Wilbraham Town (part 8 of 8)

is still standing. Now owned by heirs of William H. Lyman. Former owners: Wm. H. Lyman, Joel M. Lyman, (perhaps Joel Lyman). David Jones lived in this vicinity in 1755.

18. On north side of street. Now owned by Alex Boubard. Former owners: Benj. B. Brewer, Anson C. Brewer. The bridge over the brook was called "Kilboms Bridge" in 1755.

19. A little west of brook, formerly called "Worlds End Brook," now owned by Leon L. Jewell. The house was built by J. R. Peasiey about 1894.

On September 11, 1908, the Springfield Automobile Club held a hill climb on this road. A distance of one mile was marked off, beginning about twenty-five rods east of Main Street and ending forty or sixty rods west of the Ridge Road. About eight hundred automobiles were lined up along the course and between five and six thousand persons attended and witnessed the different events. The mile was made by an automobile in one minute, eight seconds, and by an Indian motorcycle in one noinute and three-fifths of a second.

1. On north side of road. The first building is an old blacksmith shop. Now owned by Miss Jane E. Hancock. Formerly owned and carried on by her father, Moses Hancock. It is not in use now.

3. On south side of road, just beyond where the old "Meetinghouse Lane" crosses the road. Now owned by Edward Evans. Former owners : Robert Conboy, Mrs. Josephine (Bliss) Johnson, E. C. Colton, who built the house about 1868.

5. About half way to the top of the mountain. Now owned by Charles C. Beebe. Inherited from his father M. F. Beebe. Purchased by former owners as follows : Marcus F. Beebe, 1863, Brainard T. Brewer, 1845, who built the present house in 1850, Luther Brewer 1830, Thomas Merrick 1803, Gideon Burt 1802, Stephen Utley, Jr., 4801, Gideon Burt, 1770, Nathaniel Hitchcock, 1760, who built a house there in 1766.. This is one of the "Peach farms."

6. On south side of road. House now owned by Mrs. Elvira (Day) Blanchard. Former owners: L. Munsell, Dennis Knowlton. E. Tupper helped build house.

7. At the place where a road leads off southwesterly towards Hampden. House now owned by John Francovitz, Jr. Former owners: Town of Wilbraham, Betsey Webster, Mrs. Lydia (Webster) Nelson, Miles Webster, Elijah Webster, who came from Hebron, Conn., and purchased the place in 1794. The present house was built about 1817, to replace one that stood on the north side of the road. This place is on part of the overplus land, and was sold in 1773, by the town of Wilbraham to Noah and Solomon Warriner. Much of the land, first purchased by Elijah Webster, has been sold by different owners.

Since the above was written the house has burned. On the north side of the road W. H. Foster has recently set out the largest peach orchard in Glendale.

8. On north side of road just before it crosses East Street is the cemetery which was established previous to 1800. In 1805 the North Parish chose "Duty Partridge, Ebenezer Cadwell, I. Stebbins a Committee to fence the Burying Yard over the mountain."

Home Of Luthee L. Farr

9. On north side of road. Now owned by George E. Calkins. Former owners: C. C. Day, Edson heirs. Mr. Calkins has carried on the blacksmith and wagon making business here and nearby, since about 1880.

F. Munsell, Merrick Knowlton, Julius Nash, Eliphalet Hancock, Moses Hancock, Zury Calkins, James Calkins. The house was built about 1800. Judge Marcus P. Knowlton of Springfield, son of Merrick and Fatima (Perrin) Knowlton, is said to have been bom in this house. About 1850 or 1860, a man was found frozen to death near this place.

Birthplace Of Dr. Marshall Calkins And Dr. David Calkins

Dr. Marshall CaMns, son of Luke and Polly (Hancock) Calkins, was bom here September 2, 1828. He has been engaged in the practice of medicine in Springfield since 1867, and been very successful. David Calkins, M.D., was also bom here.

a teacher and preacher, and built the house in 1832, for a store and tavern, and it may have been used as such for a short time. Miss Beebe has made the place noted for her large and fine collection of antiques and china. Because of the large maple trees which beautify the highway, she has called the place Maplehurst. (See History.)

1. On west side of road. House now owned by Charles M. Calkins. Former owners: A. Calkins, Ltike Calkins. The house is now unoccupied and badly in need of repairs.

2. On east side. Now owned by Randolph Beebe. Former owners: Mrs. Sarah Gilligan, Ithimar Bliss, Nathan Mack, Daniel Chappel. Probably Nathan Mack settled here about 1785 to 1790. The first mention of the name in the Vital Records is, "Nathan, son of Nathan and Mary Mack bom Aug. 13, 1791."

One day, Mary, the wife of Nathan Mack, looking out of the door, saw her little daughter sitting on the grass, playing with something in her lap. She stole quietly up behind and barely stifled a scream as she saw a large rattlesnake curled up in the girl's lap. She ran to the cabin, caught up a small tub and hiurrying back dropped it down over the snake, which had started to crawl off the girl's lap, and drew the child away. The mother nearly fainted as she carried her into the cabin. The father coming home from his work, saw the tub in the yard and picked it up when out sprang the rattler, which he quickly killed with his hoe. The rattles were cut oflE and treasured by the little girl as she grew to womanhood, and many years later she gave them to her daughter, and they were kept in the family until worn out. The great-great-granddaughter of the little girl, now lives on the same spot where the log cabin stood, and often relates this story. This is the last house in Wilbraham on this road.

Home Of Randolph Beebe

1. On west side of road. Cellar hole which marks the site of the Reynolds place. Now owned by George E. Calkins. Former owners: F. E. Lemon, G. M. Edson, C. E. Edson, Stephen Reynolds, who carried on the blacksmith business here for many years, and the land is now in possession of his greatgreat-grandson.

About one mile south of the Soldiers' Monument on the west side of Main Street, is a road leading off to the west, called the Tinkham road. Probably named after the surveyor who laid it out.

1. About fifty or seventy rods west of Main Street, on the north side of the road is the Adams cemetery. Probably so called, because of the Adams family, who have lived at the junction of this road with Main Street for more than one hundred years. The first occupant of this cemetery was Elizabeth Cockrill "Wo Dyed April y= 26 1741 EAG 39." The. stone at her grave is near the southeast comer of the original yard, and was erected by her brother-in-law, Samuel Warner at whose house she died. Just beyond the cemetery, on the south side of the road is a cellar which marks the site of a house which was burned about 1870. A little ftirther west, is the site of another house which belonged to Danforth Knowlton, who went up into the Adirondacks as a giiide about 1868 and died there in 1898. He inherited it from his father Manassah Knowlton, who lived there about 1850-'60. Former owner, Abel Green.

4. A little further west, on north side of road. Now owned by Mrs. Joseph Meyrick. Former owners: Albert Hammer, Albert Allen, who built on land purchased of Loren Phelps about 1870.

5. On south side of road. Now owned by Massachusetts Commission on Fisheries and Game and occupied by Mr. Mosher, Superintendent of the Game Farm. Former owners: , , Loren Phelps, who lived here for many years.

6. A little beyond the superintendent's place, Tinkham Road crosses West Street, and passes the house of Mrs. O'Learey at what was formerly called "The Wesson Four Comers." Theodore Gebo carried on the blacksmith business, in a shop just south of this house for several years, previous to 1906.

On the north side of the road, is the site of a house owned by Horace Clark previous to 1842. There are now no other houses on this road in this town.

4. On south side. Home of Clarence P. Bolles. House built to replace one burned about 1900. The first minister's house stood some ten or twelve rods northwesterly of this place, and the first meetinghouse was placed some twenty or twenty-five rods southerly of this house. Former owners: D. Brainard Merrick, Pliny Merrick, Jr., Pliny Merrick, Rev. Noah Merrick about 1743. The road formerly continued on easterly to the Ridge Road at the top of the mountain, but was discontinued about 1850 or 1860.

1. About half a mile west of Main Street. Place now owned by Mrs. Juliette (Bliss) Soule. Former owners: Albert Bliss, Milton Stebbins, Luther Stebbins. About 1850 Milton Stebbins built a saw mill here, which was used by himself and Anson Soule until about 1905, when a portion of the machinery was removed to equip a portable saw mill. These are the only buildiilgs now on this road west of Main Street. A few rods north of the place where this road leaves Main Street, the road runs eastward up the mountain. About one-third of a mile east of Main Street.

1. On north side of road. Now owned by John J. Lyons. Former owners: John Work, Edward Bliss, David Bliss (?), Philip Lyons in 1768. Just east of the Lyons house, the road formerly ran northeasterly from this place up to the meetinghouse on Wigwam Hill. This road was "new laid" in 1768, and altered in 1769. Running northerly "Past Nath. Bliss's Shop - ^then north by Philip Lyons House, - ^then about 90 rods to a staddle north of a brook - ^near 20 rods to a tree at northwest comer of Philip Lyons fence - ^then northeasterly to a tree on a hill near three rods south of a Bridge - ^thence to the Meeting House near 100 rods." At the Lyons house the road now turns and runs southerly for about one-third of a mile.

2. On east side of road. Now owned by heirs of James Powers. Former owners : James Brown, David Bliss, Thomas Bliss, Nathaniel Bliss, in 1741.

3. On west side of road. A cellar hole which marks the site of the Charles Foskit place. Now owned by Mrs. Jennie (Foskit) Rayen. A little south of this place is supposed to be the location of the home of Samuel Stebbins about 1735. Here the road turns again to the east and continues on to Hampden line.

We trust that these farms may become more and more productive, and that their "beauty spots" may grow larger and more beautiful as the seasons come and pass away. And that these homes may continue to be dwelling places for happiness and love, and that the cheerful voices of the children within them, may serve to drive dull care away as the years roll along.

This compass is now owned by Alonzo B. Newell of Hampden. It is said to be the one used by Lieut. Roger Newbury in his survey of the line between the Outward and Inward Commons, in 1729.

Index Of Historical Part

Baptists, in north village, 277, society of, organized, 277, minister settled, 278, meetinghouse erected, 278, in Monson and Wilbraham, 202, in South Parish, 208, petition of, 212.

Celebration, history of, 329, days of. III dinner, 340, newspaper accounts of, 329, loan erfiibit, 341, automobiles in parade, 332, business floats in, 337, historical floats in, 334.

Churches, First, history of, from 1794, 149, burned, 168, Methodist, 190, First Baptist, 276, Second Baptist, 202, at Glendale, 279, Grace Union, 281, Christian Union, 283, Second Methodist, 283, Church of Saint Cecilia, 284.

Merrick, Rev. Noah, a candidate, 40, called to settle, 42, conditions of settlement, 42, letter of acceptance, 43, ordination of, 44, house of, 50, marriage of, 51, his negro, 61, trouble about salary and land, 62 - 102, council, 103, death, 105, character of, 105, ancestry of , 105, his account book, 106, monument of, 159.

Meetinghouse, 47, materials for, 54, vote to build, history of location and erection, 65, first use of, 59, unfinished condition of, 62, worship in, 65, view from, 63, seating of, 67, removing of, to street, 149, bell on, 157, end of, three locations for, 58, when erected, 59.

Methodists, in South Parish, 190, history of in North Parish, 190, petition for society of, 193, reply to by parishes, 194, another petition for society, 197, incorporated,

"Mountains" or Outward Commons of Springfield, 8, division of, 13, names of proprietors, 13, Indian name of, 19, Indians in, 20, early settlers of, 24.

Nine Mile Pond, tragedy of, 170, odes on, 176, lease of by the town, 180, efforts to increase the fish supply, 180, fish caught in 1881, 181, bungalows erected, 181.

Revolutionary war, 116, appeal of Boston merchants, 117, vote of town upon, 117, committee of correspondence, 118, reply to Boston appeal, 118, Gage in Boston, 120, non-consumption report, 120, signers of pledge of, 121, "minute men," 122, Lexington alarm, 123, soldiers in, 138, died or killed in, 141, pensioners, 142.

Schools, appropriations for, 72, schoolhouse, 73, first money by town, 94, school lot, 98, districts, 98, 289, teachers, 98, books, 98, grammar schools, 288, boarding around, 287, money for, granted by Springfield before incorporation, 30, 72, improvement of, 291, private, 288. Drawing, 289, instruction in music, 289, flags of, 289, table of expenses, 290, graduating exercises, 291.

Wilbraham, Indian name of, , 19, description of, 19, Indians in, 20, early settlers of, 24, petition for incorporation sent to Springfield, 90, act of incorporation, 91, name of, 93, additions to territory of, 95, population of, 96, first town meeting, 96, refuse preaching in south part, 107.

Wilbraham, Turnpike, 319, Wilbraham Woolen Co., 424, Tories in, 122, attempt to make two towns of, 107, business of, 264, valuation of property in, 113, increase in valuation, 273, town clerks of, 296, representatives of, 295, division of, 297, paintings of, 325.