Wellesley Town

Wellesley Town

(Read at the Wellesley Club, April, 1906.) Twenty-five years in the lifetime of a State or Municipality is a very short time and yet great changes take place in a community in even that short space. When Wellesley was incorporated in April, 1881, it had a population of very nearly 2,600. By the census of 1905, it had 4,600, showing a larger percentage of increase than any other town of the State, excepting two: Easthampton and Norwood. The increase in its population was exceeded by only five towns in the State of less than 12,000 inhabitants.

The number of pupils in the schools of the town shown by the first report was 331. By the report of 1906 (December), 920. Pupils in High School, 1881, 34; 1906, 129. Cost of Schools: First appropriation, $7,943.64; in 1906, $38,790.69. Number of teachers in the schools: 1881, 12; 1906, 43. Since 1881 the Hunnewell school-house has been replaced by a new building. One High School has been built and found inadequate and another is near completion. The Fiske School has been built, enlarged and fully occupied and the North School enlarged. It has been decided that a Union Grammar School shall be established as soon as the new High School building shall be occupied.

The college has more than doubled in the twenty-five years that have elapsed and of the many buildings only College Hall was in existence twenty-five years ago.

Dana Hall School, established in the fall of 1881 - on the discontinuance of the preparatory department of the College, the Academy of the Assumption, Rock Ridge Hall and Mr. Benner's School for Boys all recent establishments, give the town the right to be called an educational center.

There has been a very steady growth of the town in buildings of a more or less public character, as witness the various dormitories and other buildings in the College grounds and vicinity, the Town Hall - the generous gift of Mr. Hunnewell - school buildings erected, the different business blocks at Wellesley and the Hills, also St. Andrew's church in Wellesley, and the Unitarian and Congregational church buildings in the Hills. Different residential sections have developed very attractively, as along Dover and Grove Streets in Wellesley, and Abbott Road, Belvedere, and Cliff Road, Wellesley Hills, and clusters of humbler homes on no less attractive sites, as on River Ridge, Newton Lower Falls and Garfield Farm, near the Boston and Worcester car station.

Very soon after the incorporation of the town steps were taken for the introducing of water, and the works were in operation in 1885, the cost of which up to date is about $341,000.

The character of the population, while not changed, has nevertheless shown large growth in the wealth of the citizens, while the number of college-bred men and women has increased by a much larger percentage than the population.

I have often thought I should like to show my father around the town, if he could return, and see his wonderment at the changes. In the house he would have running water, the electric light, the telephone to talk with friends next door or a hundred miles away. He steps out on the street and may take a car to Boston or Worcester,

History Of Town Of Wellesley

Needham or Dedham, with his choice of routes. He sees a nondescript carriage without visible propelling force, and is as eager as his children to get out of the way. He goes about the street and sees old pastures covered with fine lawns and buildings - a Town Hall, elegant of construction, a Library well-stored with boolit, school-houses and play-grounds and parks galore. He gets his check cashed on the bank if his credit is good. If he stays long enough to get a Jetter from the other side, it is brought to him, whether he is next door or at the extreme end of the town. Perhaps he would conclude not to go back.

Parks have sprung into existence, the one by Fuller's Brook for sanitary reasons, the Play-Ground, the gift of the Hunnewells, the extension of the Metropolitan Park system through the town, and the various smaller parks dotting the town here and there.

In 1899-1900, by order of the County Commissioners, Washington Street was widened in many places and by vote of the town was macadamized and drained along its whole length. Worcester Street also was later widened and rebuilt. The building of good roads by the Abbot Real Estate Company and by Mr. Clapp and others have been of great benefit to the town in developing land without public cost.

The town has shared with the rest of the world in improvements in transportation of goods and persons and facility of communication. In 1881 the only public conveyances to Boston, the workshop of most of our men, was over the Boston and Albany Railroad, but in 1896 the Natick and Cochituate began running, and in 1903, the Boston and Worcester, giving the inhabitants of Wellesley innumerable daily opportunities of reaching the city.

Of very important influence in social affairs have been the several clubs which have been organized within the time mentioned: notably, the Wellesley Hills Woman's Club, organized in 1894 with Mrs. Abby S. Fiske for first president, and now having about 260 members. The Wellesley Club was organized in 1889, with Col. Albert Clarke for first president and now has 100 members and a large waiting list. This club has many of the features of the Board of Trade in other municipalities, and has done much in ways of investigating propositions for improvements in town affairs, notably in railway fares, parks and the like. The Maugus Club organized in 1892 has a commodious Club House and 100 members.

Account Of The Division Of The Town

The Town of Needham was incorporated in 1711, and later was divided into the East and West Parishes. These never harmonized, and several attempts were made by the West Parish for separate incorporation, before the final successful one, notably in 1820. Also in 1852 and 1859, efforts were made for division.

Division Of Town

I remember my father told me that one of the attempts made in the 50's failed because old gray-headed Laurence Kingsbury appeared before the Committee of the Legislature, and excused his appearance as the people of the East Side were too poor to employ Council. I suppose the underlying motive was selfish on the part of the West, while the bonds of union were very slender. Of course, there was, at those times, more or less expression of discontent, especially when some measure, popular in the East, was thought unwise in the West, or some want expressed by the West was voted down by the East. And there was only required an initiative to enlist the interest and work of all the citizens of the West Side.

One day, in the first part of August, 1880 I met Mr. Joseph H. Dewing on the street, and he said, "When are you going to start the division movement?" And I said, "Let's call a meeting of a dozen people at my house next week and see if we get any encouragement to try it." The meeting was called, and the people invited responded. I cannot recall all the names, but there were present Messrs. F. H. Dewing, G. K. Daniell, Solomon Flagg, Albert Jennings, C. B. Dana, John Curtis, F. H. Stevens, E. O. Bullock, A. R. Clapp, I think, and a half a dozen others. There was no especial formality, but it was decided to call a general meeting. A call was issued, and very generally responded to on August 26, 1880.

On Thursday evening, August 26, 1880, Meeting in Shaw Hall, Grantville, of Citizens in favor of the division of the Town. Over 200 present estimated. Meeting called to order by Joseph E. Fiske, and organized by choosing George K. Daniell as Chairman, and F. H. Stevens, Secretary.

After remarks on the object of the meeting by John W. Shaw and others, on motion of J. E. Fiske, it was unanimously voted that "it is the sense of this meeting that measures should be taken looking toward the division of the Town, and that the matter be followed up until accomplished." On motion of John W. Shaw, a committee of five was appointed by the Chair, to nominate a committee of ten from the West part of the Town, to fix upon a line for the division, and also to invite the other part of the Town to appoint a committee of conference, and if possible, get a proposition from them which would be mutually satisfactory.

Mr. Fiske moved to appoint a committee of five to nominate a committee of twenty-five to take charge of the whole matter relating to the division of the Town, and it was debated while the nominating committee were out, and the motion of Mr. Pratt to lay on the table was defeated, and the nominating committee reported the names of the following gentlemen as a committee of ten: John W. Shaw, L. Allen Kingsbury, George Spring, Lewis Wight, Abel F. Stevens, Frank H. Stevens, John Curtis, Frank L. Fuller, C. B. Dana,

Freeman Phillips, and they were chosen by the committee. Mr. Spring declined to serve, and George White was chosen in his place, and F. H. Stevens also declined, and Augustus Fuller substituted.

The same nominating committee were authorized to nominate a committee of twenty-five under Mr. Fiske's motion, and A. R. Clapp was added to the committee, and on motion of Mr. Whipple, the committee were directed to report to an adjourned meeting.

On Thursday evening, September 2nd, at 7.30 o'clock, meeting called to order by the Chair, and the records of the last meeting read by the Secretary. The report of the Committee of Conference was submitted to the Chairman, John W. Shaw, and accepted. The nominating committee reported through J. E. Fiske, the list of names to serve as a committee of twenty-five. The report was accepted, and adopted by the meeting. Mr. Fiske moved that the committee have the power to fill vacancies, and Mr. Sanborn moved to have power to add any names they may think proper, and the motion as amended, was passed.

First, we called upon several of the leading men of that part. Among them was Emery Grover, Esq., who very kindly consented to make known our desire to some of his neighbors, and subsequently he proposed to meet us at Odd Fellows Hall last Tuesday evening. On going there, seven of our committee being present, we met quite a large number of gentlemen from that side, all of whom proved more or less opposed to the division of the Town on any terms. After discussing the matter at some length, all seemingly in a friendly way, their chairman intimated that further negotiation would, in his judgment result in a waste of time, as they on that side, were decidedly opposed to division. All of which is respectfully submitted.

There was no general meeting afterwards, all the business having been given into the hands of the committee of twenty-five, and this was practically transferred to the Legislative Committee of five, consisting of Messrs. Fiske, Putney, A. H. Buck, to which was added Benjamin H. Sanborn and John W. Shaw. A committee on finance was appointed, and a treasurer.

The Legislative Committee authorized Mr. Fiske to make a statement of the case, to be submitted to the members of the Legislature, which is hereby given as for the most part a comprehensive statement: -

"A petition will be presented to the Legislature of 1881, asking that a part of the Town of Needham be set off and incorporated as a new town by the name Wellesley.

The town of Needham is situated in Norfolk County, was incorporated in 1711, and comprises about 15,000 acres of land, of which 13,000 are taxed. The present population is 5,261, and the valuation as reported by the assessors is $4,366,267. The town, under the old system, was divided into two parishes, the East and West, and the petitioners request that the West Parish shall have a separate town government.

The distinction between the two parishes has been recognized and taxes separately assessed until within a few years, and there has never been a harmonious union between the two parts of the town; but of late years especially the association has grown to be less and less tolerable.

We wish to call attention to some facts showing why a division is eminently wise and desirable. The inhabitants on the west side are unanimous in asking for incorporation. They have asked for it in the past, applying as long ago as 1820 to the Legislature, and have renewed their efforts from time to time for independence, and now without doubt will press until it is acquired. If the town should be divided upon the line referred to, the territory taken would comprise about three-sevenths of the area-, and the population would be about equally divided. Along the division line, lying upon either side is a belt of territory about a mile and a quarter in width, with very few dwellings upon it, which separates the two parts as clearly as a mountain range or broad river. Within, or bordering upon this belt, are situated three large cemeteries, for a long distance the Sudbury-river conduit, and large expanse of swamp and forest. Within, too, is located the "Poor-House" and "Town-Hall," all in one, where the paupers dwell and the voters transact the public business.

West of this uninhabited tract lie the villages of Lower Falls, Grantville, and Wellesley; easterly, Upper Falls, Highlandville, Needham and Charles River Village.

Through the first-named villages runs the Boston and Albany Railroad, with five stations within the limits of the town; through the latter the Woonsocket Division of the New York and New England Railroad, with four stations.

There are the usual societies for protection, cultivation, and amusement; but each side has distinct organizations. There are Public Libraries; but each village supports its own. It will be apparent at a glance that there is no natural or artificial connection between the two parts of the town.

It is not feasible to unite the two High schools as half the scholars would be obliged to ride six to eight miles a day in carriages, at the best, in such case.

No one crosses the line for his mail, or groceries, or his literature, or his amusement, and the only place of meeting is in the woods, in the Poor-House, a mile or more from the nearest village, where men succeed in misunderstanding each other, and, through the ignorance of the needs of each section, wasting the money of the town.

The condition of Needham, if Wellesley should be incorporated, need not call for sympathy. The population of Needham, after division, will be about 2,600 (2,538) ; its valuation, about $2,000,000 CI, 750,000 close estimate).

By examination of the last State census returns, it appears that the town, after losing Wellesley, will have a larger population than two hundred and eighteen (218) towns out of 326 in the Commonwealth and a larger valuation than two hundred and twenty-three (223) towns. No hardship can be experienced on account of schools, as not a single scholar will be affected by the change, nor will any church, society, or social interest receive the slightest shock.

A possible objection may be urged on account of bridges; but a slight deflection in the line, affecting no dwelling, would include in Wellesley an additional wooden bridge; so that in Wellesley there would be three wooden bridges and one stone, and in Needham five substantial stone bridges, one iron, and two wooden.

There would perhaps be an excess of streets and roads in Needham, as there have been a large number of new and expensive roads lately built in that part of the town.

The result attained by granting the petition will be to create two towns in place of one. The one now without cohesion, full of misunderstanding and hard feeling, unmanageable in government, and extravagant in expenditure, will be replaced by two towns, compact, filled with people who come into contact with each other every day, and who will unite with each other in friendly effort to forward the interests of their communities.

The citizens of Wellesley are anxious to secure a town government, and believe, if they do so, they will in no way injure their neighbors of the other side of the town. They believe, if the town

The town of Wellesley will be about four miles long by two and three quarters broad, will contain about 2,600 inhabitants, will have a valuation of about $2,500,000, four school-houses, eleven schools, two post-offices, five railroad stations, and withal be a complete town in all respects with a homogeneous population and general agreement of interest.

The names of the committee of twenty-five are as follows: - George K. Daniell, Solomon Flagg, F. H. Stevens, Edwin O. Bullock, Benjamin H. Sanborn, Albion R. Clapp, Lewis Wight, Joseph E. Fiske, John W. Shaw, John Curtis, Albert Jennings, George White, Charles B. Dana, E. Howard Stanwood, Gamaliel Bradford, George Spring, F. J. Lake, A. H. Buck, Joseph H. Dewing, H. B. Scudder, L. Allen Kingsbury, Thomas Whipple, Daniel Warren, Edmund M. Wood, Abel F. Stevens, L. K. Putney.

The committee on petitions worked effectively, and as a result of their efforts, all citizens signed with the exception as was stated, of seventeen, of whom ten were neutral, and only seven opposed division. Judge Josiah G. Abbott headed the formal petition, and was of great service from first to last with his advice and co-operation. The petition reads as follows: -

"We, the undersigned, voters and tax-payers of the town of Needham, respectfully request your honorable bodies to pass an act dividing said town of Needham, by setting off the west part thereof from the east, near the line of division which formerly separated the West Parish from the East, with such deviation from said line as will nearly equally divide the territory, as shall appear to your honorable bodies wise and expedient; and that you will incorporate the west part into a new town under the name of Wellesley for the following, among many, reasons: -

That there is no connection or intercourse between the east and west parts of said town, whether of business, or schools, or religious worship. That the west part of said town consists of the villages of Wellesley, Grantville and the Lower Falls, and all lie along the Boston and Albany Railroad. That the east part of said town consists of Needham, Highlandville, Charles River Village, and Upper Falls, and all lie along the Woonsocket Division of the New York and New England Railroad. That the children of the town attend exclusively the schools in their respective sections, there being a High School in the east part, and another in the west.

That the town hall is removed from centres of all the villages in the town, and the performance of civic and public duties is rendered difficult, expensive and onerous to the great majority of voters in the town, and that there is no remedy for these evils so long as the town remains undivided."

In October, the Republican caucus for the selection of delegates to the convention for the nomination of representative to the general court was held, and while of no direct bearing upon the result, was of great value in exciting interest and developing antagonism between the two parts of the town; this being the only meeting in which both sides were brought together in public. Ostensibly this was a political party caucus; but actually, all voters of the town, on both sides of the town, Democratic and Republican, were present, together with what reinforcements the west could get from South Natick and Lower Falls, and the east from Upper Falls and Dover.

No local scrap, unless the McLellan riot in Maugus Hall, was livelier than this. I asked Mr. Hugh McLeod to get some fellows of his athletic build together and occupy the front seats in case the vote was not going right, or the other side became too violent, and he had his men in place all right.

The committee arranged to have Mr. Bradford as presiding officer, and E. A. Wood as Secretary, while I was to be floor manager. The delegation numbered seventeen, and all we asked for was eight; less than one-half. This the other side refused, but we were finally victorious; although as we feared, the other towns of the district nominated Mr. Grover a resident of Needham, and opposed to division. Mr. Henry Durant was present, and an excited participant in the meeting. There were many incidents of interest, among which was the announcement by Mr. Everett Eaton that when a vote was about to be taken, the hall way and stairs were filled with people who could not get in; when burly Tom Purcell pushed to the rear, and announced, "Mr. Chairman, there is not a damn man in the stair way !"

Reverend Mr. Cowan of Wellesley, formerly of Tennessee, when asked "Does this remind you of home?' said, "Really, my hand has been going involuntarily to my hip pocket repeatedly."

The Committee of twenty-five appointed a Legislative Committee as heretofore given. Hearings began soon after the election in this way. The pamphlet prepared by me was submitted to the Committee of twenty-five, and 1,500 copies printed. These were dis- tributed to the citizens of the town to be used as a guide in the interviews with members of the Legislature. The members of the Legislature were assigned to the citizens who were acquainted with them, and the citizen was instructed to explain and vouch for the statements in the pamphlet, which was unsigned, but not anonymous, every person presenting a voucher for it. Then the list of members not familiar to any citizen was taken, and each one consigned to some one who knew some acquaintance who might be influential with the member, and thus almost every member was directly reached before the meeting of the general court, and we knew our case was won, unless the unexpected should happen.

The next matter was to employ council, and Mr. Samuel A. B. Abbott was engaged, and by the advice of Judge Abbott, endorsed by the committee, Patrick Collins, since a member of Congress and Mayor of Boston, was secured. He was not only a good legislative lawyer, but a leading democratic politician ; and what seemed to make him still more acceptable, he was a resident of South Boston, the district represented by Speaker Noyes; - really a democratic district.

As chairman of the legislative committee I was supposed to know all that was going on in the matter of committees on towns, and was informed of all applicants for a position on the committee by our council. They were then looked up, and if thought necessarj', objected to. All I know about it is that no one who was objected to went on the list; nor did I know who were going on, and when the committee was finally appointed, the names were largely unfamiliar to me. The Committee of the Legislature consisted of Cook of Hampshire, Snow of the Cape District, Corbin of Worcester, on the part of the Senate; Morse of Newton, Jones of Chelsea, Willicut of Boston, Stowe of Hudson, Thompson of Medway, Moriarty of Worcester, Almy of Salem, Cowley of Lowell, on the part of the House. I was taken ill and was not present at any of the hearings. Mr. Putney was in charge for the Legislative Committee, and attended very abljr to the business, as all interested testify. He came to see me, and seemed to be very timid about his ability to look after matters, and I told him he would do better than I could, and I think he proved my assertion true.

There were several hearings, and many witnesses were called on both sides. On the part of the west, Mr. Daniell, Flagg, Clapp, Shaw and others. On the part of the east, Mr. Tucker, Grover, Mackintosh, Whittaker and others. Mr. Whittaker insisted that if the town was divided there were no men on the east side competent to run the town, which of course was an absured statement, and was repudiated by both councils.

A report was finally made by the committee to the House, signed bjr G. W. Morse, but dissented from by Senator Cook and Bepresentative Jones. The bill, except the sixth section, which was

The finance committ received subscriptions from the citizens, the list being headed by H. H. Hunnewell for $900, Mr. Abbott and Mr. Durant with $250 each, and several others with $200. As I understand it, but 80 per cent, of the subscriptions were called for, and 6 per cent, returned to the subscribers, the total subscriptions amounting to something over $4,000, and the expenditures about $3,300; a fairly good showing, as the council fees were more than one-half the bill. Edwin O. Bullock was treasurer, succeeded by John Curtis, who closed the account.