Barre Town (part 2 of 2)

In 1798 a committee was chosen, for the first time, to visit the schools and have supervision of them. This committee consisted of Rev. Josiah Dana, Seth Caldwell and Jonas Eaton, men of education and energy, and under their guidance and by their influence the cause of education was advanced. This committee received no compensation for their services, but freely and willingly gave their time for this purpose ; but the people were not yet fully educated to the plan of choosing a School Committee annually, for no other board was chosen until 1804, although an article on this subject had been each year inserted in the warrant.

In this year Rev. James Thompson and Samuel Bigelow were chosen, and each subsequent year the office was filled, some years consisting of but two members, and, at other times, in connection with Rev. Dr. Thompson, who was chairman of the board for nearly forty years, one from each district was chosen. In 1810 the district, or " school ward," in the west part of the town was established, which was designated No. 10, and thirty dollars was appropriated for building the school-house.

Under the efficient management of the School Committee and the fostering care of the people, the cause of education was elevated, and as better and additional facilities were needed, the number of districts was increased until, in 1845, they numbered sixteen.

Previous to 1815 the schools had been entirely under the control of the town as a unit. In that year an agent in each district was chosen " to certify money which shall become due." The explanation of this vote is that the people in the various districts were taking more interest in educational matters, and were desirous of bringing their schools more directly under their control and regulating the length of the terms. While they should remain under the general supervision of the regular school Committee, it was believed that some local authority would be more conducive to their interests. This was the beginning of a plan which was adopted in later years, both here and elsewhere. In 1828 the town voted that each district should chose its own agent or prudential committee. This agent had authority to engage the teacher and regulate the contingent expenses of the district in regard to the school, subject, however, to some control by the general committee.

The friends of education did not rest in their endeavors to improve the common-school system. Its wants and defects were closely observed and studied. In 1838 Rev. Mr. Fay, pastor of the Evangelical Church, who took a deep interest in the schools, and entered with much enthusiasm into all plans for their improvement, ably seconded the eflbrts of Rev. Dr. Thompson and others in this direction. The improvement of the schools of the Commonwealth had been agitated by Hon. Horace Mann, secretary of the State Board of Education, and, as one of the results of this movement, a convention of the friends of education was held in this town, at which were present, as active participants, Rev. Dr. Thompson, Rev. Mr. Fay, Rev. Luther Wil«on, of Petersham, Rev. Joaiah Clark, of Rutland, and many others, and from this and similar meetings in various parts of the State there resulted the establishment of Normal Schools, the second of which was opened here in September, 1839; this school occupied the second story of the town-hall building, which had been in process of construction for about two years, and had been completed the previous winter. Its principal was Rev, S. P. Newman, a professor in Bowdoin College. On account of the location of the town, access to which was then difficult, it was not well patronized, and was suspended in 1841, greatly to the regret of the people.

In 1852 a High School was established, and since then has been well maintained, being well-attended and in charge of well-trained and conscientious teachers. The languages, higher mathematics and kindred studies are pursued ; young men have been fitted for our colleges, and besides imparting instruction to the youth of our own town, it is patronized to some extent by scholars from other municipalities.

In 1869 the district system was, by State enactment, abolished, the school property appraised, and the amount remitted to each district; since then the general School Committee have had the control of the whole system.

As we look back to the schools of the early settlers, with their limited instruction, and an annual appro- I>riation of £40 or less, and then turn to our system of to-day, with its division into grades, from the primary to the high, with an annual appropriation of nearly five thousand dollars, and where all can obtain an education according to their taste or inclination, we can truly say, " Our lines are cast in pleasant places," and we fully realize the necessity of sustaining this system, and of making all possible advancement, so that the writer of our history, a century hence, shall say of us, as we record of our predecessors, " Well done.''

Minded Youth. This was established here in June, 1848, by Dr. Henry B. Wilbur, a graduate of Amherst College, and of the Berkshire Medical College, who had practiced medicine in Lowell previous to his coming to Barre in 1845, from which time he continued the practice of medicine.

At this time there was no provision in this country for a class deemed incapable of improvement ; but Dr. Wilbur, becoming deeply interested in efforts of European philanthropists, resolved to join their ranks, a resolve in which he was ably seconded by his young wife, a woman of great tact and untiring energy and self-devotion. Dr. Wilbur was a man of versatile genius, broad intellectual attainments, and a believer in the divinity that presides over the feeblest humanity. Gifted with large enthusiasm, and possessor of an indomitable will, he won success in spite of the obstacles that ever oppose a novel undertaking. Called in September, 1851, to preside over an experimental State School in Albany, N. Y., he left his Barre pupils in a dwelling on the corner of Pleasant and High Streets, under the care of Dr. George and Mrs. C. W. Brown.

The increasing number of pupils soon requiring more house-room and ground for out-door living, the residence of Mr. Willard Broad was. purchased, enlarged and adapted to special needs, and the institution removed to that location in January, 1853. Since that date its growth has been continuous, comprising now seven dwelling-houses, with a fine gymnasium, stables, &c., surrounded by about two hundred and fifty acres of land. These cottages, sufficiently contiguous for supervision, have ample grounds for each classified group of pupils, and all financial receipts have been devoted to making attractive homes for these unfortunates. For some time the only private institution in the country, still the largest, pupils have been received from all parts of the United States, Canada and the Sandwich Islands, whilst applications have come from South America and Australia. To the upbuilding ot this institution Dr. and Mr.-". Brown, assisted since 1884 by their son, Dr. George A. Brown, have given their undivided efforts, personal supervision and mental ability, making the standard of family organization, as to care, mental improvement and iesthetic surroundings, high enough to receive from a European specialist of wide experience the title of an " Ideal Institution."

" Here boys and girls have come with all their senses perfect, but connected with nothing within telegraphing no communication to or fro, reaching inward only to dumb inanition. Was there a mind hid away there ? Were there elements out of which a mind could be formed? Was it possible to find a way into that empty space, to pick up the buried germs of mental faculty, if such there were, attach them to the delicate wire of some sense and thus open a communication between the world within and the world without? This was the problem which the institu- tion here, with kindred ones in other lands, has, with a sublime faith, attempted to solve ; and the result has been such as to fill all observers with admiration. A work has been wrought in our village scarcely less wonderful than the creation of a human mind." '

At the opening of the present century the population of the town had increased from thirteen hundred and twenty-nine in 1776 and now numbered nineteen hundred aud thirty-seven. Farming still continued the chief occupation, attention more particularly being given to raising such crops as wheat, potatoes, corni fla.K and hemp. Whitney, in his " History of Worcester County," published in 1793, says, "here they have many and large dairies, and it is supposed that more butter and cheese is carried annually into market than from any other town of the same extent." A circulating medium was almost unknown, a majority of the inhabitants seeing no currency, or only at rare intervals, and rather as a curiosity than otherwise. Such articles of food as were not produced on the farm were obtained at the small country store in exchange for home products. Their clothing was made at home, the wool shorn from the sheep's back, carded by hand, spun into yarn and woven on the old lumbering loom, or the flax was pulled in the field, hetchelled, and finally made into garments or bed-linen, most of this work being done by the women of the household, the men attending to the out-door and more laborious duties. Consider.able flax and hemp were raised, aud were considered so important crops that inspectors were annually chosen to decide as to its quality and value, as in such a time of exchange and barter it was deemed necessary that disinterested parties should affix a value. Although the people were struggling for a livelihood and were dependent one upon another, yet a spirit of sociality prevailed, notwithstanding the question of their existing required hard and long hours of labor. Mills for grinding their corn and wheat had been built in several places, but all of these were of the old colonial style. The constructive and inventive faculty which this town so fully exhibited at a later day was here, and early began to manifest its outgrowth.

The raising of flax, to be more profitable, required mills to return to the people the full benefit of the crop, and two were soon established for crushing or grinding the seed and obtaining the linseed oil ; one of these was on Prince River, at what is now Heald Village, and the other was in the east part of the town. With this oil and pigments their houses were kept neatly painted ; clothier's mills, as they were termed, were established and tanneries erected in various parts of the town; the manufacture of brick, which had been pursued previous to 1800, had been abandoned, the yards near where now live Nathaniel Holland and the heirs of Lysander Crawford having become " worked out," while the one near Charles S.

Holland's present residence was closed. About 1828 this industry was resumed at the latter yard, and in the south part of the town, at the Plains, a new yard was opened. These yards were worked lor about ten years, when the business again ceased.

Saw-mills had been established as early as 1753, but from their rough construction had continued but for a short time. In the latter years of the last century and early in the present one a number of these mills were erected on the various streams. Perhaps the mo.st business enterprise existed in the south part of the town, this being favored and promoted by the abundant water-power in that section.

There was a saw-mill at what we now term the Powder Mills early in the century. At the Plains Seth Pratt conceived the idea of diverting the water from the Ware River by means of a canal and forming a pond, throwing a dam across the river from land on the south side, now owned by Mr. A. F. Adams. This canal was excavated in 1808 ; subsequently the dam was moved farther up the river and the canal extended.

In 1810 Phineas Heywood, who, with his father, had come here from Shrewsbury, and who was a sonin-law of Pratt, having previously obtained considerable land in that vicinity, sold land and water-rights for manufacturing purposes. In addition to the grist-mill and saw-mill, which had been for a year or more in operation here, two tanneries were built by Parker & Pratt, and in the sanle year Phineas Heywood commenced work in a clothier's mill ; nearly all the grinding of grain and the fulling and finishing of the woolen cloth was now done at the Plains. This clothier's mill continued the business, with changes adapted to the times, until about 1870, the manufiicture of yarn and coarse woolen cloth having been adopted a number of years previously. Heywood, who was of an ingenious and inventive turn of mind, succeeded in operating, in a crude way, a cotton-spinning machine about 1814 and a woolen-carding machine about 1816. In 1827 he erected a larger mill; this has been moved from its original site and is now used for other purposes.

David Wadsworth erected a scythe manufactory a short distance easterly from where the Messrs. Stetson now live, and its production was considerable. About 1830 a company, prominent in which were Henry Holbrook and Hiram and Paul Wadsworth, purchased of John Wadsworth a lot of land bordering on the Ware River and erected a brick building for the manufacture of woolen cloth, and a pleasant little village was built up. This company did not succeed in the woolen business, and were soon followed by Jonathan Wheeler, who was favored in his venture, but who was compelled to close the works by the financial panic which existed from 1837 to 1842; he sold the property to Wright & Farnum, whom a Mr. Fisher soon succeeded. He was followed by Edward Denny, who purchased the property ia 1844 and who continued engaged in the manufacture of various liinds of woolen goods, conducting the business with success until about 18G7. In 1871 the property was leased to C. T. Deacon & Co., who soon failed in the business. The factory was destroyed by fire in the winter of 1857-58; another one of the same dimensions, eighty-two by forty-four feet, and fourstories in height, was erected the following summer-

At Mr. Denny's death, in 1874, the property passed into other hands, meeting with varying fortunes. A company with the firm-name of the Ware River Woolen Company, purchased it in 1880, and after operating it for about two years, finding the business unprofitalile, sold it to James E. Crossley. In 188S the mill was again destroyed by fire and has not been rebuilt.

During, or a little previous to, 1825, Silas Bemis and Benjamin Clark each and separately conceived the idea of erecting a cotton-mill and each made strenuous efforts to complete the first dam. Mr. Clark, having obtained control of the water privilege by purchasing it and a considerable lot of land of the heirs of Matthew Caldwell, ei'ected a brick factory, which at that time was the first of any importance in this section of the State ; by the erection of this and the necessary tenement -houses he became financially embarrassed, but he soon organized a stock company, consisting of Messrs. Mixter, Woods, Bowman and others, by whom the work was carried on and the manufacture of cotton commenced; Mr. Clark, becoming involved in a lawsuit growing out of a claim for priority of rights to the water privilege, became insolvent and retired from the manfacturing business. The success of the company, under the name of the Boston and Barre Manufacturing Company, was not at first propitious ; they entered into a contract with Mr. John Smith, who was a practical manufacturer, to take the mill and make the cotton cloth at a certain price per yard, in which he was successful, making the business remunerative for himself and the stockholders. While the business was thus prosperous the factory was destroyed by fire ; the company, not desirous of rebuilding, sold out by auction, the land, buildings and water privilege being purchased by Mr. Smith for himself and four others; subsequently purchasing their shares, he erected a new mill, which he managed with signal success until his death, in 1859, when the business passed into the hands of his two sons, by whom it was profitably carried on under the firm-name of C. W. & J. E. Smith. On the death of Charles W. Smith a few years ago and the settlement of his estate, J. Edwin Smith became sole owner, by whom some needed repairs and alterations were made, and now the establishment is in successful operation. The village, now and for many years known as Smithville, is a model factory village and with its neatly-painted houses, broad street and abundant and beautiful shade trees presents an attractive appearance.

On the Ware River, about midway between Smithville and the woolen-factory village, buildings and mills for the manufacture of gunpowder were erected about 182G by Silas Bemis, one of the early settlers, and his son-in-law, Charles Bemis, and others, and did a good business under various ownerships until 1865, when this industry left the town. Here is a good water privilege awaiting utilization.

In the centre of the town manufacturing interests have been varied. Thirty-five years ago the Barre Boot Company carried on a large business, employing many hands ; they were followed by J. W. Rice & ' Son, who continued in this industry until about 1876, when they ceased, unable to compete with the large establishments of the Brookfields and other towns. From 1850 to 1865 the manufacture of " Shakerhoods," or bonnets made of palm-leaf was extensively carried on, furnishing employment to many women and children in weaving the leaf into the strip of which the hoods were made, but by the demands of fashion, this business became of the past. The introduction of the palm-leaf business into Barre is somewhat singular. About 1829 some hats were imported into this country, made of a material that was unknown here. A Boston merchant, attracted by their apparent durability, imported a few bales of the raw material from Cuba. A woman in Dedham was engaged to take one of the hats to pieces, learn its construction and endeavor to imitate it. She succeeded, and taught the art of making these hats to a woman of Petersham, by whom women in this town were taught. Braiding these hats became an extensive business, and a source of some income to many families here and elsewhere. The hats thus made were rough ; as they needed smoothing and shaping, they were at first pressed by hand with hot irons, and by those, who made them. As the industry grew, men's help was obtained to do the pressing. Mr. John W. Weston engaged in the business in a dwelling that then stood northerly of the Lincoln burial-ground. Afterwards machinery was devised for the purpose, and a small shop was built on Prince River by Mr. Chester Gorham. The business was carried on at this place for about thirty-five years. Dexter Dennis succeeding to it and enlarging the plant, which also accommodated other kinds of manufactures.

A short distance down the stream is a water privilege which, as early as 1750, the proprietors considered the second most valuable one in the territory, and they proposed to have a saw-mill erected there; but as the mill already built could furnish all the boards that were then required for building purposes, this project was abandoned. In the latter part of the last, or early in the present century, a clothier's mill was built on this privilege, where the fulling and finishing of the homespun cloth was carried on for a number of years. Woods & Field purchased this building about 1840, and, remodeling it, commenced the business of pressing and finishing palm-leaf hats ; they continued in this but a few years, when they sold to Carlos Gambol, who had superintended the work for them. He soon sold the property to Spencer Field, who ran it for a few years, and about 1854 sold it to Jason Desper. None but palm-leaf hats were finished at this time, nor was it until about I860 that other kinds of hats came to these works. Only ten hands were employed at this time, and from forty to eighty thousand dozens were finished each year, the number varying with the different years. Mr. Desper carried on this business, enlarging the works from time to time, until about 1874, when J. F. Snow and J. Andrew Rogers became associated with him.

At the death of Mr. Snow the following year, Jesse A. Rogers became a member of the firm, which was now known as Desper, Rogers & Co. The plant was still further increased from time to time to accommodate the additional work that came in upon them ; the manufacture of hats was adopted, and has proved a profitable branch of the business. In 1888 Mr. Desper, who had begun to feel the weight of advancing years, sold his interest to W. H. Osgood, and a new firm was formed under the name of the Rogers- Osgood Co. For the last eight or ten years about forty women have been employed in running sewingmachines, making the hats from braid bought in the markets. At the commencement of this business in 1840 but little finishing was done; now that branch is much more elaborate, the hat going direct from the manufactory to the salesman, and thence to the consumer. Seventy men are employed, and the annual output is now upwards of two hundred thousand dozens of hats per annum.

Farther up the stream and about half a mile easterly of the Common is an extensive foundry and machine-shop owned and conducted by Mr. L. S. Heald. This business was established in 1830 by Stephen Heald. Previous to this time a grist-mill and another small building had been erected, in the former of which wood-turning was carried on, Charles Rice having improved the water privilege by constructing a more extensive dam and excavating another pond and canal that he might get out carriage wood-work by machinery. Stephen He.ild, who came to town in 1826 entered his employ, poor in purse but full of energy ; soon afterwards engaging in the iron business, he built up a considerable establishment, where he was successful. In 1850 all of his shop buildings were destroyed by fire and his capital swept away. By the encouragement of individuals he was induced to rebuild, which he did on an enlarged scale, and with better accommodations found his business increasing. In 18G5 two of his sons became co-partners with him. The manufacture of agricultural implements was one of their specialties in which they did a large amount of work. Woodworking and other machinery of various kinds have been an extensive part of thoir manufactures, which have found a market in remote as well as near sections of the country. About these works a pretty little village sprang up, which for many years has been known as Heald Village, At Mr. Heald's death, in 1887, at the age of nearly eighty-eight years, the larger part of the property passed into the hands of his son, L. S. Heald, who carries on the works. Among the agricultural implements that have been made here was a h.iy-tedder, invented by Mr. E. W. Bullard, of this town, which was the first machine ever constructed for turning hay in the field. Amongst other machinery Mr. Heald is now making an improved tedder of his own invention.

Wagon manufiicturing has been another branch of industry in this vicinity ; the making of scythes by two different establishments at the same time formerly gave employment to a number of hands, but these trades have passed from among us.

About twenty-five years ago a horse hay-rake, the invention of S. R. Nye, of this town, was made here to a considerable extent, but, partly on account of the breaking away of the reservoir, this business was discontinued here. Fifteen years ago another horserake, the combined invention of C. M. Lufkin, and Charles G. Allen of Barre, was placed upon the market, since which time Mr. Allen has built up an extensive plant, and is successful in his invention and manufacture. Each year a large number of these rakes are made, finding a market in all the New England and some of the other States. Other industries on this stream are planing and saw-mills.

In the north part of the town, known as Rice Village, the wagon-making, carried on for many years by Charles Rice and others, was from its extensiveness an important factor here, but for the past few decades nothing has been done in this line. Near the centre of the town the manufacture of packing boxes and mattresses, and of preparing palm leaf for braiding into hats was very prominent ; of these the mattress business alone remains with us.

From the location of Barre, it was, before the days of railroads, a prominent thoroughfare for the stage-routes from Boston to New York, Albany, Keene, Brattleboro' and other places; prominent among those old-time driver.-i, which was then considered a responsible berth, was the late Hon. Ginery Twichell. Coming here a young man, about 1830, full of energy, genial, affable and always thoroughly reliable, he made friends of all, and always had a deep interest in the town and its welfare. To him the town was indebted to some extent for better accommodations for travel. Deeply interested in the railroads projected around us, he left the staging business and entered the employ of the Boston and Worcester Railroad, where he was soon after chosen as its superintendent, and afterwards elected to its presidency. On the consolidation of that road with the Western, he retired for a while from active railroad life, but never lost his interest in it, and it was one of his hopes that Barre should be connected with the cities by steam communication. Having chosen Brookline as his residence, he was elected to the national House of Representatives from the Congressional district in which he resided, where he served a number of years, greatly to his own honor and that of his constituents. On his retirement from Congress his active spirit led him to assume the presidency of a short line of railroad, the Boston, Barre and Gardner, then struggling under many difficulties. Always a friend to Barre, in preceding years he had advocated the construction of a road to and through this town, and it was due somewhat to him that our people began to consider this matter so early as they did. As early as 1840 the subject began to be agitated here. In 1845 the town voted to raise a sum not exceeding three hundred dollars, for the survey of a route from Worcester through this town to the Miller's River. This route being found impracticable, the matter rested for a few years. About 1850 the agitation again began, this time in connection with towns southerly of us. A line was considered, under the name of the Ware River Railroad, to extend from Palmer to Winchendon, but, mainly through the opposition of the Western road, this road was not constructed for a number of years. A charter was obtained, and renewed from time to time as circumstances demanded. The first section, from Palmer to Gilbertville, was built in 1869, and in 1870 ground was broken in Barre for its extension to Winchendon. The work of grading and track -laying progressed but slowly, but the road was at last completed, and in October, 1873, it w;is opened for travel to Barre Plains. In 1854 the town voted to petition the Legislature for permission to loan its credit to the amount of five per cent, of its valuation for aiding in building a railroad from North Brookfield to Barre; the necessary surveys were made, but for want of sufficient encouragement the scheme was abandoned.

In 1847 a company was chartered under the name of the Barre and Worcester Railroad Company. This road was intended to run from some point on the Worcester and Nashua road to some convenient place in the centre of Barre. This project was kept alive by renewals of its charter, but when it was constructed, in 1870-71, it ran from Worcester to Gardner.

In 18G9 the town became deeply aroused to the necessity of a railroad, and entered with much enthusiasm into the project of the JIassachusetts Central Railroad, and, to further aid the enterprise, took stock of the company to the amount of ninety thousand dollars, or five per cent, of its valuation, while individuals took about fifty-five thousand dollars' worth additional. From lack of necessary funds this road, which was to extend from a point on the Boston and Lowell road near Boston, passing through Barre and forming a " through line " to the West, was not constructed for a number of years. Its financial troubles were great, but finally becoming reorganized under the name of the Central Massachusetts Railroad, it was completed, and in December, 1887, trains commenced running from Boston to Northampton, although passenger trains had run from Boston as far as Ware in July.

The culture of the town has always been noteworthy. In May of 1834 a weekly newspaper, with the name of the Farmer's Gazette, was established by C. C. P. Thompson. He continued as its proprietor until his death, a few years afterwards, when it passed into the hands of Albert Alden, the name being now changed to that of the Barre Gazette. Soon afterwards Walter A. Bryant assumed its ownership and management. In 1844, the political feeling running high, the Barre Patriot, upholding the tenets of the opposite party, was established by his brother, N. F. Bryant. Both of these papers flourished for several years, but about 1856 they were merged in one, under the name of the Barre Gazette, and since then it has prospered. It is now in its fifty-fifth volume, and under the ownership and control of Henry H. Cook, although there have been two or three changes of proprietorship since the consolidation of the two papers.

In October, 1858, N. F. Bryant issued a magazine with the title of the Household Monthly. This was discontinued at the end of a year and a half. Previous to this he had published the Wachusett Star. This continued but about a year. Bryant's Messenger was another paper, of short duration, that was issued.

In 1866 R. W. Waterman commenced the publication of the Worcester West Chronicle. After issuing it here for about one year the establishment was removed to Athol. Various amateur journals have been put forth, but these were ephemeral.

In 1888 the Central County Courier was introduced, under the management of S. H. Ingersoll. This paper is printed in one of the neighboring towns, but has a creditable foothold here.

Previous to 1857 we had a small library, but under no competent management. In that year Samuel Gates, a farmer of small means, left by his will five hundred dollars to the town for a free public library, on condition that an equal amount should be given by the town. This condition was complied with. Cases were obtained for the books and the unexpended balance of the town's ajjpropriation added to Mr. Gates' bequest increased the fund to seven hundred dollars. This was placed in the town treasury, and the interest of it, at six per cent., is annually expended for books.

In 1866 a Central Pacific Railroad bond of the denomination of one thousand dollars was given to the library by a native of Barre, the income of which was to be used for books, For a number of years the library had its home in the post-ofiice rooms, and in time outgrew its limits.

porated, one of its obiects being to procure a building suitable for the library and for kindred purposes. In 1886 Mr. Henry Woods, a native of Barre, purchased land and erected thereon, at an expense of upwards of twenty thousand dollars, a brick building which, under the name of the "Woods Memorial Library Building," commemorative of his deceased parents and brothers, and as a token of his kindly and substantial interest for the welfare of the town, he presented to the association, this corporate body holding it in trust for the benefit of the whole community. He also established the " Edwin Woods Fund " of five thousand dollars, the annual income of which (two hundred and fifty dollars) is to be expended for books of permanent value.

The library, well arranged and cared for in its new home, now numbers upwards of thirty-five hundred volumes, and is pronounced a valuable collestion. In connection with the library proper are a reading-room, rooms for the directors of the association, for assemblies and for a museum.

The agricultural interests of the town have always been active. Large amounts of butter and cheese have been made in previous years. There are two cheese-factories or establishments for the manufacture of cheese, their aggregate capacity being upwards of two thousand pounds per day. These are temporarily closed, the farmers considering it more to their pecuniary advantage to send their milk to the Boston market, it being transported thither by both of our railroad corporations.

An agricultural society, with the name of" Worcester West,'' was chartered and established in 1851. It holds its annual fair the last Thursday of September, and is one of the best, if not the best, in the State. It has extensive and well-arranged grounds, on which is a half-mile track for exhibiting and speeding horses, and a large building for display and for dining purposes. The society is free from debt and offers annually for premiums upwards of fifteen hundred dollars.

The town has a national bank, with a capital stock of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and a savings liank, each of which is in a prosperous condition. The telegraph and telephone furnish instantaneous communication with the great centres of business and commerce. Our postal accommodations are good, three through and two local mails arriving and departing daily.

There are two hotels at the centre of the town and another, to be more extensive, in process of construction, which is under contract to be open for business early in 1889. At Barre Plains is another hotel. The town is noted for its temperance and good order; no intoxicating liquors, except for medicine, are allowed to be sold.

In 1885 the population of the town was not so large as in 1880, on account of the temporary suspension of manufacturing in the southern portion. Since

On a sightly eminence, about two miles southerly of the centre, is the Almshouse, with which is connected a large farm for the .support of the town's Door. This house was built in 1873, in place of one destroyed by fire the same year. Its size and style of architecture attracts much attention, and the stranger to the town would receive no intimation from its appearance as to the purposes for which it is used, but would rather consider it the residence of some prosperous farmer. The number of pauper inmates is very few, the general thrift and temperance sentiment of the people acting as a preventive of pauperism. The farm for the support of the poor was purchased in 1844, but has since been enlarged by obtaining an adjoining farm. Previous to 1844 the poor had been cared for in families, bids for their support being received by the town, and the lowest offer for their maintenance was accepted, the party taking them being expected to furnish their board and lodging, clothing, necessary medical attendance and nursing.

In addition to several literary societies or gatherings, the town contains a lodge of Free Masons, of the Grand Army of the Republic, of Good Templars and a Grange, P. of H.

From the elevated location of the town and its beautiful scenery and surroundings, its health is greatly enhanced. Piobably no town in the Commonwealth has so large a percentage of old people as Barre; men and women from eighty to ninety years of age are not uncommon, and there live here to-day, hale, active and well-preserved, two persons in the ninety-sixth year of their age. In 1867 James Piper died at the age of nearly one hundred and five years; in 1872 the death of Mary A. Boney is recorded at the age of one hundred and three, and in 1888 Timothy Bacon died in the one hundred and second year of his age. If J we turn to the record of deaths for the past one hun- f dred years, we find the same remarkable longevity as now. The most notable instance of this is in the families of two brothers, who came here about 1750, Nehemiah and Jonathan Allen. Jonathan lived on the same farm and with the same wife for over sixty years; Jonathan sat out the first orchard in the town, having brought from Sudbury forty apple trees and a young wife on the back of his horse; he died at the age of ninely-two, his wife at eighty-seven; they had six children, whose average age at death was eighty years. This farm has never passed out of the Allen family, it now being in the possession of George E. Allen, the great-grandson of Jonathan; on this farm it is said that the fourth framed house in town was erected, but this is not now standing. Nehemiah Allen had ten children, the oldest of whom died at the age of ninetysix, the youngest at seventy-eight; their average age at death was eighty-seven. In view of the remarkable longevity of our people, now and in former years, the compiler of this history can desire no better verification of the healthfulness of our surroundings than these advanced ages will testify to. But younger and more vigorous energies are not wanting, and as in the years past we have built up a thriving, healthy and attractive town, so in the time to come will we add to what has been done and enlarge and render still more beautiful that which has been bequeathed to us.

Biographical Luke Adajis

Luke Adams, who was one of Barre's most substantial farmers, was born in New Braintree, January 20, 1801 ; hp was the son of Jonathan Adams, formerly of Northboro', and Dorothy, daughter of Dr. Edward Flint, of Shrewsbury. His parents came to the adjoining town of Barre in 1808, and located upon the farm in the southern portion, which is now the residence of his son, Austin F. Adams. Mr. Adams' father dying when he was but about twelve years of age, the farm passed into the management of strangers' hands, by whom it was carried on for several years. Mr. Adams lived with his mother and sister during this time, attending the common school, and obtaining such an education as the instruction of those days could furnish. At the age of eighteen that spirit which marked his after-life began to assert itself; purchasing stock and farming implements, he began farming for himself on the old farm, although owning but a half-interest in the place. At this time the buildings were out of repair and the land badly run down ; with this discouraging outlook he began his life-work in earnest, and met with signal success. He soon erected new buildings, and so improved the farm that its capacity and value were much increased. He took a great interest in all practical farm machinery, and was among the first to make use of the tedder, spreader-cart, horse-rake, etc. ; it was upon his farm that the inventor of the first successful tedder experimented with his invention, and by him the inventor was financially aided in obtaining his patent. Mr. Adams was conservative in his operations, firm and decided in his opinions, and of sound and practical judgment. He was a valued member of the Boards of Selectmen , Overseers of the Poor and Assessors, and a trustee for many years of the Barre Savings Bank ; he filled many places of trust and responsibility, but never neglected his farm, which to-day ranks high. The utmost confidence was placed in his tound judgment and strict integrity. He died October 25, 1884, leaving a widow, a son and daughter.

Peter M. Harwood

Peter Mirick Harwood was born in' Barre June 10, 1853. His ancestry in direct Harwood line is Peter (1804), Peter (1763), Daniel (173fi), David (1708), David (16G8) and John (1630), who is supposed to have been a son of Henry, who came from England in fleet with Winthrop. His mother, whose maidenname was Eunice Jones Mirick, was a descendant of Abrani and Eunice (Jones) Garfield, who were also ancestors of the late President Garfield.

Mr. Harwood's early days were spent on the farm where he now lives. He attended the district school, the Barre High School and the Massachusetts Agricultural College at Amherst, from which he was graduated in 1875. While in college he had the honor of winning the first Farnsworth Rhetorical gold medal. At the death of his father (1876) he assumed the management of the homestead, and began business life as a farmer and breeder of fine stock. In 1877 he was elected a member of the Board of Selectmen, being the youngest man ever on the board. In 1879 he was made a member of the School Board ; again elected in 1884, he has held that office ever since, being its chairman three years. He was lecturer of Barre Grange, P. of H., in 1877, '80, '81 and '82, and master in 1883, '84 and '85, during which period the organization reached the largest membership in its history ; he was lecturer of the Massachusetts State Grange in 1886 and '87 ; he was secretary of the Massachusetts Agricultural College Alumni Association for several years, and its president in 1886-87, and presided at the great banquet on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the college. He was for several years a director, and in 1887 and '88 president of the Barre Central Cheese Company, .and president of Worcester County West Agricultural Society in 1887 '88 and '89. He married Mary Ann Wallace December 13, 1884, from which union two children have been born, - Eunice Frances (July 18, 1886) and Mary Louisa (February 29, 1888). Mr. Harwood has been engaged for several years in the breeding of Holstein-Friesian cattle, and has developed one of the finest herds in the State. He enjoys a wide and honorable reputation, both as a public officer and as a business man.

Charles Robinson

Charles Robinson is a native of the town of Barre, where be was born July 29, 1834. His early days were spent on the farm ; at the age of seventeen years he obtained a position in a general country store in his native town as a clerk, attending school in the mean time. Leaving Barre in 1856, he started his business life in the dry-goods and grocery business in Wilmington, of this State, where he remained for about two years. Not finding the business congenial to his taste, he returned to Barre, and began the manufacture and sale of boots and shoes, in which he continued until 1862, when he enlisted in th.e Fifty-fourth

Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, from which he was soon transferred to tlie Forty-second Regiment. From this regiment he was detailed into the Engineer Corps, where he did efficient service as pontonier at Donaldsonville, Port Hudson and other places. At the expiration of his term of service he returned to Barre and re-engaged in the boot and shoe business. In 1871 he resumed farming, making market-gardening his specialty, and followed this for about ten yeara. In 1875 his attention was drawn to the superiority of the Holstein Friesian breed of cattle, and, after thoroughly investigating their merits, in 1880 engaged in breeding and raising this fine class of stock, since which time he has devoted his whole attention to it. His sales of these cattle, which are numerous, have been mostly in the New England States, although some of his stock has been sold to go as far south as North Carolina. His farm consists of about seventy acres, and is in a high state of cultivation and, with the aid of a silo, of which he is an enthusiastic advocate, will keep through the year fifty head of cattle. His crops are mostly corn and hay, which, with purchases of hay and grain, is fed out to a herd of one hundred and four Holstein Friesians, all of which are registered stock. A son of Mr. Robinson is associated with him in the business of breeding and managing this fine collection; besides these, four men are employed on the farm throughout the year.