History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

320 HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
she made a uniform and rapid progress. The free-
ing of the bridges to the metropolis had tended
to turn the tide of travel in this direction. Eeal
estate had experienced an upward tendency. East
Somerville grew more rapidly than any other part
of the town. The northern and western districts
had received but little im^jetus as yet. In 1859
there were but three houses in the now thickly
poijulated area bounded by Bow, Walnut, and
School streets, and Somerville and Highland
avenues. Many new streets had been laid out,
increasing their total lejigth to thirty miles. These
highways had been kept in a fair condition by the
yearly outlay of a sum varying from $3,000 to
$10,000. A few reservoirs had been built for
better protection against fire, and five school-buildings
had been erected. The school population —
now numbered at 1,707 — had more than tripled.
Tiie schools had increased in number to twenty-
four, and were presided over by five male and
twenty-six female teachers. A high school and
an intermediate grade had been established. The
town continued to maintain tlie previous high rank
of its educational establishments. An appropria-
tion, fluctuating from $6,000 to $18,000, had been
annually expended upon them.
The population had more than doubled, having
been registered at 8,025 by the census of 1860.
There were 1.751 polls, and 1,283 houses. The
total valuation of taxable property was $ 5,760,000.
The town debt had increased to §90,924.
During the period of the war the town under-
took few improvements or important measures, feel-
ing that any outlay beyond the demands of necessity
should rightfully be devoted to the interests of the
country. Therefore an account of the soldiers for
the four succeeding years is almost the history of
the town.
Ou Easter Sabbath, 1862, the Emmanuel Episcopal
Church had its beginning in a hall in Somer-
ville Avenue, near Park Street, under the ministra-
tion of Rev. N. G. Allen. In 1865 (he present
church edifice was erected. Tlie present jjustor is
Rev. N. K. Bisliop.
In May, 1863, a Sabbatii school was gathered in
a chapel in Tufts Street by the cllbrls of Rev. N. G.
Allen, around which was formed the St. Thomas
Episcopal Church. In 1868 the Rev. George W.
Durell, tlie ])rescnt rector, was installed, and it was
largely by his labors that the prcNciit chiu'cli-build-
ing was erected.
"The Broadway Orthiidox ( 'ongregatioiial Chiiirli
also took its rise in the year 1863, when in the
month of August the Sabbath school was formed.
June 14, 1865, the ehurcli was regularly organized,
under the pastorship of the Rev. E. Porter Dyer.
In Januarj', 1868, a chapel was completed, and in
December, 1871, the society removed to its present
house of worship. The church is now under the
ministry of Rev. William H. Pierson.
In April, 1863, the town voted to illuminate
streets at night where the abuttors would place
lamp-posts in position, and before the close of the
year ninety-two lamps had been provided.
Somerville's war record is highly honorable.
For rapidity in filling quotas, for measures taken
for the comfort of her soldiers, — by personal sym-
pathy, by the visits of the town officers at the seat
of the war, in forwarding supplies of money and
clothing, — and for the attention given to the sol-
diers' families, a duty which did not cease with the
war, this city stands in the front rank.
Four times the Somerville Light Infantry went
forth from the town for various periods of service,
and one full company, the Somerville Guard, went
out for the period of three years.
At the first call of President Lincoln for troops,
in April, 1861, the Somerville Light Infantry
entered the service as Company B of the 5th
Regiment. They numbered sixty-eight men with
George 0. Brastow captain, and W. E. Robinson
and F. R. Kinsley lieutenants.
April 17, an enthusiastic meeting of the citizens
was held to raise money to aid the departing company
and their families, and to give expression to
sentiments of loyalty to the government. A sum
of $4,323.50 was raised, of which a small purse was
given to each soldier, and a larger sum was placed
in the hands of Captain Brastow, with instructions
to provide without stint for the comfort of his men.
April 20, the company was escorted to Boston, and
each member presented with a Testament by his
fellow-citizen, Moses H. Sargent. Remaining in
Faneuil Hall that night, they started for Washington
the next evening. Arriving at the capital on
the 27th of the month, they were quartered for four
weeks in the Treasury Building, doing guard duty.
They were then removed to Virginia, on the Poto-
mac, four miles from Washington, where they remained
one week. From June 2 to July 16 they
were encamped in the vicinity of Alexandria. On
tlie latter day they were given the right, leading
a long coUimu to Manassas Junction, and partici-
pated in the ensuing battle of Bull Run. Here