History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

cessful, that the separation was completed by the
incorporation of Soutii Reading as a town early in
1812.
The declaration of war this year against Great
Britain called the early attention of the town to
national matters. A town-meeting was called, and
the question, whether the town was in favor of the
war, being put, the record with emphatic brevity
says, " No man voted in favor of said war." But
the town did not allow its political prejudices to
overwhelm its jwtriotism, and it subsequently
voted that the wages of such soldiers as were " detached"
should be made up to §15 i)er month;
and if the whole militia were called out their wages
should be made the same. The selectmen were
also directed to provide baggage-wagons to be in
readiness when wanted for the soldiers.
The War of 1812 in a rather singular manner
gave to the town its first fire-engine. The war
being unpalatable to many of the citizens, to avoid
service in the army a fire-company was formed
and an engine bouglit ; thirty-five men to each
engine being exempt by law from service as sol-
diers. The exempted positions were sometimes
sold at exorbitant prices.
The fire department was created by an act of
1854, and B. M. Boyce served as chief engineer
for seven years. The present chief is Charles H.
Lang. The town owns four engines, and the an-
nual expenses of tlie department are about 81,700.
The Reading Agricultural and Mechanical Bank-
ing Association was incorporated in 1831. Its
officers were Edmund Parker, president; Warren
Perkins, vice-president ; Jonathan Frost, secre-
tary ; Cyrus Smith, treasurer ; Thomas Smith,
Abiel Holden, Caleb Wakefield, and Eliab Parker,
Jr., directors.
The bank did business in the way of discounts
and deposits, and was very successful till the war
of 1861 brought reverses to its customers, and
compelled the closing up of its aifairs.
The Reading Savings-Bank was established in
1869. E. Hunt served as its first president;
Tliomas Sweetser, vice-president ; N. P. Pratt,
clerk and treasurer, with a board of thirteen direc-
tors. It was closed in March, 1879, when its
affairs were put into the hands of receivers for
final adjustment.
March 22, 1833, the ladies of this town formed
READING. 281
adopting its constitution, was for appropriating
money to aid Hon. William Lloyd Garrison in
his mission to Great Britain. Mr. Garrison says:
" The historical honor belongs to Reading, of giv-
ing birtli to tlie first female antislavery society
ever formed in this country. It continued for
several years to be an efficient instrumentality, and
lielped to give a strong impetus to the whole move-
the Reading Female Antislavery Society. set Mrs. by Mr. Gan-ison to the ladies' antislavery society of Reading,
which is still preserved. Each piece hears a cut representing
Sarah Reid was president, Mrs. Sarah Parker, vice-
a kneeling slave, with manacled hands raised in the attitude of
president: The first vote of the society, after prayer.
j ment."
I Jared
' secretary,
I
I Garrison,
To this town also belongs the lionor
of having formed the first male society auxiliary
to the New England Antislavery Society. Rev.
Reid was president, Horace P. Wakefield
Ambrose Kingman treasurer. "This
society was also active and efficient," says Mr.
and " for some time Reading continued
to be the banner town in the antislavery conflict."^
On the 29th of May, 1844, Reading and South
Reading celebrated the bi-centennial anniversary
of their incorporation. Deacon Caleb Wakefield
was president of tlie day. Tlie address was deliv-
ered by Rev. James Flint, D. D., of Salem, a na-
tive of Reading. Hon. Lilley Eaton followed with
a historical poem. Toasts and responses were
given, interspersed with vocal and instrumental
music. Four thousand people, at least, were in
attendance, and nearly half the number partook of
the collation. Tiie principal exercises were held
near the spot where the Bethesda Clnirch now
stands. It was then an open field owned by Rev.
Peter Sanborn, who offered its use gratuitously, on
condition they should put up the bars when the
celebration was over.
In 1845 the Boston and Maine Railroad was
opened througli this town. The first train passed
over the road July 1. Mr. Calvin Temple was
station agent twenty-one years. The railroad lias
greatly changed the business character of the town
and people. Quite a large portion of the active
citizens reside here, but do business in the city.
The originator of the express business, William
F. Harnden, was a native of this town, and learned
the trade of cabinet-making with his cousin, Syl-
vester Harnden. He commenced carrying small
packages of money and other valuables between
Boston and New York in 1839. His brother,
Adolphus H., while in his employ, perished in the
steamer Lexington, burned on Long Island Sound,
January 13, 1840.
1 The antislaveiy ladies of Enslaud sent an elegant china tea