History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

472 HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
in a small way the manufacture of slioes. This
firm have continued to the present time, and are
the leading business house. Messrs. Thomas Bryant,
and T. A. and H. C. Dean, are extensive manu-
facturers. The steady growtli of business is indi-
cated by the following statistics : In 1837 the
number of pairs of shoes manufactured was 29,660;
value, $22,419 ; males employed, 31 ; females, 15.
In 1865, capital invested, $ 17,850; value of manu-
factured goods, .$282,7(iO ;
males employed, 182;
females, 29. In 1875 the number of establish-
ments was nine ; capital invested, $51,500; value
of manufactured goods, $1,799,175; males em-
ployed, 431 ; females, 60.
A Wesleyan Methodist Church was erected here
in 1850. A Methodist E^jiscopal society has since
been organized. A new grammar-school house
was built in 1773; attendance in 1878, forty-five.
A system of water-supply, from Rice's Pond, has
just been completed at an expense of $25,000.
In 1841 the Wayland Academy, a private in-
stitution, was opened, with Rev. Leonard P.
Frost, principal ; Josiali Rutter, A. B., teacher of
ancient languages ; Miss Aima P. Frost, precep-
tress ; Lewis Smith, teacher of vocal music ; F. F.
Heard, teacher of instrumental music. Number
of pupils in the fall term : girls, thirty-six ; boys,
seventy-one; total, one hundred and seven.
In 1854 a town high scliool was established, clothing, medicines, etc.
and a new school-house erected at the Centre.
Town Lihrary. — This town has the honor of
The Massachusetts Central Railroad was chartered
in 1869. Tiiis town subscribed for tliree
establishing the first free public library in Massa- hundred and twenty-five shares of the stock. This
chusetts. Francis Wayland, D. D., president of
Brown University, for whom the town was named,
proposed to give $500 to his namesake, on condi-
tion that the town should appropriate an equal sum,
the whole to be expended in founding a library,
wliicli .«liould be free for the use and benefit of all
llie inliabitants. At a meeting in 1818 the town
accepted the gift on tlie terms proposed, and voted
to raise tlie required amount. But as tliere was
doubt about the right of tlie town to raise money
by tax for sucli a purpose, a larger sum was raised
by citizen subscriptions, and presciiliil to llic town
for tliat object. In 1851 (lie toun insliiicted its
re])rcscn(ative. Rev. -lolin I!. \Vii,'lil, lo ask for
a special law to meet tlicir ease. iiiil liis active
mind l,M,k a wi.lcran.l, as tl,c ivsiill lias shown,
more heoelicent view; and he seeured Ihe enaet-
ineiil nt a -eiieial hiu, inuhr uhieli live |,l,rarus
have beel, la.-elv e^lahh^hi'd ihrmiull iheslale.
The WaNlainl'Lihrarv uas fouiided ni |S|S, and
was opened for the delivery of books August 7,
1850. In 1863 Deacon James Draper gave §500
to the town as a permanent fund for tlie beni-fit
of the library. The number of volumes now in
the library is 7,485. A social library was estab-
lished here soon after the Revolution, through the
influence of Rev. Mr. Bridge. It contained over
one hundred volumes of the best books then pub-
lished, and for many years diffused useful informa-
tion and mental cultivation among the proprietors.
The remains of this library were transferred to the
new free library.
War of 1812. — Volunteers who served three
months in Boston Harbor : Abel Heard, James
Draper, Rufus Goodnow. Drafted men : Reuben
Slierman, Daniel Hoven, John Palmer; tlie last
two procured substitutes, namely, Cephas ^loore
and Jonas Abbot.
War of Ihe BeheJlioH. — Total number of men
furnished to fill tlie town's quotas, one liundred
and twenty-nine. Of this number seventy were
residents, most of tliem natives, of tlie town. Of
the above, twelve were killed in battle or died in
the service. Two natives of the town enlisted
from other places. Total amount raised by the
town in its corporate capacity for recruiting jiur-
poses, $18,000. The Soldiers' Aid Society and
the Soldiers' Relief Society contributed largely of
road, soon to be completed, passes through tlm
centre village, and will place within easy reach of
business men in Boston new and extensive terri-
tory for country residences, of surpassing scenic
beauty.
Tlie following table sliows the population to the
latest census — :
Populnlion. Vahmlion of Ri'al Estate.
17S1 $149,328
171)1 SOI 147,93()
LSOl 835 150,S(12
isll S2t llil)JS2
1S21 '.)'',2 in7,31(i
183
1
'.)14 2Si),.')(10
is 10 il'JS 31(i.W(;
ls:,o 1,11.-. 1-31,(123
ISGO
1S70
ls7r. i,7(ic. i,(i(;.'.,ii30
Between 1761 and IsOl forty-seven
died in town aged ninety an,l U|iuanls; tht
was one liundred and three.