10 .TOWN CRIER, NOVEMBER 9.J994 The Roberts Estate on Burlington Avenue in <strong>Wilmington</strong> is still an imposing sight The 60 acre estate is being cut house lots, each as impressive as the stone building, in a contemporary way. Fred Roberts, candy merchant and more by Capl Larz Neilson Fred Roberts first appeared in <strong>Wilmington</strong> about 1900. Born in Berwick, Maine of an old Yankee family, he was a prosperous man. Shortly afterwards his brother Herbert became a resident of <strong>Wilmington</strong>. Both men were candy manufacturers, Herbert making a well known brand of caramels and Fred being the man who made chocolates. Fred Roberts bought a home on the northerly side of Burlington Avenue. There were two homes near each other, a few hundred feet westerly of the present Deming Way. Westerly from the home he had purchased the road ran uphill. On that hill there were three homes. Beyond the crest of the hill was a larger home, with a bam bchjnd it. Fred demolished one of the homes, later. The two remaining homes were moved across Burlington Avenue. Today Roberts Road runs between them. Today there are 22 homes facing on Roberts Road, all property which was once owned by Fred. The larger home on the property which Fred had purchased was owned by a family named Kirkpatrick, a family with which he was acquainted. Today that home is across Burlington Avenue from Boutwcll Street, a three family home. ' Fred's wife, Althcra Clcndcnnin was a very kindly lady, a few years older than her husband. There were three children, all girls, Helen, Althera. and another whose name has been lost. Althera married Harry Fletcher, the coachman. That couple moved to Mclrose. Fred Roberts had a place of business in Boston. An important factor in his business was a German bom lady named Alice Albrink. She was the source of many ideas which helped to market those chocolates. She was the treasurer of the company. In those days chocolates were sold largely in bulk. Alice suggested a nice covered box, one that would be attractive to a young man about to go a-courting. She further suggested that the slogan to be on the cover should be "For those who discriminate." Those words were printed on the cover. It is to be believed it was in her hand writing. Althera Clcndcnnin Roberts died in 1906. Two years later Fred took, as his second wife, Alice Albrink, one of the most gracious ladies ever to live in <strong>Wilmington</strong>. Business was good. Fred began to think of a larger home. He looked, speculatively at the hill beyond his home and the next one beyond it, known from the ancient days as Bear Hill. FreU botigM''afl ,, four homes, and 60 acres of land. The homes, with the exception of the Kirkpatrick home, were torn down. Fred began to plan his home. He chose Dinny McLaughlin of Woburn to be his stone mason. Irish born stone masons, in those days excelled in construction which used only granite, and granite which was never cut. They used large stones, and no small ones. Those men had acquired an eye for beauty with stones, because they had nothing else with which to build. Dinny was rough. Dinny was tough. But he was a friendly man who was appreciated by the men with whom he worked. In those days there was a railroad between the center of Woburn and <strong>Wilmington</strong>. There were daily trains, trains which were discontinued about 1930. Dinny employed about 15 men to work on the Roberts house. The laborers were from North Woburn, Italian. The masons were from Woburn, all Irish. Dinny and his Authorized Agent For AUsides Distribution 10% OFF This offer extended lo Dec 31,1994 with this ad. FREE ESTIMATES FREE COVERAGE WITH EVERY WINDOW Boy$ Bows Casements all custom made in the factory to fit your house REPLACEMENT WINDOWS s l 85. installed State Reg. #110546 Also offering Vinyl Siding 364 Middlesex Ave., No. <strong>Wilmington</strong> % 658-2109 or 1 -800-675-38181 masons would take the early train from Woburn and the Italians would get on the train in North Woburn. Everyone would gel off the train in <strong>Wilmington</strong>. Then Dinny would lead the way up Burlington Avenue to Bear Hill, many of the men with tools over their shoulders. There may be a few persons in <strong>Wilmington</strong> today who remember those morning processions, and the men walking back to the railroad station at night. It was quite a procession, every man carrying his own tools. There were four stone masons in the Woburn area about whom it would be said they did excellent work. Dinny was one of them. All the stones- for the Roberts House were found in those 60 acres. nad the job of finding the best stones, and of bringing those stones to the site of the work. Fred Roberts provided a dump cart and a horse, with which to collect stones. Not only did Dinny and his men build the house, but there were stone walls on the estate which were built afterwards. Before the men were finished there was a large carriage house, a windmill, a hen house, and a big pig house. The Roberts House had a large cellar. On the first floor was a fine entry, a silling room, a sun room, a music room, and a large kitchen. The second floor had five large bedrooms, and there was a third floor above that. Two rooms on the first floor should be described more thoroughly. The sunroom was filled with tropical plants and palm trees. There were several large bowls of goldfish - dozens of goldfish. The dining room, wilh large oaken table and murals on all four walls, painted by a lady who signed herself L. Parsons. In one scene of Gay Head, (Martha's Vineyard) was the New York to Boston steamer (the Yale, or the Harvard), in the distance. Another mural was a painting of Rockport. Another wall had a mural of Squantum. All were painted in oil. The kitchen was the domain of Mammy Johnson, a large negro woman. She had a daughter to help her, and she also had the occasional help of several girls in the neighborhood. As the children of the later Roberts family came along, Fred, Nancy and Phoebe, Mammy solved any problems by resorting to a speaking lube which led into the cellar. She would blow into ihe tube and a whistle could be heard at the other end. Harry Fletcher, the coachman, would be expected to be there. Whether or not that gentleman was in the cellar was unimportant. "Mister Fletcher, come up here!" The children would, in an instant be on their good behavior. There was also the flower garden, the pride and joy of all who lived in <strong>Wilmington</strong>. Designed by A. Chandler Manning, a landscape < irch^«^w4i|p#®d>in a lane home onuIcnRoad! lately the'Bhss home, i he also chose all the trees he wanted moved, in those 60 acres. Herbert Barrows of ihe North <strong>Wilmington</strong> Nurseries moved the trees. Bill Babine, of Laurel Avenue, <strong>Wilmington</strong> was the head gardener. He excelled in ihe growing of flowers. He worked on the Roberts estate until 1936. Alice Roberts, after ihe death of Fred had decided to restore everything to the state in which it was when he died. Engaged in this effort were many persons, including Albeit Robinson and Mr. Bowser, carpenters, Ted Surrctte, Eugene Surrctte, Waller Picrson, Frank Marcie, Walter (Porky) Meuse, Eddie Carpenter, Lester Burns and George Blaisdcll Jr. This was the home of Fred Roberts. But there was a summer home, loo, in Wells Beach, Maine. Otto Bischoff, after his return from France in 1919 had become the chauffeur for Fred Roberts. There was an excellent array of vehicles on the estate. There was a dump cart, a Victoria and a Cab Wagon. Mrs. Roberts had a mare, which she handled expertly. It had a reputation of "pulling herself blind." Roberts had bought a Stanley Steamer, not the first in <strong>Wilmington</strong>, to get him to and from Wells Beach in a hurry. He found that he had to stop that steamer, to rcwater it. So he turned it back to his manufacturer. At the end of World War I, Fred Roberts had a twin six Packard VHS ihMl STEREO Th. boys «• back end they're timer then ever- Tl»e Une the oty Itckara era hot on he tea . > ol ladder, to Li ILL) 2S=E H .ras B £ZZm """i-mi* Pfi-D® CAMEO VIDEO 618 Main St Now Renting the <strong>Wilmington</strong> SEGA C.D. 657-8333 (system and CD's Limousine, a Packard Twin Car, a Buick Limousine and a Ford Run About There was a tower, 40 or 50 feet high, near the garage. When his son Fred Roberts became a Boy Scout, in 1924, the tower was used for signals, by members of Troop One, <strong>Wilmington</strong>. On Fridays Fred Roberts would get up at 5 a.m., eat breakfast, and then walk lo the <strong>Wilmington</strong> railroad station to take the train lo Boston. When he returned he would be met by Otto, in one of the Packards. During the summer months when everyone was at Wells Beach Fred would not return to <strong>Wilmington</strong>. Instead Fred took a train to North <strong>Wilmington</strong> where he would be met by Otto, with the Twin Six. They would depart from North <strong>Wilmington</strong> in a swirl of dust, for a four hour ride to Wells Beach, Maine. Fred frequently made that trip in the first two years after World War I. Then he sold his business. He died shortly afterwards, October 20, 1920. He was buried in Somersworth, N.H. He died a millionaire. He had sold everything in his business, trade mark and all. Electric lights If Fred Roberts ever thought of it, he probably would have easily won any political office he desired, in <strong>Wilmington</strong>. He could have gone on, too, to state office. In his shy way he was a popular man. His only political action was when he agitated for electric lights in <strong>Wilmington</strong>. The year was about 1909. Fred Roberts, Dr. Daniel Buzzcll, Schamiel Mclntosh and Charlie Hudson were some of the <strong>Wilmington</strong> residents who sought to have <strong>Wilmington</strong> join up with the newly formed Reading Municipal Light Department. Mclntosh and Hudson owned properties in what is now called <strong>Wilmington</strong> Square (at the intersection of Main Street and Church Street). The selectmen called for a meeting, to discuss the subject. Prior to that town meeting there was a parade, from <strong>Wilmington</strong> Square to the town hall. Schamiel Mclntosh was in the second rank, wilh a goat. Fred, Charlie and Dr. Buzzell led that parade, each with a lantern, and Fred in a full dress suit. The gojt, it is said, was right behind Dr. Buzzcll. The vote in that town meeting was overwhelmingly in favor of electricity. And, as far as is known, that was the only political action in which Fred Roberts ever participated. The relationship of Fred and A/ice Roberts to the <strong>Wilmington</strong> United Methodist Church is a subject worthy of a little discussion, a Back in the days before WoVld War I the <strong>Wilmington</strong> United Methodist Church was in the present corner of Thurston Avenue and Church Street. Behind it was a hdhie which had been used by the Rev. Mr. Thurston, an earner clergyman. f Alice Albrink Roberts was on& of the ladies who conducted the Sunday School. Nina Kincaid Barrows and Mrs. Arthur Hamilton were Jwo others. Fred Roberts and Alice rode to church every Sunday, and the late Lt. Cmdr. Albert Marfleet, USN rode with them. At that time he was a boy living on Boutwcll Strcet.jHc told this writer he was the dnly person to go to church in a car owned by Roberts who was not of that family. As this writer understands the story, it was Fred Roberts who donated the church organ to'the <strong>Wilmington</strong> Methodists. Mrs. Roberts too, made a donation of a house for the pastor and;his wife, sometime about 1916.; It stands today beside the present church, one of four or five homes in <strong>Wilmington</strong> built on the same plan. This writer terms them "Sidelinker" homes because at least a few Were built by men of that family, back in the 1880s. : Of course young Fred Roberts was in the same car as was Al Marfleet. Fred became a physician, and in the very early days of World War II, when this writer departed for the war zone in the Pacific from San Francisco, Dr. Fred Roberts was serving in a military hospital, in that city. This writer has always believed that Fred Roberts, Sr. was a physician when lie moved to <strong>Wilmington</strong> about 1900. He was a physician who made his money selling candy. 25 years ago wnmingtpn , .Jiilli On : II lili'' >'i;il> ' '('iVI' 1 iVOiitli 0. i . 91. hfU ' -*ii - il '-.. iV_.IO d/H'/lI «A'_"\I _I Detective Ballou was pictured as he "got a ticket" from a group of young people selling tickets to the upcoming Bobby Orr Sports Night. A well padded Arthur Spear, accompanied by a well disguised Florence Balkus, were pictured as they led the Horribles Parade down Church Street. His Eminence Cardinal Cushing was pictured at the altar of St. Thomas Church during the con-celebrated mass that marked his visit to <strong>Wilmington</strong>. Taking part in the mass with Cardinal Cushing were Fr. Paul Berube, former curate of St. Thomas; Fr. Thomas Munnane of Austin Prep; Fr. Edmund Parker, Fr. Edmund Croke of St. Thomas, and his brother, Fr. Thomas Croke; Fr. Arthur Johnson also of Austin prep and Fr. Charles White, a WHS graduate, attached to the Paulist Center in Boston. Jonathan Rounds of Butters Row was one of 28 students at Mount Hermon School to be awarded a letter of commendation honoring him for his high performance on the 1969 National Merit Scholarship Qualifying test. LL Colonel Henry C. Latta of Lawn Street was pictured at a graduation ceremony at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. A reservist, Lt Col. Latta completed the course as an honor graduate and while at Leavenworth, was able to visit his spn Edward (WHS *65) wh6 was undergoing HOME OF THE WEEK Completeley remodeled in 1989. In- cluding new electric, heating, kitchen, bath and more! Neutral de- cor throughout. Comer lot on private side street. Be first to see this home and move right in with no expensive renovations. $120*s Hearthstone Realty $j\ 11 Middlesex Ave. ^25r- <strong>Wilmington</strong> basic training aiFt. Leonard $o6d, Mo. Dorothy Wiberg of Andover Street, was pictured as the new Welcome Wagon Hostess. She tad just completed a course of training in Dedham, preparing her for the position. 'Ella's Country Store offered cream horns, four for 59 cents. Hood's Riviera ice cream, half gallon for 59 cents; eye round roast, $1.19 a pound. At Lucci's Supermarket, one could purchase three 22 oz packages of Pillsbury brownie mix for JJ9 cents; four 46 oz cans of Dqlc pineapple-grapefruit juice for $1.; Beechnut coffee, 59 cents a pounc EMT training program Winchester Hospital offers mqny opportunities for health care professionals to continue training or take refresher courses in CPR and related topics. On November 11-13 an ElllT refresher course will be held from 6-10 p.m. Friday night and all < ay Saturday/Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CPR recertification is included in the program cost, which is $100. Walk-in registration is $125. ; This course will be offered!at Winchester Hospital Health Promotion Center. Call 617-756-2220. • 11 988-5000 x 229
lo ,flV,' ni it obituaries -. Bruce C. Anderson well known artist, musician Bruce C. Anderson of /'i<strong>Wilmington</strong>, a graduate of Pratt boiUniversity owned and operated
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