History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

202 HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
gathering its leaves as memeutos of a hallowed
spot; and one midsummer afternoon a few years
since, a well-known citizen, leaning against its
trunk, took liis own life.
There stands an ancient wide-sjireading elm on
the road near Cochituate, said to cover with its
shade a space one hundred and fifteen feet wide.
Those who knew these trees in " auld lang syne,"
the Natick residents of fifty years, held a very
pleasant gathering February 7, 1879.
The town has three modern cemeteries. Glen-
wood, at South Natick, was opened in 1852, Eev.
Mr. Alger delivering the address. Dell Park lies a
mile west from the First Church, a pleasant natural
site, and judiciously beautified. Eev. Samuel Hunt
gave (he consecratiug address July 8, 1849.
Townsmen and strangers alike seek the grave
of Henry Wilson. While vice-president he died
at Washington in his official apartment, adjoining
the Senate-Chamber, November 22, 1875, and was
borne with eulogies, processions, and mournful
music from tlie Capitol to be nobly received by his
adopted commonwealth in the Doric Hall of the
State-House. There, over the Sabbath, he lay in
state, — the statues of Washington and Andrew,
his companions; the torn and blackened battle-
flags of the Massachusetts regiments (his own gal-
lant 22d too), in crape around him. After fitting
honors there, the state gave up the remains to his
to^vllsmen, who completed the funeral ceremonies
in which a weeping nation had participated. Pri-
vate services were held at his home, and a thronged
public memorial service at Concert Hall. And so,
as the sun of November 30 sank beneath the
horizon, they laid him beside his kindred, — his
saintly wife and oidy son, who died in the army.
Whenever we gather in our beautiful hall, the por-
trait of Wilson looks down serenely on the assem-
blage, and his memory shall ever make "our faith
in goodness strong."
We name, too, the North Graveyard bcyuiul
Felchville, and the South Natick Burial-ground,
wiiere sleep the ministers of the last century. Mr.
Peabody's stone, witii a Latin epitaph, is here.
Tliis ground, tin; first I'higlish bunal-placc, was set
apart in 1731, and the oldest moiuiment bears the
date of 1730. 'J'licre were two otlior buriid-placcs,
one on Pond and South Main streets, the other
where stands the post-office. Only older citizens
or tlie antitpiarian know their places now.
The Indians buried their dead a lilllc fartlicr
along on I'cjiid Stnrl. At .Sdiilh Nutick the Vir.xA
before the Unitarian Church and the hotel was a
graveyard. We daily ride and walk over the bones
of Natick's earlier inhabitants. The stone of Taka-
wampbait, Eliot's successor in the ministry, still
stands against the sidewalk fence. In laying pipes
for the water-works a number of skeletons were
exhumed, also a small copper kettle, a heavy flask-
shaped bottle, a sleighbell, beads, and trinkets,
now to be seen in the Historical Rooms.
The American town of any size has and needs
its fire-brigade. Three hand-engines with a hook-
and-ladder truck constituted the old fire depart-
ment. We now have two fine steamers, the ladder
company, and two hose companies. With so many
wooden buildings at the business centre, a large
fire there was often predicted. Tuesday morning,
January 13, 1874, it came. Starting on Summer
Street, corner of North Main, the flames leaped
upon Clark's Block and Walcott's shoe-factory. A
building across Main Street caught, and stores,
halls, houses, and the Congregational Church went
down. Its spire was the last to burn, and just
before its fall the bell struck three sad strokes.
Nearly forty buildings were consumed, and the loss
was estimated at $500,000.
Such a calamity roused the town to secure a
better water-supply. Dug Pond (Pegan has been
suggested as a fitter name) supplies water, pumped
and forced two miles to the reservoir on Broad's
Hill from which j)ipi's run thruuu'h the centre to
Cochituate Ihie and to South Natick. Water was
first let on August, 1875, and at South Natick
September 1, 1877. That village had its great
fire in Marcli, 1872, consuming a block of stores,
houses, and Bailey's Hotel. But tlie energy of the
people rebuilt at once larger and better than be-
fore. Bailey's new hotel is as comfortable a hos-
telry as a man could ask. The locality has been
a tavern or hotel for a century. Mine liost Cham-
berlain, of Adams House (Boston) repute, once
kept hotel here.
The Cocliituate aqueduct crosses the extreme
nortli section of Natick, and the Sudbury River
conduit runs through its southern part. Two tun-
nels, the Rockland Street 1,700 feet, and tlie second
1,575 feet, bored through the solid rock of Carver
Hill, are fino specimens of engineering skill.
Clark's Block covers the space of a block ou
Main Street, with fine stores and convenient halls
for general uses. Natick's growing prosperity is
seen in tlie new streets and residences on Walnut
lldl, ,.v,.rl(M.king Ihe workshops, schools, and