846. At this time a small building stood near the east end of the factory, occupied for counting-mom by the company, and for a store. " Long Block," then glorying in three times its present length, was across the street, filled with tenants, operatives in the factory. The " Boarding-House," standing at the head of the street, vacated about six years before by Mr. Jackson himself, was now occupied, as its name imports, as a home for the unmarried employees. The small houses farther to the west were filled with factory tenants. Since Mr. Jackson's advent the enterprise had prospered. By buying stock from time to time, he had, in 1846, become substantially the owner of the property. At this time the mill was still running at its full capacity, turning out products valued at $65,000 annually ; but owing to competition and other causes, later the business became unprofitable, and was closed, Mr. Jackson retiring. The factory was never again started ; in 1854 it was burned to the ground, Thus came to an end the business enterprise which had given birth and prosperity to the village of Unionville, and had definitely led up to the establishment of the town.

The couuting-room building survived the fire, and, after being used for some years as a store, was moved away ; nothing of the factory remained except the large wooden undershot water-wheel, which for many years afterwards was allowed to revolve, at first, presumably, to keep it from rotting, but finally, as we small boys concluded, solely for amusement. Close upon the dam stood the grist-mill then as now, only that the farmer who then brought his corn to grind, was never sure of having his grist ready when he wanted it, as the factory took what it needed of the water first; if any was left the grist-mill had it. But the failure of the factory brought revenge to the gristmill, which ever since has had its own way. In the spring of 1868 the Boston Flax-Mills bought the property, and proceeded to erect the frame building, known as the machine-shop, now standing at the corner of Main and Myrtle streets, intending to occupy it for the manutacture of linen goods. Before the works were completed, in the fall of that year, the whole property was sold to the Dwight Printing Company.

The Dwight Printing Company was organized as a corporation under Massachusetts laws in 1868, with a capital of $300,000. There were originally three stockholders, - William Dwight, Jordan, Marsh & Company, and Francis Skinner & Company. Subsequently Jordan, Marsh & Company bought out the other stockholders, thus becoming sole owners of the three hundred shares of stock. Still later the individual members of this partnership succeeded to the ownership of the stock, and are now its sole owners. The Dwight Printing Company first bought of the Boston Flax Mills, about six acres of land, which comprised the original plant of the Middlesex Union Factory Company. This conveyance covered the factory and grist-mill water privileges, and the lands helow the dam, including the canal, which had been formerly used in connection with them. Other conveyances to the company followed, by which title was obtained to 125 acres of additional lands along the northerly banks of the river and the north shore of the Mill Pond.

Immediately after its organization the company prepared plans for a series of extensive buildings, such as would be needed in their business. Within the next two years seven large granite buildings, intended to be covered with mansard roofs, were begun and carried forward, four of them to completion. A machine-shop already built was furnished, utilizing the water-power. At the same time a new street was cut through the company's land on the north side of the river, and ten double houses were erected for the use of employees. Including houses standing upon the lands purchased by the company, tenements for forty families were provided. The company's buildings were erected under the supervision of Gen. William Dwight, Jr., who came to Ashland and remained during the process of erection. Kichard M. Ross was chief mechanic, and Adrian Foote was put in general charge of the company's property, taking up his residence in town and remaining to the present time. The eflect of the sudden entrance of this company into town and its conspicuous building operations was to raise the price of real estate, and cause other new business to start up. New stores were opened, houses were built. Land which before had been held only for agricultural purposes, was surveyed and put upon the market for building lots. Workingmen who had saved a few hundred dollars, thought the time had come for them to secure homes ; so buying thirty or forty rods of land, they built houses, raising by mortgage the balance of funds needed to complete them. Those were times of general inflation; the cost of labor and materials was high ; consequently their houses, when completed, represented high values. The mortgages placed upon them were sometimes larger than the whole cost of similar premises fifteen years later, or before the war.

The company had only partly erected their buildings, when it began to be rumored that the city of Boston was in search of a further water supply, and had its eye upon the Sudbury River. This at once put an entirely new complexion upon the prospective value of this enterprise. If the water of the river was to be taken for domestic use, it was clear that the proposed business of the company could not be carried on, as products from the dyeing processes must necessarily go into the water and pollute it. It was therefore decided to cease work upon the buildings until the water question should be finally determined.

This action of the company in suspending all operations came disastrously upon the town. The prospects predicated upon the increase of business which would be caused by the carrying on of the company's operations, came to an end, causing general disappointment. Houses and other buildings became vacant, and the values iu real estate fell away.

In 1872 the city of Boston obtained from the Legislature an act which condemned finally to their use the waters of the Sudbury River and its tributaries. From this time it was manifest that the conii)any's buildings could never be occupied as at first intended. The question now was for what purposes, and to what extent could they be used. To determine this question, a suit was brought against the city of Boston, in 1876, in the nature of a claim for damages for injury to the company's water rights. The questions of law involved were carried up to the Supreme Judicial Court, and the decision, drawn up by Justice

Ames, reported in Volume 122, of the Massachusetts reports, page 585, finds that while riparian proprietors " retain all their common law rights in the river, HO far as they are not inconsistent with the use defined in the statute," the petitioner had acquired no right by express grant or prescription " to befoul the water, or render it unfit for drinking purposes," and was not entitled to damages. This was equivalent to deciding that the water of the river could still be used for " domestic purposes, for watering cattle in it, for cutting ice," and also for mechanical power if not attended with pollution.

Since that time the property has awaited a purchaser ; $500,000 have been expended in land and buildings, the latter containing 175,000 feet of floor room. A spur track from the Boston and Albany Railroad brings freight and coal to the doors of the buildings, afibrding the best of facilities for handling goods. The plant has been kept in good condition, and will some day doubtless be put to a profitable use.

The Dwight Printing Company also owns the " Bigelow Paper-Mill property," including about nine acres of land, a wide flowage, and valuable water rights situated on Sudbury River about one and a half miles west of Ashland Village.

A. D. Warren, a thread manufacturer of Worcester, in the latter part of 1879, came to Ashland, and leasing for a terra of years one of the Dwight Printing Company's buildings, fitted up a factory for the manufiicture of spool cotton.

After the mill had been running but a short time, in January, 1880, a corporation was organized under the name of the Warren Thread Company, with a capital of twenty-five thousand dollars. All the stock was immediately bought by Eben D. Jordan, James C. Jordan, Eben D. Jordan, Jr., and Adrian Foote, who from that time to the present have remained the sole owners of the stock. Eben D. Jordan was chosen president, and Adri.in Foote treasurer. This mill takes cotton yarn as it cumes from various factories in New England and twists it into thread. The thread, which is of many sizes and colors, is wound upon spools, and after being marked according to quality and to suit customers, is shipped to all parts of the United States. About seventy-five hands are employed at the mill, who have work the year round. The value of the annual product is about three hundred thousand dollars.

The next concern of importance was the paper-mill of Calvin Shepard & Son. The "son" was Calvin Shepard, Jr., who, at his father's death, succeeded to the property and business. The mill stood half a mile east of the village, at the junction of Fountain and Union Streets, just west of the iron bridge. The paper, which was for newspaper supplies, was at first made by hand. Afterwards water-power was used, and finally steam and water-power combined. The water to carry the mill was taken out of the river just above the dam recently removed, at a point about seventy feet southwest from the bridge, and was carried directly across Union Street to the north. The raceway has been filled with earth, though its southerly end can yet be traced. The old site of the mill has been entirely obliterated by the Boston Water Board in leveling the ground upon the bank of their water-basin. The first mill was burnt down in 1842, and was immediately rebuilt on a larger scale. Shepard employed twenty to twenty-five hands. He turned out an annual product of about $30,000. His business, at first successful, owing to competitiim and other causes, at length became unremunerative, and was closed about 1850. For a year or two after that date he attempted the manufacture of combs, but did not succeed in making this new business profitable. The property was now sold to Lee Claflin, and Shepard moved to Taunton. In 1857 he took up his residence in Boston, serving most of the time for thirty years afterward as visitor for the Overseers of the Poor and Provident Association. He was one of the m'ost prominent men in the early history of the town. He is now residing in Edgartown much enfeebled with age.

Charles Alden bought the Shepard Paper-Mill property of Lee Claflin, of Hopkinton, about 1855. He introduced machines to pulverize quartz and other minerals. Just before the war he had succeeded in obtaining a monopoly of the emery manufacture, having the sole right to import the Smyrna stone, the only stone then supposed to be available. The war coming on, the call for emery to be used in polishing and for other purposes was enormously increased, and Alden, having the facilities fir its manufacture, turned his whole attention to that bu.-iness. During the war his business was thriving and remunerative, and he acquired property. Later there was still a market for emery, as it came more to be used in the arts, but on account of others engaging in its manufacture and uther sources for the supply of stone being found, a competition in the business arose, which greatly reduced the profits of its manufacture.

In 1868 Alden changed the fi.rm of the business ownership, which had already become a partn-rship, to that of a corporation, under the name of the Washington Mills Emery Manufacturing Company, himself, at first, holding a majority of the stock. This company became owner of the property, and continued to carry on the business at that point until the city of Boston bought its real estate and water rights. Shortly before the expiration of the time allowed thecompany to remove their buildings, they were consumed by fire, the insurance being recovered only after a protracted lawsuit. The company then removed its business to New England Village, now North Grafton.

In about 1870, Alden, having disposed of his interest in the emery manufacturing business, built a mill on the west side of Union Street, just north of the iron bridge, for the manufacture of emery-wheels. A stock company was formed for this purpose, under tlie name of the Vitrified Wheel and Emery Company, with Alden as first manager. This company carried on its business till bought out by the city of Boston, after which the building was taken down and removed.

After Alden withdrew from this last-named company he built an emery-mill on the spur track at the Cutler Mills ; but had hardly begun business when the city of Boston also absorbed this concern, removing the buildings. This closed the business enterprises of Alden in Ashland.

Very marked results accompanied the success of his early emery business. He purchased a large tract of land of Benjamin Homer, in 1866, and about the same time smaller tracts from the heirs of John Stone and others, and commenced building houses. His operations were mostly in the neighborhood of Homer Avenue and the street which bears his name. Nearly all the houses on these streets were built by him or with the aid of his money. To any reputable person who would buy from him a house-lot he would furnish means for erecting the house, taking back a mortgage to secure the money loaned. The registry in which Ashland real estate conveyances are recorded contains evidence of a large number of deeds given by Alden between the years 1867 and 1873. His share in the work of building the Methodist Church is referred to in the account given of that church.

In 1879 Alden removed from town, engaging in other enterprises till nearly the time of his death, which occurred in 1888. His funeral was attended at the Methodist Church, in Ashland, and his remains were buried in Wildwood Cemetery, the land for which was bought of himself, and which, as one of the board of town trustees, he had helped to lay out and beautify.

About a mile below the Shepard Paper-lMill stood the Cutler Mills. At this point the water-power early employed in connection with the iron foundry o< Gilbert Marshall and Richard Sears was used by Sears to run the saw-mill built by him, and from 1818 to carry also the grist-mill erected by Calvin Bigelow, the owner at that date of the water privilege. Subsequently the property, passing successively through the hands of James Whittemore and William Greenwood, finally came into possession of S. N. Cutler. The grist-mill stood at the northerly extremity of the dam, was a one and one-half story building, and was painted in the old-time Venetian red. At the southerly end of the dam was the saw-mill, with its up-and-down saw and all the openers to the weather, for which such mills of old were famous. This mill was also rigged with a set of stones for the grinding of gypsum into flour, or "plaster," as it was called, which in those days was used by farmers to sow upon old pasture lands, and to put in their potato-hills as a fertilizer. The farmers brought their corn to the mill for grinding, and the miller took a toll of two quarts for each bushel ground. In the winter logs were brought to the mill-yard on sleds, and later in the season the boards or planks into which they had been sawed were carried away. All these processes were carried on leisurely, much to the comfort of the patrons of the mill, who, while their grist was being prepared, learned the news from the miller. Cutler at first continued the operating of these mills in the old way, but later he began buying corn, and, after grinding it into meal, selling to the stores. His new business grew rapidly, one or more of his sons were admitted into partnership, and the name of the firm now became S. N. Culler & Son. They bought their corn by large quantities in the West, and became heavy patrons of the railroads, thus inducing the Boston & .41bany Railroad Company to build a spur track for their benefit. A large and convenient mill furnished with elevators and other apparatus, was erected on the side of the stream next to the track. This mill was wholly burned in the fiill of 1867, but the next spring it had been replaced and was running. Thus by energy an extensive and valuable business was established, which was continued till the removal of the firm in 1876. At this time the city of Boston bought the whole property, and subsequently took down the building, so that now no trace remains. The original site of the old red mill is now many feet under water in " Basin 2," of the city's system of water supply, on the Sudbury River. A little to the west of where the highway formerly passed under the railroad the bed of the spur track m.ay still be traced, but the site of the principal mill has been dug over and is lost in the graded bank, or lies partly covered by water.

One mile west of the village, on the Sudbury River, is located the box-mill of Alvah Metcalf. The dam and the original building were erected about 1835 by John Cloyes, for the manufacture of sash and blinds. Very early a set of stones was put in for grinding corn. In 1844 Cloyes sold to Daniel White, who one year later conveyed to Henry Brown. In 1847 H. F, Goodale, of MarlboTough, became owner. As a tenant under Goodale, Micah B. Priest, also of Marlborough, manufactured boxes used in casing boots shoes and bonnets. Metcalf bought the property of Goodale in 1S60, and continued the business, gradually increasing it. In 1870 the mill proving too small for the amount of business to be done, was pulled down, and the present commodious bi/ilding erected. To supplement the water-power, not always sufficient in summer, steam was provided. The stones for grinding corn were left out of the new mill. Two years ago a stone dam was built, so that now the milf has superior facilities for turning out boot-boxes. About two million feet of boards are made into boxes annually. The careful supervision and personal labor of the owner have built up this successful business.

Haifa mile farther west are the remains of the Bigelow Paper-Mill dam. This was once the site of a flourishing business in the manufacture of a fine quality of hand-made paper. The original owners were John, David and Perkins Bigelow, and Gardner AVilder (2d.) They bought land lying upon the stream in 1817, and in that or the following year, built the dam and mill. Shortly before the establishment of the town, the last of the Bigelows had withdrawn from the business. David Bigelow, who maintained his hold longest, resided in Framingham Centre, and rode daily to his mill. There are still remaining traditions of the personal beauty and superior social influence of the women belonging to the Bigelow families. About 1846 Hon. Isaac Amfes, judge of Sufiblk Probate Court, for himself or as attorney for Hazen Morse, was interested in this mill. Silas Warren, Samuel Whitney and probably others were connected with it, and engaged, after the town was organized, in the manufacture of wall-paper. Samuel Whitney used to tell how, when he once found himself short of materials, he went into his potato-field and gathering the vines and weeds, ground them up and made them into pulp, thus saving fifty dollars in the way of stock. But the business was at length closed and the property remained idle. The mill was burned about 1866.

After this property had ceased to be used it passed successively, by deeds, to John Clark, 1864; E. P. Dewing, 1865, and to Thomas Corey in 1868. In 1869 the Dwight Printing Company bought the land, water privilege and rights of flowing, and are now the owners. The dam had been maintained until very recently, but now the middle part has been washed away.

Siill farther west on the river, near the town limits, on the site of the " Old Forge," are located the Chattanooga Woolen-Mills, owned and operated by Taft & Aldrich. At this point there is a dam and a fall of about twenty-five feet, with two wooden water-wheels of one hundred and sixty horsepower. About the time of the incorporation of the town, W. B. and A. J. Wood, the owners, built a paper-mill, which, for .several years, was run by Isaac Ames. In 1863 David Fales & Company started up the works, manufacturing satinets and woolen goods. They carried on the business for about eight years, after which the mill was left idle. In 1873 the Woods sold the whole property to C. and C. T. Aldrich, who enlarged the mill and put in steam-power, to be used when the water was low. In 1876 Charles Aldrich sold his interest to L. H. Taft, of Uxbridge, who, six years later, sold to his father, Moses Taft. The present firm is composed of Moses Taft and Charles T. Aldrich, the latter residing upon the premises and conducting the mill. Taft & Aldrich employ about seventy-five hands. Since Aldrich came, a village has grown up at this point, which is called Chattanooga, and a school-house has been built in the neighborhood.

On Cold Spring Brook, about three miles from its junction with Sudbury River, there was formerly a saw-mill and grist-mill, which in early times were in operation when the water in the brook was .sufficient to run them. After the incorporation of the town S. N. Cutler & Company appear to have had an interest in the property. But the mill was many years ago abandoned, and the privilege is now lost in the flowage of " Dam 4 " of the Boston water supply.

On a small brook which empties into Waushakum Pond, at the place late of W. D. Cole, for many years prior to 1850, stood a shop owned by James Bigelow. Here was a small water-power which Bigelow employed to run a turning-lathe and a saw rigged for wheelwright work. Bigelow could make anything, from a clock to an ox-cart. While engaged in rimming out a gun-barrel at his lathe, an end of his neckerchief caught on the shaft of the rimmer, which, winding round quickly, before he could become disengaged, caused his death.

There are no great ponds within the town limits, excepting a portion of Waushakum. The Framingham boundary line, which crosses this pond, leaves in Ashland, perhaps, a little less than a quarter part. This part of the pond aflbrds the best fishing. Here, until about twenty years ago, sportsmen caught good strings of perch and horned-pout in the summer, and pickerel through the ice in the winter. But since the pond has been " improved," by the cultivation of black bass, no fisherman has any luck.

The Ashland waters, once a principal source of pecuniary benefit, the town can no longer call its own. Of the six once flourishing mills that stood upon the banks of the Sudbury, only two remain, and these no doubt are doomed. In 1872 the City of Boston obtained from the Legislature an act conferring the right to take the waters of the river and all its tributaries for the purpose of acquiring an additional water supply. As rapidly as its plans could be formed, the city proceeded to obtain, by purchase or seizure, all the business property upon the river ea.st of the village, and cleared off' completely the banks of the stream in this section. It placed an embargo upon the valuable water-power in the centre, without offering the owners any compensation. The two remaining privileges west of the village it has so far permitted the owners to use, but always in the face of uncertainties as to how long or in what manner they may be allowed to use them. With the exception of the small amount of water required to keej) up the flowage of the stream, and the amounts that may be necessary for extinguishing fires, for domestic purposes, and for generating steam in the towns bordering on the river, all the waters of the Sudbury and its tributaries above a certain point in the town of Framingham have been presented as a gift by the Legislature to the city of Boston, reserving only to immediate owners the right to sell their interest therein for such price as they may be able to get, or to recover compensation for property taken only by the vexatious process of law. The city of Boston, in accordance with the provisions of this act and the rules of law, has paid the price for lands bought and has satisfied the judgments obtained for lands and rights seized in the cases of those who by law were entitled to recover and who have brought suits. But the large indirect damage to the town, in the destruction of its business and taxable property, has not been paid, nor is it by law recoverable. The many and valuable rights of private owners to drain into the river and its tributaries, seized by the city, have not been paid for, and tbe right to obiain compensation is now irrecoverably lost, because the owners had received no actual notice of the seizure and did not bring their action for damages within the time allotted by statute. Under the guise of general legislation, the city of Boston has obtained the passage of punitive laws, restricting the rights of land-owners in the free use of their property and widely enlarging the sphere of the law of nuisance. The agents of the B rston Water Board have continually annoyed the owners of lands lying upon the banks of the river and the iu-flowing brooks, by coming uninvited upon their premises for the purpose of discovering sources of pollution to the water, and by issuing orders for removal of such causes of pollution without first having procured any authoritative determination of what is a pollution of their water supply.

" Dam 2," of the Sudbury water system, which was built about 1878, in the town of Framingham, flowed the river to the Shepard Dam. The city of Boston built an iron bridge just below this point, and also a bridge below the site of the Cutler Mills, and, by laving out and building such parts ss were necessary, opened two good roads to Park's Corner, in place of the one old road, in part submerged, which formerly crossed the river at the Cutler Jlills.

Less than a mile up Cold Spring Brook the city, in about 1885, built a dam nearly half a mile long, for storing water on this brock. The lands covered by this basin were obtained from the owners by purchase, the deeds conveying full title. In 1890 the city of Boston began the dam on Indian Brook, having obtained title to the lands proposed to be covered partly by purchase and partly by seizure.

The agents of the Boston Water Board have forbidden fishing upon the ice in their b.isins in the winter, though no prosecutions for that offence have yet been made. All persons are prohibited from bathing in the Sudbury or its tributaries.

In 1888 an act was passed by tbe Legislature forbidding bathing in tlie Waushakum Pond, as the Sherborn prison takes water from that source ; but this act seems to be .strictly confined to the waters of the pond ; therefore, it is suggested that Ashland boys may learn to swim in the Bigelow Pond, on the afilueut brook, a mile to the southwest.

Boot and Shoe Bdsiness. - In the early years of the town the work of making shoes was not all done as it now is - in the factory - nor was the business all carried on by a few large concerns. There were small manufacturers, who would buy a few sides of leather in Boston, cut and make them into shoes in their shops in the country, and then return to the city, selling the products of their own labor. In those days there was no difiiculty in finding a market for such goods at paying prices. Men, who, in the end, became large manufacturers, frequently began in this way, acquiring a practical knowledge of every part of the business, from the selecting of the stock, through the processes of manufacture, to the final disposition of the goods in the market. This manufacturing in a small way was then common, and was often taken up by men, who, for the time being, happened to have no other employment. In this way, too, work could be afforded for a whole family, as there would be some part that each member could assist in doing.

When the small shop began to enlarge and furnish work for persons outside of the family, the business was carried on in a way quite unlike the present. In 184t), and for a few years afterwards, there were no large gatherings of workmen in the shops of the manufacturers ; all the work, except the cutting of the leather, was done away from the shop. The shoemaker would come, often from a neighboring town, with his team, and take out stock enough to keep him in work for a week or more. Quite far back, when shoes, rather than boots, were made in this section, the workman would take the leather just as it came from the hands of the cutter, who did his work without the aid of machinery. Going home with the stock, his wife would bind and close the shoes, while he did the bottoming. His boys would be taught while young to peg, and, later, to last, and, still later, before they had reached the age of twenty-one years, they would acquire skill in fitting and trimming, thus becoming expert in all the parts of the bottoming process. There were many farmers who worked on shoes in the winter, when they had nothing else to do; and, generally, the work of the shoemaker could be taken up and laid down to suit circumstances.

Where the manufacture of boots was carried on, the crimping, clo.sing and treeing, though at first done by the workmen at their own houses, was at length confined to the shop of the manufacturer. Slowly machines were invented for doing the work at the factory ; but for a long time the bottoming was performed wholly by hand, and at the homes of the workmen. Finall)-, upon the introduction of the pegging machine, the bottomer was obliged to go where this was set up, as such machines cost too much for him to buy. The invention of other machines soon following, the employment of steam-power at the factory to run them finally required the assembling of all the workmen at that place. Now within the last twenty years the little shops, which so commonly stood by the houses of the workmen and were used by them, have been abandoned, and the comparatively free life of the shoemaker of thirty years ago has been exchanged for the routine work of the factory operative. Wages may have increased, and a better average living been gained, but the former freedom of the individual h.as been partly lost in the changed methods of doing work and especially in the surrender of rights to associations which have been established for the protection of the workingman.

As the manufacture of boots and shoes has been and still is the principal business in this town it will be proper to give a somewhat full account of this business, beginning at the time the town was incorporated and tracing the history of the different shops.

Calvin Dyer in 1846 was occupying for his bootshop the building on Main Street, which is now the stable of Mrs. John Phippa. He had a few years before erected both the house and shop standing at this point. At an earlier date he had manufactured in the Mitchell and Bryant shop, to be spoken of later. He was very active in getting the town set off". He remained, however, only a year after that event, moving his family to Worcester, himself accepting employment as passenger conductor on the Boston and Worcester Railroad.

Daniel Morey followed Dyer in this shop, but did not continue long in the business. The buildings had been mortgaged to Lee Claflin, and the mortgage was now foreclosed.

In 1852 Simpson Jones bought these premises of Claflin, and moved in from the Broad barn, where he had started a few months before. The boots manufactured by him were sold by Whitney & Hiues, of Boston, on commission. Later he manufactured for Lee Claflin. In about 1860 the shop which stood at the corner of Union and Main streets, on land now owned by John Connor, had been vacated by William Wheelock, and as this was a larger and more convenient building, Jones now occupied it, turning his former shop into a stable. About this time he be came a partner in the firm of Newhall & Company, of Boston, he receiving the stock and making up the boots, while the Boston partners attended to the buying and selling. This substantial business was continued till his death, in 1865.

William Wheelock came from Mendon in 1857. John Clark built for him a shop at the junction of Union and Main Streets, upon the Connor land, then owned by Clark. Wheelock, as a partner in the firm of Severance & Wheelock, at once began manufacturing boots in tliLs building. This business lasted but a year or two. Wheelock then bought the land where now the Newhall shop is located, and moving there a small building from Hayden Row, made of this a nucleus about which a larger shop was built. As a partner in the firm of Boyd, Brigham & Wheelock, be here attended to the manufacture of shoes till about 1871,' when his, health failing, he was obliged to cease doing business. He died with consumption two years later. Wheelock introduced into his shop a caloric engine, which in that day was in these parts considered a novelty.

H. Newhall & Company, of Boston, bought this .shop of Wheelock and carried on the business until 1882. They enlarged the building and put in steampower. The factory was first in charge of Samuel Seaver until his death, in 1876. For the next four or five years C. M. Adams was superintendent, and during the last year a Mr. Godfrey, from Milford. The firm finally transferred its business to their shop in Woodville, giving as a reason that they could manufacture there at a lower figure. The building has since remained unoccupied.

In May, 1846, the boot-shop of Edwin A. Forbush, which stood on the south side of Union Street, at what is now the Neff' place, w.as totally burned. This shop was never rebuilt.

Forbush after the fire, for a few months, did business in a part of the antiquated "Stone" house, which then stood ou the opposite side of the street. He next formed a partnership with William Seaver, and for about two years they manufactured boots in the Seaver shop, to be referred to later. They also played checkers very late of nights, if tradition may be trusted, both being experts in the game and quite equally matched. In 1849 Forbush bought one of the " Sullivan " houses and erected a boot-shop within the yard of the enclosure. It has always been supposed that this building was located very near, indeed, to the west line of the lot, as there was a sharp controversy in words about the rights of the respective owners, echoes of which have not yet wholly died away.

Forbush, after dissolving connection with Seaver, for a short time manufactured boots in his new shop. About this time he invented a machine for siding boots. He got Lee Claflin interested, and by his aid fitted up a foundry for the manufacture of machines in one of the Shepard Paper-Mill buildings, which were now owned by Claflin. After experimenting here at a cost of $40,000, Claflin having tired of the venture, Forbush took his machine to Lawrence and there had castings made. Afterwards a Milford concern became interested, but at this point Forbush abandoned the enterprise, and nothing more wiis done to bring the machine into use. The model was burned in the Boston fire of 1872. It is said that at one time Forbush was offered one hundred thousand dollars for his invention. When Forbush returned to Ashland, a-s Thayer and Wiggins were manufacturing boots in his shop, he formed a partnership with P. Ware, Jr., and commenced on shoes in Leland's Block, of which building some account will be given later. The business was continued, either in this or his own shop, until after the coming on of the war. A sewed shoe was made by this firm for army use.

Later, skins in the shape of the ordinary buffalo robe were cut into uppers and made by them into moccasins, the fur side in. After dissolving partnership with Ware he continued in business alone, still making moccasins; now working for Wilson, Corey & Company. After North Carolina was opened at the close of the war he went to Winston, in that State, and le.ised a plantation for a term of years. He also opened a store in Winston. Meantime his shop in Ashland was occupied by his son, P. W. Forbush, who for about two years manufactured shoes, which were sold by P. Ware in Boston. E. A. Forbush returned to Ashland in 1869, and after running his shop one year, ceased work on account of failure of health. Ten months later he died.

George S. Downs, during the sickness of Forbush, carried on the business as his agent. After his death Downs began business for himself, manufacturing shoes for Potter,White & Bailey. This business was continued for several years, until receiving an ofler of a lucrative position as superintendent of the shoeshop in the State Prison, he moved away. That was the end of this boot-shop as such. About ten years ago this building was converted into a tenementhouse. Forbush was an active, public-spirited man ; he was frequently elected to town office, for m!>ny years was chosen moderator of the town-meetings, and was a leading member in the Baptist Church.

William Seaver came to Ashland from Hopkinton about 1840. In 1846 he was manufacturing boots in the first shop built and occupied by him, the same building now standing on Front Street ne.\t to the hardware store of Perry & Enslin, and occupied as a dwelling. Seaver also built and occupied till his death the dwelling-house standing next door west. After the dissolution of the partnership with E. AForbush, spoken of above, he continued the business alone in thesame building. About 1852, in this building, George W. Jones was interested with him as a partner for about three years. Later, Seaver moved into a shop across the street, standing on the present site of the barn of A. Greenwood & Son. After a time his sons, George and Henry, were admitted into partnership. They manufactured mostly small boots of cheap grade. In about 1863 Seaver accomplished some real estate e.^changes, and as a result became owner of the whole land now covered by the Greenwood coal shed and Blake's building. He then sold off the small buildings that occupied the ground, to be taken away and converted into dwelling-houses, and moved upon the spot now covered by Blake's building, a shop of about the same size, which had stood a,t the junction of Main and Union streets, and had been formerly occupied successively by Wheelock & Jones as before related. He sold to Blake and Balcom the easterly part of the lot, and they erected a building of similar dimensions to his own, leaving between the two buildings a clear space of fortyeight feet. Here he and his sons, under the firmname of Seaver & Sons, carried on the business till 1872, when the Boston fire destroyed a large amount of goods belonging to them, and upon which the insurance proved almost worthless, owing to the failure of the companies carrying the risk. This fire was the cause of finally closing his business as a boot manufacturer. For many years afterward he was engaged in the business of undertaker, keeping goods for sale and personally conducting funerals. He died in 1888, after a somewhat prolonged illness. From the first he was a prominent man in town affairs, holding various town offices. He was a deacon of the Congregational Church, almost covering its whole history. As a justice of the peace, he tried civil causes, while justices still had jurisdiction. Earlier, criminal cases also were tried before him. His judgment was often sought in matters having a legal bearing.