History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

new books, and great satisfaction has been derived
by the citizens from this popular institution. April
1, 1879, the whole number of volumes was 2,500.
This small town deserves credit for its early adoption
of the law for the establishment of town
libraries, and it takes pride and pleasure in this
important aid to education.
The year 1861 arrived, and the black clouds
hurrying across the national sky portended a con-
vulsion of no common character. Civil war was
upon us with all its great labors and trials and
sacrifices. Sherborn had always done her duty in
great emergencies ; she did it now. As early as
May 1, 1801, at a town-meeting called for the pur-
pose, a committee was chosen to prepare patriotic
resolutions, which were unanimously adopted. Dr.
Loring, in his bi-centennial address, thus eloquently
discourses of the part borne by tlie town : " Eighty-
two of your citizens were enrolled in the army.
Large sums were expended in bounties to the
soldiers, partly contributed by private liberality,
and partly drawn from tiie treasury of the town.
Your charities were unbounded. Individual and
associated efibrt was unremitting in smoothing the
rugged pathway of the soldier, in providing for those
whom he had left behind, and in alleviating liis toil
on the field and his sufferings in hospital and camp.
From your fireside to every battle-field was stretched
the silver cord of affection and solicitude, bring-
ing close to your hearts every great event of tlie
sublime period, and binding your familiar and
household names to every far-off' spot in our land,
which the war clotiied with immortal reason ; for
your sous were on every field, your blood was
spilled in almost every conflict. The sacrifices
which you made were great. Of those who went
forth, nineteen laid down their lives in their coun-
try's service, defending the flag on many a hard-
fought field."
When the first grant of land was made to the
inhabitants, a tract of fifty acres was appropriated
for tlie support of a free school for the use of the
English and Indian children. " At first the work
of teaching was performed in the several families
or in some private house wliere the children of the
settlement were assembled for that purpose." ^ As
in the settlement, and to whom they offered special
1 Rev. EJmuuJ Dowse; Bi-Ceuteiiuial Sermon, October 18,
HHEEBOUN. 295
inducements to remain." In 1727 a vote was
passed "to build a sciiool-house 18 feet wide & 20
ft. long, and to set it on ileettinghouse common on
tiie Southeasterly side of the Meetinghouse." The
school lands were sold during the next year to de-
fray the expense of this structure. And this spot
remained as the site of a building used either
wholly or in part for school purposes for nearly
one hundred and fifty years.
In addition to the common schools with which
tiie town has always been provided, there has
usually been, for the last one hundred years, a
school of advanced grade for instruction in the
higher branches and in the classics, kept by Rev.
Dr. Locke, Rev. Elijah Brown, Rev. Amos Clarke,
and others. And at a still later period there were
occasional terms of private select school. Many
of the citizens felt the need of a more permanent
school of tiiis character, and efforts were made from
time to time to establish it, but without success.
They therefore received witli great satisfaction and
gratitude, in the year 1858, the proposition of the
executors of the will of Thomas Dowse, to convey
to the town the sum of S 5,000 in trust, for the
support of a high school which should furnish to
the youth of the town tlie means for study of the
higher Euglish branches, and also those which are
required in preparation for entering college.
Thomas Dowse was a leather-dresser, and resided
in Cambridgeport during nearly the whole of a long
life. He was a thorough workman, and attentive
to his business, but had also a taste for science
and literature. He gradually accumulated a fine
library of valuable books, which were elegantly
bound, and thus satisfied his critical eye by their
appearance. His library was his treasure, but iiis
books were not kept for show. He was well ac-
quainted with their contents, and passed most of
his leisure time among them. Altiiough not a na-
tive of Sherborn, he passed much time there during
his boyhood. His father also resided in the town
for several years. A portion of his estate was
wisely left to his executors in trust, to be bestowed
according to their judgment, for scientific and lit-
erary purposes. In consideration of his family
connection with this town, and also of the fact that
many relatives bearuig his name still resided here,
before mentioned, Edward West was chosen schoolmaster.
" He appears to have been a man of su- the executors, through Mr. George Livermore of
perior education, whom the people desired to retain Cambridge, one of their number, deemed it appro-
priate that the town siiould be the recipient of a por-
tion of the means for usefulness and improvement
contemplated by the donur. Hence this acceptable