Rufus Porter (1792-1884) was an American painter, inventor and founder of Scientific American magazine. The extensive murals in the upstairs ballroom of the Damon Tavern have been attributed to him by Jean Lipman. Ms. Lipman’s 1968 book: Rufus Porter Yankee Pioneer, reprinted in 1980 as Rufus Porter Rediscovered, was part of a special exhibition of the Hudson River Museum on nineteenth-century art. The murals from the Damon Tavern appear on page 137 in Rufus Porter Rediscovered. Lipman states that Porter decorated the Tavern’s ballroom circa 1835-1840.
Circa 1958 the Town of North Reading purchased the Damon Tavern building from the Whitcomb Family for use as a public library using funds bequeathed by William W. Weeks. The murals were discovered a short time afterward behind room partitions and layers of wallpaper. By the 1980’s the building had fallen into condemnable disrepair. According to a 1983 article in MassBay Antiques, the murals were authenticated by Nina Fletcher Little of Boston. The Damon Tavern is listed on the Massachusetts Register of Historic Places. In October 1996 North Reading Town Meeting approved $627,000 for renovation of the Damon Tavern building. There was a $90,000 matching grant from the Massachusetts Preservation Project Fund.1
In 1819 Rufus Porter traveled extensively by coach and on foot, painting portraits throughout New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia. Around 1824, Porter’s interest shifted from portraits to landscapes and then to painting murals. He traveled throughout New England creating mural landscapes for houses and taverns. His wall paintings were less costly for home owners than expensive imported wallpaper of the time. He became a prolific muralist between 1825 and 1845, decorating some 160 houses and inns in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and as far south as Virginia.
Porter generally created murals in a large scale on dry plaster walls by a combination of freehand painting and stenciling. He incorporated simple silhouettes into scenes of entire towns or harbors. Some murals were in full color while others were painted in monochrome. He sometimes stamped foliage with a cork stopper instead of painting it with a brush. Often Porter would do portraits of the principal household members where he was doing the murals.
Many Rufus Porter murals have been destroyed throughout the years. The few that remain are most often found in private residences and local historical societies. However, you can actually stay in a suite decorated by Rufus Porter at the Hancock Inn in Hancock, NH. The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston houses Porter’s mural of Boston Harbor, painted circa 1824. The Rufus Porter Museum and Cultural Heritage Center in Bridgton, Maine possesses original murals and information.
Rufus Porter and I are descendants of John and Mary Porter who came from Dorset, England to Salem Massachusetts in the early seventeenth century. At the time of John Porter’s death in 1676, he was the largest landowner in Salem Village, his lands lying in what is now Salem, Danvers, Wenham, Beverly, Topsfield and Boxford. John Porter was Rufus’ 4th great grandfather and my 9th great grandfather.
The Rufus Porter murals in the ballroom of the Damon Tavern have been inaccessible to the public since the 1980’s. During the renovation, the rest of the Tavern had a water sprinkler system installed. However, this system was not installed in the ballroom over concern that any discharge of water would damage the murals. Solutions continue to be sought to once again make the murals available for public viewing.
References:
1. North Reading Transcript Vol. XLII No.11, July 17, 1997
Lipman, Jean. Rufus Porter, Rediscovered. Clarkson N. Potter Press 1980
Mayer, Kaye, MassBay Antiques Magazine. January 1983. Pg. 10
Flint Memorial Library, North Reading, MA http://www.flintmemoriallibrary.org/libraryhistory.html
Rufus Porter Museum and Cultural Heritage Center in Bridgton, Maine http://www.rufusportermuseum.org/
Hancock Inn in Hancock, NH.
http://www.hancockinn.com/rufus-porter-room.html
Townsend Historical Society, Townsend, MA.
http://www.townsendhistoricalsociety.org
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/boston-harbor-500074
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
National Publications Highlight The Church Book North Parish
I am pleased to announce that my article entitled Massachusetts Mystery, The Story of a Lost Church Book has been published in the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly December 2010 issue. (Volume XXV, Number 4, Pg 193)
This article gives background about North Parish and details The Church Book 1720-1806 – the original record for the North Parish, hand written by Reverend Daniel Putnam and Reverend Eliab Stone. The Church Book contains vital records for births and marriages for the inhabitants of North Parish during this time period. It also contains writings concerning regular church business as well as the Church Covenant and the list of founding members.
Previously, I painstakingly digitally photographed The Church Book into 133 high resolution images and placed on them on a CD – totaling 620MB - making each page easy to zoom and read details. It includes an index. The CD is available at Massachusetts Historic Genealogical Society on Newbury Street in Boston. The information about the CD has been published in their American Ancestors magazine (Spring 2010, Vol 11, no. 2, pg.58).
The CD of The Church Book is also available at the Congregational Library at the Congregational Christian Historical Society on Beacon Street in Boston, where the original document is carefully preserved on permanent loan.
I plan to provide a CD of The Church Book to the North Reading Flint Memorial Library very soon.
This article gives background about North Parish and details The Church Book 1720-1806 – the original record for the North Parish, hand written by Reverend Daniel Putnam and Reverend Eliab Stone. The Church Book contains vital records for births and marriages for the inhabitants of North Parish during this time period. It also contains writings concerning regular church business as well as the Church Covenant and the list of founding members.
Previously, I painstakingly digitally photographed The Church Book into 133 high resolution images and placed on them on a CD – totaling 620MB - making each page easy to zoom and read details. It includes an index. The CD is available at Massachusetts Historic Genealogical Society on Newbury Street in Boston. The information about the CD has been published in their American Ancestors magazine (Spring 2010, Vol 11, no. 2, pg.58).
The CD of The Church Book is also available at the Congregational Library at the Congregational Christian Historical Society on Beacon Street in Boston, where the original document is carefully preserved on permanent loan.
I plan to provide a CD of The Church Book to the North Reading Flint Memorial Library very soon.
Friday, November 26, 2010
George F. Root (1820-1895) Composer
George F. Root (1820-1895) was one of the most successful American composers of the 19th century. He was well known for his patriotic songs written during the Civil War. "Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! (the boys are marching!") and “Battle Cry of Freedom” are two of his best known tunes. The tune of “Tramp!” was also used as "Jesus Loves the Little Children". “The Battle Cry of Freedom.” can be heard throughout Ken Burns’ film: The Civil War. Listen to both by clicking the links:
Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! (or Jesus Loves the Little Children)
The Battle Cry of Freedom
Root was born in 1820 in Sheffield, Massachusetts and moved to North Reading when he was six years old. As a young teen he could play many instruments and dreamed of being a musician. At 18 he moved to Boston where he studied under George Webb, founder of the Boston Academy of Music and organist at Boston’s Old South Church for over 40 years. Mason was also very active in arranging music conventions and supporting normal institutes, through which he trained countless public school music teachers and perpetuated his philosophy of teaching and music.
In 1850 Root made a music study tour of Europe, staying in Vienna, Paris, and London. He returned to teach music in Boston, as an associate of Lowell Mason at Boston’s Academy of Music. In 1851, Root began composing. By the early 1850s musical conventions had become established features in all parts of the country. Mr. Root conducted several such enterprises, including convening one at the Smithsonian Institution at Washington.
Root helped organize the first Normal Musical Institute, held in New York in 1853, and quickly became a leader in raising the standards of music education. In late 1855or early 1856, Root and his family moved back to Willow Farm in North Reading, where he continued his writing and convention activities. In 1856 Root developed a more permanent organization known as the ‘Normal Musical Institute”. With the assistance of Dr. Mason and J.G. Webb the North Reading Institute was created and became known far and wide. It was held in the Third Meeting House on the Common through 1859. Guests attending concerts included Harriet Beecher Stowe and Henry Ward Beecher.
An autograph album of the Normal Music Institute (North Reading, Mass.) was kept by Emory L. Smith, probably a student, during a music convention held there in August, 1861. A fine example of a musical autograph album, Smith had the teachers and selected students sign the book, and many provided brief musical quotations. Smith pasted photographs of five participants onto the pages with their signatures: the composers Lowell Mason, George F. Root, and George B. Loomis, and two fellow students, James H. Lansley and Lewis Story.
Besides his popular songs, he also composed gospel songs, and collected and edited volumes of choral music for singing schools, Sunday schools, church choirs and musical institutes. He also composed various sacred and secular cantatas which were popular on both sides of the Atlantic throughout the 19th century.
In the 1880s and 1890s Root wrote as series of dramatic cantatas for children, most with texts by his daughter, Clara Louise Burnham, all meant to be staged.
George Frederick Root died at his summer home on Bailey Island, Maine in 1895. He is interred in the Harmony Vale Cemetery, on Chestnut St., North Reading Massachusetts.
Click this link for my favorite of his hymns: Ring the Bells of Heaven
References:
Cyber-hymnal George F. Root
Hall, J.H., Biography of Gospel. Song and Hymn Writers. New York. Fleming H. Revell Company 1900.
Smith, Emory L. Normal Music Institute (North Reading, Mass.) Autograph Album. 1861 August 14-20. William L. Clements Library. The University of Michigan. Photographs Division. A.1.33.
Hubbard. W.L. Editor. The American History and Encyclopedia of Music. Pp. 187-8 Google Books
Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! (or Jesus Loves the Little Children)
The Battle Cry of Freedom
Root was born in 1820 in Sheffield, Massachusetts and moved to North Reading when he was six years old. As a young teen he could play many instruments and dreamed of being a musician. At 18 he moved to Boston where he studied under George Webb, founder of the Boston Academy of Music and organist at Boston’s Old South Church for over 40 years. Mason was also very active in arranging music conventions and supporting normal institutes, through which he trained countless public school music teachers and perpetuated his philosophy of teaching and music.
In 1850 Root made a music study tour of Europe, staying in Vienna, Paris, and London. He returned to teach music in Boston, as an associate of Lowell Mason at Boston’s Academy of Music. In 1851, Root began composing. By the early 1850s musical conventions had become established features in all parts of the country. Mr. Root conducted several such enterprises, including convening one at the Smithsonian Institution at Washington.
Root helped organize the first Normal Musical Institute, held in New York in 1853, and quickly became a leader in raising the standards of music education. In late 1855or early 1856, Root and his family moved back to Willow Farm in North Reading, where he continued his writing and convention activities. In 1856 Root developed a more permanent organization known as the ‘Normal Musical Institute”. With the assistance of Dr. Mason and J.G. Webb the North Reading Institute was created and became known far and wide. It was held in the Third Meeting House on the Common through 1859. Guests attending concerts included Harriet Beecher Stowe and Henry Ward Beecher.
An autograph album of the Normal Music Institute (North Reading, Mass.) was kept by Emory L. Smith, probably a student, during a music convention held there in August, 1861. A fine example of a musical autograph album, Smith had the teachers and selected students sign the book, and many provided brief musical quotations. Smith pasted photographs of five participants onto the pages with their signatures: the composers Lowell Mason, George F. Root, and George B. Loomis, and two fellow students, James H. Lansley and Lewis Story.
Besides his popular songs, he also composed gospel songs, and collected and edited volumes of choral music for singing schools, Sunday schools, church choirs and musical institutes. He also composed various sacred and secular cantatas which were popular on both sides of the Atlantic throughout the 19th century.
In the 1880s and 1890s Root wrote as series of dramatic cantatas for children, most with texts by his daughter, Clara Louise Burnham, all meant to be staged.
George Frederick Root died at his summer home on Bailey Island, Maine in 1895. He is interred in the Harmony Vale Cemetery, on Chestnut St., North Reading Massachusetts.
Click this link for my favorite of his hymns: Ring the Bells of Heaven
References:
Cyber-hymnal George F. Root
Hall, J.H., Biography of Gospel. Song and Hymn Writers. New York. Fleming H. Revell Company 1900.
Smith, Emory L. Normal Music Institute (North Reading, Mass.) Autograph Album. 1861 August 14-20. William L. Clements Library. The University of Michigan. Photographs Division. A.1.33.
Hubbard. W.L. Editor. The American History and Encyclopedia of Music. Pp. 187-8 Google Books
Monday, November 8, 2010
Early Schools to 1754
The first notation of a school in North Parish was in the town report of 1693. The first schools in North Parish were moving or roving schools. As there was no specific building, school was often held in the front room of local citizen. Remember that in 1685 only nine known families were settled in North Parish.
"In 1642, Massachusetts Bay Colony passed the first law in the New World requiring that children be taught to read and write. The English Puritans who founded Massachusetts believed that the well-being of individuals, along with the success of the colony, depended on a people literate enough to read both the Bible and the laws of the land. The English Puritans who settled Boston in 1630 believed that children's welfare, on earth and in the afterlife, depended in large part on their ability to read and understand the Bible." 1
The Massachusetts law of 1647 stated that there should be a school in every community where there were fifty families, and a grammar school in every community of one hundred families. In 1693 this law provided for a ten pound fine annually for the violation of the law. In 1701 the law imposed a fine of twice that amount. It was also stated that the grand jurors were to report all breaches of the law.
When the Parish settled its first minister, Reverend Daniel Putnam, in 1721, the interest in schooling began to grow and school money was raised in the parish rates to assist with children’s education.
It wasn’t until 1754, however, that the Parish voted that some particular persons have liberty to set a school house on land near the meeting house at their own cost. Even then, the majority of inhabitants were not yet behind the notion of established school houses.
Reference:
LePage, Samuel. A History of North Reading, Tercentenary Edition. 1944.
1. http://www.massmoments.org/moment.cfm?mid=113
"In 1642, Massachusetts Bay Colony passed the first law in the New World requiring that children be taught to read and write. The English Puritans who founded Massachusetts believed that the well-being of individuals, along with the success of the colony, depended on a people literate enough to read both the Bible and the laws of the land. The English Puritans who settled Boston in 1630 believed that children's welfare, on earth and in the afterlife, depended in large part on their ability to read and understand the Bible." 1
The Massachusetts law of 1647 stated that there should be a school in every community where there were fifty families, and a grammar school in every community of one hundred families. In 1693 this law provided for a ten pound fine annually for the violation of the law. In 1701 the law imposed a fine of twice that amount. It was also stated that the grand jurors were to report all breaches of the law.
When the Parish settled its first minister, Reverend Daniel Putnam, in 1721, the interest in schooling began to grow and school money was raised in the parish rates to assist with children’s education.
It wasn’t until 1754, however, that the Parish voted that some particular persons have liberty to set a school house on land near the meeting house at their own cost. Even then, the majority of inhabitants were not yet behind the notion of established school houses.
Reference:
LePage, Samuel. A History of North Reading, Tercentenary Edition. 1944.
1. http://www.massmoments.org/moment.cfm?mid=113
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Hillview Country Club - Holt's Farm 1795
Dating to the late eighteenth century and extant by 1795, 178 North Street was built for Benjamin Holt, a gentleman farmer who made a comfortable living “raising hops and catching wild pigeons.” Holt invested his money in real estate and owned a “thousand acres of land, more or less, in the north section of town.” Holt’s land included “broad acres for farming just below” (his Georgian house).
Benjamin Holt was descended from “a prominent family in England, the most notable of whom was Lord Chief Justine Holt.” The story of the Holt family in Massachusetts began with Nicholas Holt who, along with his wife and child, arrived in Boston on the ship “James” in June 1635, after a voyage of fifty eight days. From Boston, Nicholas Holt went first to Newbury, Massachusetts and by 1644 had settled in Andover, MA.
The sixth among the original settlers of North Reading’s neighbor to the north, Nicholas Holt died in Andover 1685 at the age of eighty three. Nicholas Holt had served Andover well, holding positions on important committees related to the public welfare and laying out of roads.
The story of North Reading’s Holts begins with Joseph Holt, the grandson of Nicholas Holt of Andover. Joseph Holt’s father was James Holt, the eighth child of Nicholas Holt. During the mid 1720’s James Holt settled in the northern part of the then North Precinct of Reading. His eldest child, Joseph, was born in 1727.
Joseph Holt, son of Joseph Holt above, was born in North Reading in 1754. He was educated in the district schools, and remained on his father's farm until the breaking out of the Revolution. He was in Captain John Bachellor's company, Colonel Ebenezer Bridge's regiment, which answered the alarm on April 19, 1775. Later in the same year he served in the companies of Captain Amos Upton and Lieutenant Ebenezer Damon. He served also in 1776. He married, December 9, 1779. Mary Eaton, of Wilmington, and soon settled near his birthplace.
His farm of one thousand acres or more was in North Reading on the Andover road near the Andover line. He became a large grower of hops, much of his product going west into New York state. He also supplied the Boston market with pigeons, and was known all through that section as "Pigeon Joe.-' He was a very popular man in his town, and was very religious, being particularly strict about Sunday observance, he carried on his farm and raised large quantities of corn. He was a member of the Orthodox church. He died suddenly, February, 1847, while carrying corn up into his corn chamber. Children: 1. Benjamin, born August 7, 1781, mentioned below. 2. Mary, August, 1783. 3. Lois, March 13, 1785. 4. Surviah, October, 1787. 5. Sally, 1792. 6. Joseph Elbridge, 1795.
***Lois Holt, born in 1785 to Joseph and Mary above, married Samuel Killam of Boxford in May 1807. Lois and Samuel are my great x3 grandparents. Joseph Holt, "Pigeon Joe", is my great x4 grandfather.
Benjamin Holt, also the son of Joseph and Mary, was born at North Reading, Massachusetts, August 7, 1781. He was brought up on his father’s farm, receiving the education of a farmer’s son of that period. He followed farming all his life, and carried on successfully his father’s business of hop growing, becoming well off. He also made a business of snaring wild pigeons, carrying great numbers to the markets in Boston. In this he was even more successful than his father. His farm produced large quantities of lumber which brought him much money.
He was a great worker and speculator, and died well to do. He was of a tall stature and very jovial disposition. He was a Whig in politics, and much interested in town affairs. He was a member of the Orthodox church. He married, April 3, 1804, Hannah Sheldon of North Reading. Their first born, Benjamin, born April 12, 1805, died March 31, 1857, married Mary Killam of Boxford.
In 1894 the home was still occupied by members of the Albert H. Holt family. The property later became the Red Hill Farm, a popular restaurant and function facility. A golf course was eventually constructed. On November 5, 1941, owner Harvey Kelch who also operated the club, incorporated the property on North Street as the Red Hill Country Club or the Olde Redding Country Club. In the 1950’s the Red Hill Country Club became the Hillview Country Club, a members only club.
By the 1980’s, the Club had fallen into disrepair. A new owner and manager, Arthur Angelopulos, bought the facility in 1984 with the idea of converting the course into nine holes and selling additional land for development. One set of plans included building 110 single family homes along Central Street; another plan would have put 350 units of low/moderate income housing on the north side of the course.
In 1987 the Hillview Study Committee was formed, eventually growing into the Hilliview Commission, responsible for planning capital improvements, setting policy and overseeing the running of the facility. On January 19, 1988, the committee presented their proposal to the town of North Reading to acquire by eminent domain the land known as Hillview Country Club and to operate the golf course as a municipal facility.
References:
Cutter, William. Historic Homes and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs. Vol. 2. 1917. Google Books.
Gordon, Edward W., Massachusetts Historical Commission Survey #114. 2001
LePage, Samuel M. A History of North Reading. 1944.
Miller, Nancy, Of Minitmen & Molly’s. 2002
Reading Municipal Light Department Historical Calendar, August 2004
Benjamin Holt was descended from “a prominent family in England, the most notable of whom was Lord Chief Justine Holt.” The story of the Holt family in Massachusetts began with Nicholas Holt who, along with his wife and child, arrived in Boston on the ship “James” in June 1635, after a voyage of fifty eight days. From Boston, Nicholas Holt went first to Newbury, Massachusetts and by 1644 had settled in Andover, MA.
The sixth among the original settlers of North Reading’s neighbor to the north, Nicholas Holt died in Andover 1685 at the age of eighty three. Nicholas Holt had served Andover well, holding positions on important committees related to the public welfare and laying out of roads.
The story of North Reading’s Holts begins with Joseph Holt, the grandson of Nicholas Holt of Andover. Joseph Holt’s father was James Holt, the eighth child of Nicholas Holt. During the mid 1720’s James Holt settled in the northern part of the then North Precinct of Reading. His eldest child, Joseph, was born in 1727.
Joseph Holt, son of Joseph Holt above, was born in North Reading in 1754. He was educated in the district schools, and remained on his father's farm until the breaking out of the Revolution. He was in Captain John Bachellor's company, Colonel Ebenezer Bridge's regiment, which answered the alarm on April 19, 1775. Later in the same year he served in the companies of Captain Amos Upton and Lieutenant Ebenezer Damon. He served also in 1776. He married, December 9, 1779. Mary Eaton, of Wilmington, and soon settled near his birthplace.
His farm of one thousand acres or more was in North Reading on the Andover road near the Andover line. He became a large grower of hops, much of his product going west into New York state. He also supplied the Boston market with pigeons, and was known all through that section as "Pigeon Joe.-' He was a very popular man in his town, and was very religious, being particularly strict about Sunday observance, he carried on his farm and raised large quantities of corn. He was a member of the Orthodox church. He died suddenly, February, 1847, while carrying corn up into his corn chamber. Children: 1. Benjamin, born August 7, 1781, mentioned below. 2. Mary, August, 1783. 3. Lois, March 13, 1785. 4. Surviah, October, 1787. 5. Sally, 1792. 6. Joseph Elbridge, 1795.
***Lois Holt, born in 1785 to Joseph and Mary above, married Samuel Killam of Boxford in May 1807. Lois and Samuel are my great x3 grandparents. Joseph Holt, "Pigeon Joe", is my great x4 grandfather.
Benjamin Holt, also the son of Joseph and Mary, was born at North Reading, Massachusetts, August 7, 1781. He was brought up on his father’s farm, receiving the education of a farmer’s son of that period. He followed farming all his life, and carried on successfully his father’s business of hop growing, becoming well off. He also made a business of snaring wild pigeons, carrying great numbers to the markets in Boston. In this he was even more successful than his father. His farm produced large quantities of lumber which brought him much money.
He was a great worker and speculator, and died well to do. He was of a tall stature and very jovial disposition. He was a Whig in politics, and much interested in town affairs. He was a member of the Orthodox church. He married, April 3, 1804, Hannah Sheldon of North Reading. Their first born, Benjamin, born April 12, 1805, died March 31, 1857, married Mary Killam of Boxford.
In 1894 the home was still occupied by members of the Albert H. Holt family. The property later became the Red Hill Farm, a popular restaurant and function facility. A golf course was eventually constructed. On November 5, 1941, owner Harvey Kelch who also operated the club, incorporated the property on North Street as the Red Hill Country Club or the Olde Redding Country Club. In the 1950’s the Red Hill Country Club became the Hillview Country Club, a members only club.
By the 1980’s, the Club had fallen into disrepair. A new owner and manager, Arthur Angelopulos, bought the facility in 1984 with the idea of converting the course into nine holes and selling additional land for development. One set of plans included building 110 single family homes along Central Street; another plan would have put 350 units of low/moderate income housing on the north side of the course.
In 1987 the Hillview Study Committee was formed, eventually growing into the Hilliview Commission, responsible for planning capital improvements, setting policy and overseeing the running of the facility. On January 19, 1988, the committee presented their proposal to the town of North Reading to acquire by eminent domain the land known as Hillview Country Club and to operate the golf course as a municipal facility.
References:
Cutter, William. Historic Homes and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs. Vol. 2. 1917. Google Books.
Gordon, Edward W., Massachusetts Historical Commission Survey #114. 2001
LePage, Samuel M. A History of North Reading. 1944.
Miller, Nancy, Of Minitmen & Molly’s. 2002
Reading Municipal Light Department Historical Calendar, August 2004
Friday, August 27, 2010
Damon Tavern 1817
According to information given to the 1978 Historical Commission Cultural Resources Survey, the David Damon Tavern was built in 1817 by Ebenezer Damon for his older brother, Captain David Damon, a Revolutionary War veteran.
The building still stands on Bow Street at the intersection of Park Street and Haverhill Street. Here Damon catered to several stage coaches on the Salem-Lowell Boston-Haverhill lines as well as other travelers passing through the center of town.
Diagonally across from the tavern (the site of the present Flint Memorial Library) Damon located the large stable and carriage house to service the many travelers.
The 21 room and 9 fireplaced tavern also served as the town's first Post Office. David was appointed the first postmaster in 1830.
The building still stands on Bow Street at the intersection of Park Street and Haverhill Street. Here Damon catered to several stage coaches on the Salem-Lowell Boston-Haverhill lines as well as other travelers passing through the center of town.
Diagonally across from the tavern (the site of the present Flint Memorial Library) Damon located the large stable and carriage house to service the many travelers.
The 21 room and 9 fireplaced tavern also served as the town's first Post Office. David was appointed the first postmaster in 1830.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Taverns & Inns
Early inhabitants were served by the first recorded tavern in 1648. The settlement had grown to such an extent that the General Court granted: “Francis Smith has leave of the court to draw wine in Reading for the refreshment of travelers and others, he paying the legal excise therefor.”
An innholder or taverner received his license from the General Court only if he complied with formidable laws and restrictions. Each tavern was compelled to provide stables in conjunction with the Inn, and that the innkeeper be responsible for his clients’ horse or cattle by providing food, shelter and care. “There was to be no drinking or tippling after nine o’clock in the night, under the penalty of twenty shillings.” “That no singing, fiddling, piping, or any other musiek, dancing, or reveling shall be suffered or exercised, in any tavern, or other publick licensed house, on penalty of ten shillings.” “That common drunkards be posted up at the houses of retailers of wine and liquors out of doors, and the law directs to publick licensed houses, with a prohibition to them of selling drink to any such.”
The inn or taverns were also a main center for the community’s civic affairs, town meetings and elections. The license required the recipient to “locate his tavern as near the meeting house as can bee”. The meeting house where church services occurred was generally unheated during the winter. The congregation arriving from outlaying farms after a long drive or walk in the extreme cold weather could go to the tavern before and after services. They could also replenish their foot-stoves with burning pine and hard wood knots from the fire of the inn.
There was a tavern located in the westerly part of the Parish, near Mill and Park Streets in the vicinity of Lobbs Pound Mill in the mid-1800’s. At that time the main road from Boston to the interior of the colony passed by the mill. Traffic also passed eastward toward Salem and westerly to Concord and Greenfield, Massachusetts. The tavern was near enough to the local training field to be a rallying point for the local militia. Eliezer Flint, son of George Flint and Jerusha Pope Flint, and grandson of Sergt. George Flint was the landlord for this tavern. Eliezer was born on March 12, 1731. He acquired the tavern about 1761 and conducted it along with an extensive farm containing two hundred acres until his death in 1808.
On the south side of the Ipswich River at the junction of Mill and Short Streets was a tavern operated by Jeremiah “Jerry” Nichols Junior, previously owned by his father. Jerry Nichols, Jr. mortgaged this tavern in 1818 to Mr. Edward Southwick.
Jerry then moved to the center of North Parish where he built a large tavern o n the west side of Haverhill Street opposite the Common. He didn’t prosper in this location and in 1824 sold the building and land to Colonel Flint, who opened and Academy.
Barnard’s Tavern became a well known station between Boston and Concord, New Hampshire, exchanging horses for the many stage coaches passing over the newly opened Andover and Medford Turnpike.
Jacob Barnard was a native of Peterborough, New Hampshire, born in 1789. He established a profitable tavern on Elm Street in the Dock Square area of Boston. From this tavern, many stages left and arrived daily from Concord and Hanover, New Hampshire.
Barnard recognized the need for a relay station, and built a two story wood frame building on the westerly side of Main Street, north of Park Street in this North Parish of Reading. He utilized this tavern as an accommodation for his passengers and stables for his coach horses. It has been published that as many as six and eight stage coaches were standing at one time in front of the tavern, and as many as thirty horses tethered in the stations daily.
Mr. Barnard’s Stage Line was one of the first to employ the Concord Stage Coach, introduced and built by a personal friend, Mr. Lewis Downing, of Concord, New Hampshire.
Barnard’s Tavern was a social center for the West Village and he and his wife, Grace held numerous functions. When Jacob died in 1830 his wife and son, Prentice, carried on the business for two more years.
They then sold the tavern, stables and sheds to Benjamin Page. However, with the decline in passenger service due to rail travel, he converted the tavern into his home. He occupied the building until it was destroyed by fire in 1867.
Sources:
Historical Address and Poem; Delivered at the Bi-Centennial Celebration of the Incorporation of the Old Town of Reading May 29, 1844. James Flint and Lilley Eaton
North Reading Review. Leo Murphy. 1964
An innholder or taverner received his license from the General Court only if he complied with formidable laws and restrictions. Each tavern was compelled to provide stables in conjunction with the Inn, and that the innkeeper be responsible for his clients’ horse or cattle by providing food, shelter and care. “There was to be no drinking or tippling after nine o’clock in the night, under the penalty of twenty shillings.” “That no singing, fiddling, piping, or any other musiek, dancing, or reveling shall be suffered or exercised, in any tavern, or other publick licensed house, on penalty of ten shillings.” “That common drunkards be posted up at the houses of retailers of wine and liquors out of doors, and the law directs to publick licensed houses, with a prohibition to them of selling drink to any such.”
The inn or taverns were also a main center for the community’s civic affairs, town meetings and elections. The license required the recipient to “locate his tavern as near the meeting house as can bee”. The meeting house where church services occurred was generally unheated during the winter. The congregation arriving from outlaying farms after a long drive or walk in the extreme cold weather could go to the tavern before and after services. They could also replenish their foot-stoves with burning pine and hard wood knots from the fire of the inn.
There was a tavern located in the westerly part of the Parish, near Mill and Park Streets in the vicinity of Lobbs Pound Mill in the mid-1800’s. At that time the main road from Boston to the interior of the colony passed by the mill. Traffic also passed eastward toward Salem and westerly to Concord and Greenfield, Massachusetts. The tavern was near enough to the local training field to be a rallying point for the local militia. Eliezer Flint, son of George Flint and Jerusha Pope Flint, and grandson of Sergt. George Flint was the landlord for this tavern. Eliezer was born on March 12, 1731. He acquired the tavern about 1761 and conducted it along with an extensive farm containing two hundred acres until his death in 1808.
On the south side of the Ipswich River at the junction of Mill and Short Streets was a tavern operated by Jeremiah “Jerry” Nichols Junior, previously owned by his father. Jerry Nichols, Jr. mortgaged this tavern in 1818 to Mr. Edward Southwick.
Jerry then moved to the center of North Parish where he built a large tavern o n the west side of Haverhill Street opposite the Common. He didn’t prosper in this location and in 1824 sold the building and land to Colonel Flint, who opened and Academy.
Barnard’s Tavern became a well known station between Boston and Concord, New Hampshire, exchanging horses for the many stage coaches passing over the newly opened Andover and Medford Turnpike.
Jacob Barnard was a native of Peterborough, New Hampshire, born in 1789. He established a profitable tavern on Elm Street in the Dock Square area of Boston. From this tavern, many stages left and arrived daily from Concord and Hanover, New Hampshire.
Barnard recognized the need for a relay station, and built a two story wood frame building on the westerly side of Main Street, north of Park Street in this North Parish of Reading. He utilized this tavern as an accommodation for his passengers and stables for his coach horses. It has been published that as many as six and eight stage coaches were standing at one time in front of the tavern, and as many as thirty horses tethered in the stations daily.
Mr. Barnard’s Stage Line was one of the first to employ the Concord Stage Coach, introduced and built by a personal friend, Mr. Lewis Downing, of Concord, New Hampshire.
Barnard’s Tavern was a social center for the West Village and he and his wife, Grace held numerous functions. When Jacob died in 1830 his wife and son, Prentice, carried on the business for two more years.
They then sold the tavern, stables and sheds to Benjamin Page. However, with the decline in passenger service due to rail travel, he converted the tavern into his home. He occupied the building until it was destroyed by fire in 1867.
Sources:
Historical Address and Poem; Delivered at the Bi-Centennial Celebration of the Incorporation of the Old Town of Reading May 29, 1844. James Flint and Lilley Eaton
North Reading Review. Leo Murphy. 1964
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)