The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 90

THF BOSTON SUNDAY GLOBE--APRIL 7. 1912. 1 I JIBKI iSSSsfissa1 tell That nAU TcOI RFAT IT I MEttHEBS HASH'TThAT NoMAM- i JOHN YouU HAYS To PUT IN YOUNGER DAYS A DROVER Elijah Adams of Hubbardston. in the Gone Days, Drove Many Cattle, Sheep and Pigs to Market. ROUTES ALONG OLD-TIME STAGE WAYS EARLY TIME IRON WORKERS First Settlers in New England For a Long Time Vexed by a Lack of Proper Cooking Utensils.

FIRST IRON MAKERS WHO USED BOG ORE NORWOOD'S BIG PRESS CLUB Founded and Developed by James Berwick. One of the Town's Generous Citizens The Clubhouse. THE PRESIDENT IS THOMAS E. McCREADY a drorr frr: Boston Into New gathering places the half-frozen Hampshire. aid Newt innl i.s in Winter, and were the A EARLY settlers had far more serl- I our iron and steel problems than do New Fnglanders of these Steel York.

Kttjab Adams of Hubbard, scenes of imi-h soci. billty. One of these wi Spingd'-Id met with many In- lavrrrs where dams stopped was I ng an.I exciting exp'-rtenc-s, i-oip- the famous Wayside Inn. on Cue Sud- ig In and ontiaulng maAV I lur Cider Kan Che rotiimou Although next July. I drink, and each inn Mad a bar where ONE of the most successful and progressive social and athletic clubs in the State is the Norwood Press Club of Norwood.

Its beautiful clubhouse and spacious and well-arranged grounds at Berwick Park, fh the southerly part of the town, have been an admiration and wonder. Several years ago. Jmes Berwick, petition with Capt Hull, if the court would let him. Furthermore the records of Jenks Show that, June 10, l4o, he asked the General Court to encourage him in the manufacture of certain useful implements of iron. To- his request, the court replied: "In answer to a petition of Joseph Jenks for liberty to make experience of his abilities and inventions for the making of engines for the mills, to go with water, for the more speedy dispatch of work than formerly, and mills for the making of scythes and other edge tools, with a new Invented sawmill, that things may be afforded cheaper than formerly, and that 14 years without disturbance by any other's setting tip the like inventions, that so his study and costs may not be In vain or lost, this petition Is granted; so as the power is still left with us to restrain the exportation of such manufactures, and to moderate the prices thereof, if occasion require." There's a colonial law that may furnish precedent for lawmakers In these days of perplexing problems of regulating monopolies and prices.

The General Court of IMS granted Jenks a monopoly of making scythes and other edge tools, and saw mills and water mills, for a period of 14 years. But it drove of pigs from Che Hrighton Market. A drove was 40 or 50. and no horse was needed, for the piss kept together of their own accord In those days every on- in the country kepc a pig and probably two. which were fattened and butchered In the Fall of the year.

usually, before Thanksgiving so that customary to 'depend on a drover for a new supply. The news of the approach of the drover lc-fore him. so thac everybody was on Che watch for him and would come out and select the pigs they wanted and buy them on the hoof, or erhaps require them to be weighed. For this purpose Mr Adams had a stout hickory stick, a rope to loop over one of piggy's front legs and a steelyard which makes Just a balance of the body. The animal would be caught and the other end of the rope hooked to the steelyard, which In turn was hooked over the strong hickory stick, one end of which was on Mr Adams' shoulder and the other resting on a convenient fence with piggy between, where he hung Inert with surprise at his unnon.cd predicament long enough to be weijrhel.

Meanwhile, the remainder of the drove was nosing about by Che wayside and having a good rest. It hr'pcd the drovers when there were such good fences as all were required Al ill Adurr. more than something strongc was to had. Trust days. The first to come did not have a sufficient supply of Iron goods to satisfy their needs.

The Coots, hardware, pots, kettles and other metal goods which they brought from their old homes In Kngland were necessarily few, and naturally wore out quickly In the new and rough country. Fresh sup: piles were on the Other side of the Atlantic, so the setClers had to exercise their Ingenuity and use the best substitute for iron they could find. They 'astened their dwelling houses Cogether with wooden nails. Having no iron hinges they hung doors with straps of leather. roots they made serve for andirons, and green logs, plastered with clay, they used In place of Iron flrebacks In the chimney places.

Tough oak made to serve for plow reserved the right to forbid the expor-: tation of goods and also the right to regulate the prices of such goods. I Good as Spanish. shares. And Ic is very probable that they used the stone hairrrrs ano per- haps hatchets of the Indians, hen they had no iron implements of their own. Housewives felt Wenly the lack of an i iW i sap i I abundant supply of iron utensils, particularly pots and kettles.

Wooden knobs served Chem for handles on doors, and wood tegs proved good clothes hooks. Indian corn cakes ware baked in hot ashes, and veniaou. or other meat, was susM-ndu by string In tin-fireplace, and roasted. It appears that the leaders of the early expeditions of settlers realized the need that they would have In the new country of a liberal supply of metal goods. Not only did they provide metal goods in their equipment, but they Induced Iran mongers to become members pf their parties Capt Kndi-cott, who appears fi have been one of Che most practical leader of the early companies which settled New Kngland.

had John Malborn in his party. Mai- property. Dexter actually had the courage to build a fence across the neck of the peninsula and to attempt to defend his title. In 1643 Bridges went to Kngland fb raise money for the establishment of an Iron works In the Hay Colony. He carried with him samples of bog ore taken from the Saugus River marshes.

He succeeded In forming "The Company of Undertakers for the Iron Works," and 1000 capital. He returned to Boston and In 1643 built an Iron works on the banks of the Saugus River, near Lynn. The location was then called Hammersmith, an appropriate name. It is now a part of the town of Saugus. This "Company of Undertakers for the Ironworks" obtained extraordinary concessions from the General Court.

It was granted the sole privilege to make iron within the jurisdiction of the court for a period of 21 years, the right to search for Iron ore and claim and vrork such ore If It found It on any vacant lands of the colony. It was also granted the right to take wood from any vacant land in the colony, the right to use water of rivers or ponds und exemption from taxes. But the court piously recommended that the coin-pan see to it that their employes at-t ad church on Sundays. Evident! the sercn days a week run. which has provoked the criticisms of the United States Steel Company of today, was unknown in the time of its progenitor.

Worked in Brass. These concessions, however, did not secure to the company as exclusive a monopoly as it might have desired. A few years afterward iron works were established at Braintree and Raynham. Mass. And the exemption from taxes granted by the court was not thorough exemption, for the town of Saugus succeeded In collecting a good-sized tax bill from the company, the Quarterly-Court finding that the General Court had granted exemption from State, but not from town taxes.

Furthermore the company had to pay farmers for damage done to their property when it built a dam across the Saugus River and flooded their meadows. This dam eventually proved the means of the downfall of the iron works. Joseph Jenks. master of the Ironworks at Saugus. had claims to the honorable position of father of the American iron working Industry.

He was "the first who worked in brass and Iron on the American continent." according to Lewis and New hall's history of Lynn. He cast the first pots and kettles made In America, a feat for which the early housewives of New-Fngland were very grateful. One of his kettles Is still preserved In the Lynn Public Library. The Selectmen of the Town of Boston were authorized to negotiate with him for the construction of a "fire lngin." but it is probable that this machine was never built. It is certain, however, that he made the dies from which Capt Hull cast the Pine Tic shillings, and also thai lie oCcrtd to i.uin money, in com for the purposes of enjovment and recreation.

At that time and tor the membership of Che club Wi.j confined Co those connected witn i.ie Norwood Prtis, and when they iefl he-Press their membership of the clua ased. So much interest was taken In the club, that In the Fall of 1910 it decided to thiow open the membership to residents of the town of a reputan.e character, many took the opportunity to join. There are now ijti and boys members of the club, and about 168 girls who form a sort of auxiliary membership. The scope of ihe club combines social Iif? and achletics. There are two bowling alleys.

In the upper part of the clubhouse is a fine large hall, which is used for dances, lectures, banquets and social gatherings. Its primary use. however. Is for a gymnasium, and here classes- practice three evenings a week under the coaching of the physical director of the club. Frank H.

Caswell. There is a large locker room an-1 shower baths on the lower floor of the clubhouse, while on the upper floor are ladies' parlor and a recreation room. A baseball team which is one of the best of its class in the. State has been on diamond for sevjral years. The diamond has also been used by the High School nine and other r-putable teams.

The use of the football gridiron has been allowed to the High School eleven and to oUier duly orcanized teams. A makes -fne games more attractive. The use of the tennis courts has also been allowed to High School pupils during the day. so. in a measure, it will be seen Chat the Press Club has had a Past in educational work of the town.

Tiiere is another sole to the 1 Which takes in the ladies. Dances haie been held twice a month during ihe inter season, and recently the girl member ran a most successful leap-year party, lectures and concerts ire given occasionally on Suudav afternoons, and hand concerts "011 the grounds in the Summer add to the social life of the town. When Mi II. 1 wick built ami tend2i the use or Shis magnificent prcierty to the club, he did a work for the town which even then was bevond his conception. His nerosif.

nd puiilc spirit have l.een recognized more than once, and recently hf was the recipient of a silver loving cup from the iub members. Th first president- who served for two years, was Thorna" A. Houllaii.ui-He was followed by Htrold Brker and Berwick Maxner. each with terms. The president now Tt.onia; K.

M---Crendy. The Vict- president Is "hiil' T. DormelL secret a rv Fru H. well. treasurer Waltev'J.

Uei The directors include Arthur Rr.oar. bert Russell, Frank Coicord. Leo M'-ers. RoH-rt Mahldv. Lllis.

G. Kaler. David Henrv. Klmer Cuddy. William Phalen and Kdvard Learv.

No story of the club would be with. 1 mention of the caretaKer of the 11 ir house. Rufus M. Clark Me Is one of the old-time NorwooJ Prr.u employes, and admirably lift-d for position. The president.

Thomas E. McCreadv. was born In Canton. Jan 31. 1SS6.

and was educated in the Public Schools and High School of that town. After som years spent in Pawtuckei. It I. be cams to Norwood eight years ago and learned the trade of electrotvpe finisher at th J. S.

Cushing Company of the NorWOOS Press, at which occupation he now employed. His father and mother died when "he was four years old, so essentially a self-made man. ar6 ms made a good Job of it. The onlv other organization he belongs to Is the St Catherine's Total stlnence Society, and practically all ms interest is given to th; Norwood Press Club. He was a director for two years before being made president, and since hi Incumbency of the- latter office- there las been a notable increase of en-tnusiasm ill the club.

Jenks made a success of the works. L'nder his supervision it increased its output to eight tons a week. Gov Win-throp said that its iron was "as good as Spanish." Repesentatives of the nnglish investors of th(e company came over and examined the works, and were satisfied. Jenks taught his trade to his sons, Joseph and Daniel, and they went to Rhod Island and established Iron works there. The Jenks family evidently prospered, for the wife of Joseph Jr was presented to the Quarterly Court for "wealing silver luce" in violation of the sumptuary luws.

Jenks died In 16S3. After his time the works began to run down. The company became entangled In lawsuits, which proved ex pensive and which also made it unpopular. Gossip said it hammered out more lawsuits than Iron. The final blow to it was dealt by a lusty farmer of Saugus.

whose name was unknown to the constables of Saugus at the time, and is still unknown to his posterity. In the blackness of night he stole from his house, and to maintain and th fence viewers the laws. From purchaser to purchaser the drover made his way. repeating the process of bargaining and weighing, urtil all were sold. In Brighton there many iens which were hired right alons every season by dealers.

Great droves passed lonK distances without ev selling, their destination beinK For Instance. Columbia t'cunty. Y. as noted for Its swine, hich ere driven to market course di overs, in common with other travel- on the turnpike, had to pay toll. The rte for cattle by the score was 18 swine by the scire 8 cents, sheep I the score horse and rider cents Vermont was famous for Its 1 orses especially of the Brighton bread, and Mr Adams save much attention to hat brunch of the business.

A full drove of cattle was alMiut 40. which was for on the way oat and collected from the farmers on the return trip. farmers preferred not to sell their cattle oulrlght. buC after branding iiiem fo? identification, would send them to market with Mr Adams herd, to be sold for what they Wi uld bring there. The business did not require elaborate bookeeplng.

as cash was paid for purchased and a pocket memo-randtro was all that was needed. It was a business which required keen Judgment, however, and presence of mind also, and the drover was busy day in the week, as It would not do co select the stock on Sunday. With improved car service, and the practice putting cattle to be used for beef into cars for CraiisuorCation. Che drov-ets' business decreased in the Kast. Mr Adifcns spent most of his business lire elcher ai a drover or In the by-S-roduct business aC Fitchburg.

New I lav en. New York. Bridgeport. and Hartford. He is the last of the Blijah Adams family of born, "having skill in Iron working." waa credited with 60 pounds -v, the books of the compoo.v.

though he contributed but pounds cash to Us re- NELSON ADA' Ireiieut of the Norwood Press Club. president of the Berwick Smith Com-I pany, bought a lot of land near the I Norwood Press. It was swampy and had a pond in the center. Mr Berwick I had the place drained, loamed and seeded, and while saving the little hill- ao viv.djy He began bis life as a drover at the Join: Lowe, who cU Irtv meat business in Hindgt. il.

and lb Brighton mark ft. Mr Adam' lite a .1 drover was imC dlsarim 1 To hai of the vTeSlin cowboy. He drutr i-aCtle, snep and twit to market, tin iiuii Brighton few mile out o' IkndoQ. WiJ omsidereo the New Kngland roarket-ptac-e. without a rival.

Mr Adams' ocus. me trees auo ine sloping oa.iK-. so transformed it that it became a leautiful park of seven acres. Tennis coutt. a baseball diamond and air ath-I letic track were laid out.

a grandstand and a band pavilion constructed, and a beautiful modern elubhouse built, the architect of which was his son, Walter sources. He was also to have his pan-sage out and home at the charge of the company. But there Is no record that he exercised his skill In iron working In the new country. First Iron Worfce. The first substantial attempt to establish iron work 'n New Kngland was made about it, tnd it was successful Hon Robert Btitges und Thortuu 1 ea it.

They were a strange pair Uj associated in an en-terprise. Undone was a thorough Puritan, pious amf e'- and a magistrate. He sentenced dMssenters to be whipped. He was chosea of the House of Rent es. Uv of the General Court.

Dexter was art adventurer, a speculator, who would take a chance on most anything. He was reprimanded for sleeping In church during service and was 4i pounds and sentenced to sit in the atocks "for speaking seditiously agutnat the Government." His most spectacular adventure was his purchase of the entire peninsula of N'ahant for a pair of trousers, paid uu luU Ian uhlr who claimed utie lo Luc route itinue There was also home-made toot beer made from birch and saasafras, and town to town the tavern wore interesting In their variety. l--iaily the vtvCnging sign-boards with dales marking their JalTre.v. H. on the BraCCleboro plk.

had one which boiv. l-esides the date, a picture of a Iox. Tlie slyn iung fre; from .1 crane of wrought she stage toads were uell known places lo water the animals, and while they were drinking the drovers would quench their Chirac from Che same source. animals were good judges of water clen as now. The bridges, targe and small, met wich on Che route, while ingenious In their eunstruccton.

were often dangerous for a drote of cattle and other animals to cross, and must be passed in single flle Co lessen Che strain or th bridge. The bridge near lioston were considered great on-tlere tiiid convenient. In the 8pnng of the year Mr Adams was accwwmd Co start out aiOi a was lu'vrt! uat 4. in. coa-Into pares of New Hampshire, mi and the t-djee ui New York buying livestock of farmer of the drover In the business with an ax he cut the dam which the company had build across the Saugus River.

He was offended because the water which it held back flooded his hay meadows. The freed waters rushed through the dam and down onto the works and drowned their tires and did much damage to them. It also flooded the first floors of nearby houses. The iron works at Saugus were closed soon after the flood descended upon them. This was about 1688.

They were never started again. Their supply of ore was Insufficient and their costs of making iron was large. They took bog ore from the marshes of the Saugus itiver and they bought ore that was brought to them by settlers who dug it in the marshes of other rivers. The iron was priced at 20 pounds, about $100 a ton. Fortunately the iron works that were established elsewhere in Southeastern Massachusetts.

In Rhode island. Connecticut and the -iliddle State steadily llyaiuhed. whose Chicago fame. Kat Ssndich. olio wed the Muni of the utes of j.

Berwick. Then was organized the Norwood Press Club, consisting of people of the yrtat printing plant, employers and employes. To this club Mr Berwick gave, the use of the magnificent propvt ty. In the place vva nnishtd for oc cupancy and on ThzrUisgn evening of that year, the cluh'iouae and Berwick Park, as it was reamed, was dedicated with suitable ceremonies. As Mr Berwick expressed It.

at. that time, the Norwood Press Club members were "tenants at but the mar-agcmeiit of the clubhouse was in their The club was designed as a of employ en and Doubtful. Xew ork Man tin L'oston rescurano Walter, bring me some cf what tiiat man has ovr there. Waiter I don't th.nk there will be an Kit, aii, mitu ui- gitd through. aii iiiuidmU-ns were to be hud.

nrvpUtva txv lilt..