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Gazette & Courier - Monday, September 20, 1875
Heath
Heath - Messrs.Editors: The death of our most aged mother and much beloved neighbor and friend, Mrs. Martha Spooner, widow of the late Philip Spooner, who died at her home in Heath with her son Deacon N.W. Spooner Aug. 21, aged 96 years, she being the oldest person in town - is deemed worthy of something more than a passing notice.
For more than 60 years the deceased was a resident of this town. Left in early life with a large family of children, almost entirely dependent on her labor for support, she neverthless maintained them in comfort and respectability, early training them to habitual industry, temperance and frugality, teaching them to reverence the Sabbath and be guided by the principles and precepts of God's word...
Gazette & Courier - Monday, September 6, 1875
Shelburne Falls
Shelburne Falls - The Shelburne Falls Cornet Band will give a picnic and clam bake at Lamson's grove on Fri. aft. Ice cream, soda, and other refreshments will be served. The picnic will be run without any intoxicating beverages.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, September 6, 1875
Buckland
(Buckland) We were in the shop of Arnold Smith a few days ago, and saw a notice printed in big letters, saying that he should not give or ask credit of any live man after Sept. 1, 1875. We were glad to see it, and hope others will imitate his example. Mr. Smith is a general jobber, builds and repairs wagons, carts, sleighs, sleds, wheelbarrows, and anything wanted; he has a blacksmith shop, cider mill and still; he must necessarily have to pay out a good deal of money, and therefore must have some paid to him. We hope he will have good success in his new start, in everything but the still.
Many who are suffering from the effects of the warm weather and are debilitated are advised by physicians to take moderate amounts of whiskey two or three times during the day. In a little while those who adopt this advice frequently increase the number of "drinks" and in time become confirmed inebriates. A beverage which will not create thirst for intoxicating liquors, and which is intended especially for the benefit of debilitated persons, is Dr. Schenck's Seaweed Tonic, containing the juices of many medicinal herbs...
Gazette & Courier - Monday, August 30, 1875
News about home: Greenfield items
Matthew Harrigan and Pat Sullivan, victims of intemperance, were brought before Justice Davis last week, and the former fined $3 and costs, and the latter $1 and costs, which they both paid.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, August 16, 1875
Coleraine
Situated up among the hills, yet we have some beautiful valleys as well as the lovely mountain scenery - we are a busy people - few if any loungers or unemployed, all have something to do, notwithstanding the cry of hard times so often heard. There are 3 cotton mills, many more lumber mills, 2 butter box manufactories, most kinds of mechanic shops, all of which are doing a good business.
Some very fine carriages are made here; there are several stores, 5 churches, two Methodist Episcopal, one Congregational, 2 Baptist. Five secret societies, viz. Grand Army Post, Sons of Temperance, two Sovereigns of Industry and a Grange; that we have a good hotel we hardly need assert as those who pass this way know, as well as others who read the papers.
We have many good farms well cultivated and from appearances are about to yield satisfactory harvests; the late rains have done much to improve crops. The farmers are getting wiser and are raising less tobacco than in former years, other crops receiving more attention such as grass, corn, oats, etc. and are looking well.
We know of no place in town where intoxicating liquors are sold, and one drunk is rarely seen. We have no railroad but there is considerable talk of one. Our schools, some 15 in number, are good, comparing favorably with those around us, and our mail facilities and modes of conveyance to and from are equal to larger towns, and places on railroads with the exception of the iron horse.
A good number from more crowded towns stopping here during the warm weather, yet there is room for others.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, August 16, 1875
Conway
The latest case of mistaken identity occurred on Sat. A certain toper sent his boy to the village for a bottle of the ardent. The boy seeing the rosy face of the cashier, through the bank window, supposed that was the proper place and applied according to instructions. Unwilling to send the lad away with an empty bottle, the man of checks forgave the youth for his unwarranted judgment, and filled his whiskey bottle with ice water, refusing the proffered cash upon the plea that he would charge it as usual.
We wish we could say for the honor of our village, liquor did not affect us, only through tramps. Both women and men seem to copy their example set of late, to our shame. Temperance people better not go to sleep again, or they will find something worse to battle than the dreaded "Colorado beetle".
Gazette & Courier - Monday, August 9, 1875
News about home: Greenfield items
About 4 o'clock nearly every aft., from half a dozen to a dozen or more men, mostly railroad hands at work on the Troy & Greenfield railroad can be seen staggering toward the depot from the various rum holes of this village, to take the train west. This is the "practical" working of the license law. It did not use [i.e. used] to be so under the prohibitory law and the State Constables.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, July 19, 1875
Turners Falls
Silver Spray Lodge of Good Templars is being rapidly revived, and its members promise the public that much good may be expected from them hereafter. Nearly half the members belong to Greenfield.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, July 19, 1875
Bernardston
Week before last was one of picnics, emphatically so, at Sylvan Grove in this town. On Mon. the 5th, the Hibernians from Keene N.H. celebrated the nation’s birthday by a picnic, which was numerously attended, there being several car loads of men, women and children. They brought their favorite beer in great abundance, and their own police to preserve order and guard the festivities of the occasion from all interruption that might ensue from the "working" of the beer. The police were mostly of the Yankee blood, large and powerful looking men.
They brought along with them two fine bands of music, a brass band, and a string band, to stir the soul with harmony. National pride was quite apparent on this occasion, several of the leading ones wearing the green plume and other trappings of Irish nationality. Upon one large and beautiful banner, we saw the name of Emmett, a name dear to every Irish heart, and a name worthy to be revered by every patriot. Upon the whole this picnic appeared to be a very enjoyable affair, and well enjoyed by all concerned, giving no unfavorable impressions of the Irish character.
There were some very sprightly and amusing single jig dancing, both by males and females, which was almost "super" Yankee. [?] There was only one beer fight, and this was soon checked by the long, bony arms of a Yankee policeman. One of those combatants did not belong to the party from Keene. As soon as clear from the grasp of the policeman, he made tracks as fast as his ten toes could carry him, for fear of being handcuffed and tied to a tree, a summary, but very proper and effective way of treating the license loving public when inclined to pugilistic sentiments.
At a seasonable hour the party all left for their homes in sober good nature, all feeling they had had a good time, and honored the birth of their adopted country. The next picnic in order was that of the two Baptist Societies from Springfield, called the Sunday School Picnic, and was the largest gathering of the kind held at Sylvan Grove this season, there being 9 car loads of old and young, and was evidently a gathering of [?] first social rank of the place. They also had two bands of music, a brass band and a string band, and in addition they had a choir of male singers, whose vocal powers can hardly be beat if equaled.
We cannot recall the time when we have been so highly pleased with social music. And we were not a little surprised, but very "agreeably" so, to learn that the Baptist people can "trip it on the light fantastic toe", and call the same an innocent and sinless amusement, as well as other professing Christians. Truly old prejudices are giving way and common sense is gaining ground...
Thurs. July 8, a colored picnic from Springfield occupied Sylvan Grove, numbering 201 grown up persons of both sexes, and 31 children. They called themselves the Pilgrim Baptists, and during their stay here their conduct was very exemplary and seemed perfectly consistent with the Christian name and character. Their sense of Christian propriety forbade them to indulge in dancing exercises, which seems almost an instinct of the African race, consequently they had no music but vocal, some of which was exceedingly charming to the ear. They were scrupulously neat in appearance, well dressed, though not fantastically so, which is considered by many to be an African characteristic.
They were all shades, from a jet black to a light quadroon, many of them having the straight auburn hair and the Saxon blue eye. Many of them gave evidence of a good degree of general intelligence and learning, being able to converse with ease upon various topics, especially religious topics, to which they seemed much inclined. Their demeanor, through the day, was such as to claim the respect of every one present; and we were very willing to admit that they rightfully belonged to the great Christian brotherhood of man.
Several of the first class citizens of the place showed them marks of politeness and courtesy, by carrying them about town in their carriages. "A blessing on him who cheers the downtrodden".
Fri. July 9, the Unitarian Society from Northampton held a picnic at Sylvan Grove. This party numbered 150, a number highly respectable for the Society, which we understand is quite small. It was quite evident from appearances that this party was composed of people of both sexes from the first circles of refined society in points of politeness and moral culture. They were accompanied by a band of music of 6 pieces, called the Arlan Orchestra, T.S. Billings, leader, a gentleman highly distinguished for musical talents, as also were the others of the band. The music of this band probably cannot be beat by any band in Western Massachusetts. Mr. Billings is, no doubt, an amateur of music from birth.
Of course a dance followed the sweet strains of this music; indeed, they couldn’t help it, so bewitching is the power of music over the head and heels. Among the dancers first up on this occasion we saw an old gentleman, 83 years old; and had you seen nothing of him but the nimble and elastic step of his feet, you certainly would have said those feet were not more than 20 years old; a remarkable instance of green old age. This was no less a man than David Damon, a well known citizen in the first circles of Northampton society. [See the Google book "Early Northampton", 1914],
(Pardon us for calling names). Nothing happened in word or deed to mar the enjoyment of this pleasant occasion. There was no smell of ’license" stronger than good tea and coffee, with plenty of cool lemonade. Joy and social kindness shone in every countenance, showing the unspeakable advantages of refined society. Even the gentle bearing and graceful manners of the little children lent a charm to the occasion. Such a picnic we would gladly see repeated. Scribe.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, July 5, 1875
News about home: Greenfield items
Quite a number of our people attended the temperance picnic at Lake Pleasant on Sat. The gathering there was not a large one. The day was spent in listening to speeches by George Hawkes, W.B. Spooner, Edwin Thompson, William Wells Brown and others, dancing in the pavilion, and enjoying the music of the Fitchburg Band.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, June 21, 1875
North Leverett
The people of North Leverett met in the village hall, which was brilliantly lighted and beautifully adorned with evergreens, mottos, etc., on the eve of the 17th, to celebrate the centennial of the battle of Bunker Hill. The exercises commenced with prayer by Rev. B. Newton, then select reading suiting the occasion and appropriate remarks, who was followed by others in relating interesting incidents of the American Revolution and the late rebellion, in which stealing from the enemy became a subject of discussion; although none really contended that in such cases theft is fully justifiable, yet some seemed to think that circumstances and the usages of war might, to some extent, be a palliation, which strikingly reminded us of a case of a woman brought into court for stealing a pair of mittens for her husband who was very poor, and the jury brought in a verdict of not guilty, and hoped she would not do so again.
/ Weapons of defense and relics used in the Revolution were exhibited, among which was a bottle that would contain about a pint, used by one Mr. Gardner, a veteran in the war, which held spirits enough to last him a year, which speaks well for the temperance of those days.
/ The hall was filled to overflowing and the whole company were generously treated with rich cake and lemonade...
Gazette & Courier - Monday, June 21, 1875
License and prohibition
Long pro-temperance article by Fennelon. [Probably a play on Francois Fenelon, the archbishop of Cambrai, author of "Maxims of the Saints" and a great advocate of temperance. See Wikipedia].
Gazette & Courier - Monday, June 7, 1875
News about home: Greenfield items
We referred last week to the fact that Republican Lodge was organized under a charter granted by Paul Revere in 1795. The first record book of the lodge is still preserved, and is quite an interesting relic of antiquity. We find that in the original bylaws the fraternity were subjected to very strict rules, as will be seen by the following extract: "Should any Brother be so impudent as to make use of any profane language or indecent behavior during Lodge hours, he or they so offending shall pay a fine of one shilling, lawful money, for every such offense, to be put into the fund for the relief of the poor brethren.
/ And the fraternity were instructed to be cautious, both within and without the lodge, that no reflection be cast against the order. They had a temperance clause in their bylaws, too: "If any Brother should be so void of shame as to disguise himself with liquor, or come to the lodge disguised in liquor, he shall be fined 25 cents and be dismissed for the night, and at the next meeting be reprimanded", and no brother was allowed to play cards or gamble. In 1820, however, we find that at a meeting where only 3 were present, it was voted to pass a bill of 18 cents for refreshments, which would cover the price for 3 glasses of rum; but that was a miserable allowance for those days. We find that as early as 1814, Hon. George Grennell, who is yet with us, held an office in the lodge, and a few years afterward was made Worshipful Master.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, June 7, 1875
Shelburne
Col. D. Wells and H. Wells, who are building a fine, large barn had a "raising" last Tues. aft. About 80 men and boys were present, and accomplished a good deal of work. Instead of the "new rum" which in olden times was thought so necessary at a raising, an abundant supply of lemonade was found a far more refreshing beverage. The barn, which is being built under the direction of Nathan O. Newhall and Son, is 45 by 80 ft., with basement for manure pit and stables. It will be arranged with all the modern conveniences, and is in every way a first class structure, being built with large timber, in the most thorough manner. The Messrs. Wells got out all the lumber last winter, and their sawing bills amounted to between $200 and $300. The barn will be slated by Mr. Johnson of Brattleboro.
- Fri, Feb 12, 2010
