R. 7/ W O BU R N Class Book. -WriWi^^" Copyright l^°_ COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT W O B U R N The Woburn Number of a Series devoted to the illustration of certain of the cities and towns adjacent to the City of Boston and the presentation, in brief accompanying text, of some suggestive facts concerning their advantages and development. PUBLISHED IN BOSTON IN THE FALL OF NINETEEN HUNDRED AND NINE BY THE EDISON ELECTRIC ILLUMINATING CO. 39 BoYLSTON Street, Boston, Massachusetts. (Copyright 1909 by The Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Boston.) u ©C!.A25163i T h C i t y o f W o b u r n 'T'HE earliest recorded explora- tion of the territory occupied by the present City of Woburn, or its neighborhood, was in 1621 soon after the settlement of Plymouth itself. In the very early years after its settlement was begun, Woburn was a part of Charlestown and the parts thereabout were looked upon then as an outlying or remote country. In 1642, so rapidly had inhabitants come hither, its lands were set off" from those of the older place and it was made a distinct and incorporated town. The early date of its incorporation made it the third in date of the towns created in the Commonwealth. Its name appears to have been chosen to preser\ e fur- ther the name of his birthplace and to honor Captain Robert Sedgwick, an important man of his day, who was the head of the Committee ap- pointed to determine the correct boundaries between Charlestown and Woburn and to choose the location for the new village. The farmers and others of Woburn had their in- dividual struggles with the Indians and braved the dangers which were necessary incidents of life in a re- gion newly settled and endured trials similar to those borne by other New England settlers. They were simi- The Public Library and the Statue of Count Rumford. 3 Municipal Building and Court House Across the Common, Woburn. larly successful though in their ef- forts to subdue to their needs and uses the wild country in which they had elected to make their homes. The young town prospered. The men of the town took brave part in the Indian Wars. Many of them were organized as Minute Men in the Revolution; but the tide of battle then flowed in other direc- tions and the important engagements of that struggle in the vicinity of Boston were fought at other places and on other fields. A tablet on the present Common marks the "Site of the Meeting House on the First Training Field, 1642-1672," and while the latter part of this inscrip- tion indicates that the men of Wo- burn were early trained in martial ways the Soldiers' Monument here, also commemorates the sacrifices of later men in the Civil War. Perhaps, the most distinguished citizen of Woburn of the past was Benjamin Thompson, Count Rum- ford, whose birthplace has been pre- served carefully at North Woburn and a statue of whom adorns the grounds of the beautiful Public Li- brary. Born in 1753, he early de- voted himself to scientific pursuits and to chemical and mechanical ex- periments. In 1776 he was sent with despatches to Fngland by Gov- ernor Wentworth of New Hamp- shire and at about the close of the Revolution he was Knighted by George III. Eleven years he spent at Munich as Minister of War, Minister of Police and Grand Cham- berlain to the Elector. He reorgan- ized the Bavarian army and aided the poor, and so the state, to attain better conditions, and in 1791 he was made a Count of the Holv Roman Catholic Church of St. Charles Borromeo and Parochial Buildings. The Station, Boston and Maine Railroad, Woburn. 5 The Recently Completed High School Building, Woburn. The Pumping Station of the Water Supply System at Lower End Horn Pond. 6 Roman Empire choosing his title, Rumford, from the name of the town in which his wife's family had lived. Later, in 1799, with others, he es- tablished the Royal Institute and he selected as the first scientific lecturer of that institution Sir Humphrey Davy, whose ser- vices to electrical development and scientific progress were so important. The name of Goodyear has been given to one of the schools and Charles Goodyear carried on for many years in Woburn the experiments which led to the wide and greater usefulness of rub- ber. Loammi Baldwin Woburn in 1774. First Congregational Church, Woburn. was born in He became a Colonel in the Revolutionary army and was otherwise a public spirited and very useful citizen; but properly his strongest claim to fame may be based upon the fact that he culti- vated with zeal and duly introduced to the public the delectable and fa- vored apple which bears his name. The palatial house of the Baldwin family erected even before his time, still stands on the road to North Woburn. As the territory at first occupied by Woburn became more thickly settled other towns were created and the land of the town of Wilming- ton was taken partly from that of Woburn in 1730; that of Burling- ton in 1799 and that of Winchester in 1850. The present Woburn has an area of twelve and six-tenths square miles. By i86o the popula- tion had increased to nearly sixty- three hundred and bv 1888 when Woburn was made a city to over the required twelve thousand, and this population now amounts to about fourteen thousand, five hun- dred, while the legal voters number nearly thirty-three hundred. The Post Office and Savings Bank Building. assessor's valuation is something over eleven million dollars, $2,297,- 758.00 on personal property and 1^8,898,964.00 on real estate. The advantages of railroad con- nections between itself and Boston and other places were early bestowed upon Woburn by the Lowell Rail- road which began its operations in 1835, but the line of this road ran farther to the east than Woburn Village. In 1846, however, the Woburn Branch Railroad was opened running directly to the already im- portant center. Now, Woburn is on the Southern Division of the Boston and Maine Railroad and within the limits of the city there are six stations, at Woburn, Woburn Highlands, Cross Street, Central Square, North Woburn and Mont- vale or East Woburn. To Woburn ten miles by rail, there are twenty- three trains out from Boston daily and twenty in from Woburn; on Sundays nine and eight respectively. The single fare is twenty cents; twelve rides cost $1.30 and the average running time is thirty-one minutes. The trains between Bos- ton and Woburn Highlands and Cross Street are nearly as many while the fares, the distances and the running time are slightly less than as stated for Woburn. To and from Montvale there are fifteen trains in each direction daily; five on Sundays. The single fare is twenty cents and twelve rides cost $1.30. Central Square is eleven miles by rail from Boston and North Wo- burn thirteen. The single fare to the first is twenty-two cents; twelve rides, $1.35; to the second, twenty- Trinity Episcopal Church and Rectory, Woburn. The Methodist Elpiscopal Church, Woburn. 9 Charles Choate Memorial Hospital, Woburn. The Armory and the Swedish Lutheran Church. lo five cents and $i.50respectively. The daily trains number thirteen in each direction; Sundays three, but North Wo burn has an added Sun- day train out. Easy communication is further secured by the electric rail- ways which con- nect Woburn with Winchester, Med- ford and Boston; with Arlington, Cambridge and again with Boston; with Lexington, Bedford, Concord and Lowell; with Stoneham and Reading. Woburn occu- pies the highest land between Bos- ton and Lowell, and this altitude must be regarded as one of the advantages of the city as a place of healthful and satisfac- tory residence. Other important advantages in this respect are the ease of communication, the unusual opportunities presented here for ob- taining a livelihood and the public utilities which have been introduced together with many and important conveniences. The City Water Works supply drinking water of excellent quality. This comes partly from supple- mentary wells; but mainly from a filter gallery near Horn Pond, a beautiful sheet of water which be- sides serving its useful purpose is one The Unitarian Church and Soldiers' Monument. of the scenic attractions of Woburn. The water is pumped both directly and to a reservoir on Horn Pond Mountain. The supply is always plentiful and there is ample pressure while the thorough distributing system and the more than fifty-seven miles of mains in use make the water generally axailable. The macadam streets in the more popu- lous parts of the city are watered during the summer months and these as well as the gravel roads in the outlying districts and the many miles of concrete sidewalks are maintained in good condition. The health of the city is well protected by sewers The Old Baldwin Mansion on the road to North Woburn. Some of the Attractive Dwellings on Main Street, Woburn. 12 - A Few of the Pleasant Homes on Arlington Road. The Birthplace of Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford. •3 and the sewage after passing through the many city conduits is conducted away by a trunk sewer of the Metro- politan System. Gas for illumi- nation and cooking is supplied by the Woburn Gas Light Company. The efficient fire department has horse-drawn apparatus in good con- dition consisting of one steam engine, six hose wagons and one hook and ladder truck together with exercise, supply, engineer's and repair wagons and sleds for winter use. Together with other suitable equipment hand chemical extinguishers and hand pumps are carried on the various pieces of apparatus. Nearly four hundred hydrants provide water for the department. The police force is active and adequate for the preser- vation of order and the protection of person and property. In the Court House adjoining the Municipal Building the Fourth District Court of Eastern Middlesex, holds criminal sessions daily and civil sessions on Saturday. The streets of Woburn are lighted all night during the winter .nonths and until twelve-thirty every night of other seasons by electricity and under a ten-year contract with The Edison Electric Illuminating Com- pany. This Company also furnishes electricity for the illumination of residential and commercial structures, as well as for power, at its standard rates as established throughout the thirty-three cities and towns it sup- plies with the electric current. The service of the Company is contin- uous during every hour of every day in the year. In the busy central thoroughfares there are many stores of unusual size and equipment and so stocked that Woburn National Bank Building and other Business Structures. The Dow Business Block, Woburn. Stores along Main Street facing the Common. 15 Tile Works of R. Guastavino Company. The Allen Business Block, Woburn. i6 The Baptist Church facing the Common. the purchasable needs of the com- munity may be met easily. Two daily and one weekly newspapers give the local news of the city. Banking facilities are afforded by the Woburn National Bank, the Woburn Five Cents Saving Bank and the Woburn Cooperative Bank. The State Board of Education reports that there are fifty-nine public schools in Wo- burn including the High School. Not only is a high and satisfactory educational standard maintained in these schools, but due care is taken to promote the physical well being of the pupils and medical inspection is made regularly. Besides, the value of prudence is taught and its practice encouraged. There are fourteen public school buildings in the city and while several of these are modern in construction and ar- rangement the High School building is a costly and imposing structure completed in 1907. An evening school wherein both academic and business courses are pursued has se- cured a gratifying enrollment and attendance. In addition to these schools there are the Warren Academy Free Industrial School and St. Charles Parochial School for girls and small boys. At Woburn there are these churches. First Unitarian Parish; St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic; First Congregational; Trin- ity Episcopal; First Baptist and St. John's (colored) Baptist; Methodist Episcopal; Scandinavian Evangelical and one Swedish Lutheran while the Christian Science Church ser- vices are held in the Savings Bank Building. At North Woburn are one Roman Catholic, and one »7 Congregational; at East Woburn St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church and another Congregational church. The Public Library occupies a notable and very beautiful building of architectural importance. This was designed by the late Henry H. Richardson, the famous architect. As a tablet duly installed records, "This building was erected in memory of Jonathan Bowers Winn from funds bequeathed by his son for the use, benefit and improvement of the people of Woburn." A social library was established in Woburn as long ago as 1789; but the present library was founded when Hon. Jonathan Bowers Winn gave, for the purpose, the money he had received as a member of the State Convention of 1853. ^^^ Winn family has long been prominent here and indeed the first recorded birth in Woburn was that of Increase Winn in 1 64 1. The gift of Mr. Winn was supplemented by the then town and the library was opened to the public in 1856. Other gifts followed and the munificent bequest of Mr. C. B. Winn made possible the erec- tion of the present building. This was opened for use May i, 1879. It contains pictures also bequeathed by Mr. C. B. Winn, fossils, minerals, birds together with a collection of over fifty thousand volumes besides pamphlets and periodicals. Liberal use is made of the reading room of the children's department and of the circulating privileges. The library also permits the supplementary read- ing required of certain pupils in the High School. At North Woburn is the Jonathan Thompson Library, a smaller but still quite important institution. The Scandinavian Evangelical Church, Woburn. 18 Plant of the Cottle Leather Company. Factory in Woburn of Beggs & Cobb. 19 Tannery and Works of T. F. Boyle &: Company. Due provision is made in Woburn for the care of the poor who must be found everywhere and the Board of Health is keenly alert in the ex- ercise of protective and corrective measures. The Charles Choate Memorial Hospital was recently opened on Warren Avenue. This was a gift from the daughter and granddaughter of a former leather manufacturer of Woburn whose name it bears. Social pleasures are promoted or fostered by many local branches of fraternal organizations, by societies connected with the churches and by the Towanda Club, the Mishawum Club, the South End Social Club and the Woburn Woman's Club. Some of these and the historical associations hold meetings affording intellectual diversion, or lectures are given under their auspices. In the Armory on Montvale Avenue are the quarters of Company G, Fifth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. Various opportunities for outdoor recreation are presented in Woburn. The pleasant residence streets of the city lined with attractive looking homes and the good roads running through picturesque and outlying districts increase the usual pleasures of walking or driving. The head waters of the Mystic River are in Woburn, and various ponds or lakes add diversity to the scenery. Horn Pond Mountain and other elevations afford charming views. The vicinity of Horn Pond is attractive while the pond itself is regarded as the best lake for canoeing in Eastern Mas- sachusetts. Here the Innitou Canoe Club has its quarters. Moreover, while several small and pleasant h^BHI^^^^^^HHRHHHHBHI^BHb 'ir>\^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H BP^iirfitfWi '•.ij#tl-!^-^ ^juplflk.x' VHl Works of Merrimac Chemical Company. Belt Knife Factory of the Clemson, Bailey Company. 21 parks are maintained by the city the field back of the library is used to advantage for baseball games. At Forest Park baseball games are held also and surrounding the new High School are thirty-six acres available as playgrounds. At the southern end of the city is to be a "public playground conveniently located and of suitable size and equipment for the recreation and physical edu- cation of the minors," to quote from the act under which this is to be established. The grounds have been selected and contracts let for the de- velopment. Among the settlers of Woburn were several tanners; but farming was, of course the principal occu- pation of the early residents. Soon after 1800, however, leather manu- facturing began to be an industry of consequence in Woburn and while this developed with the years the un- usual demand during the Civil War was a stimulant to production. The relative importance then assumed by the tanners and leather manufactur- ers has been maintained and among the large establishments in Woburn devoted to that industry may be men- tioned, the American Hide and Leather Company; Ballard Leather Company; Beggs & Cobb; T. F. Boyle & Company; Cottle Leather Company; E. Cummings Leather Company; Louis Foucar, (Estate); Warren P. Fox & Sons; Hopkinson Leather Company; James R. Ken- dall; B. F. Kimball & Company; Lawrence & Sullivan; Hugh D. Murray; Murrav Japanning Com- pany; James Robertson; William C. Welch. Of other branches of industry there are representative establish- The Roman Catholic Church at East Woburn. Plant of the Woburn Machine Company, Tannery and Works ot James Robertson. 23 MOV 19 SSOir The Congregational Church at East Woburn. ments in Woburn and among these paid to an average number of 1,438 may be mentioned the Bailey & wage earners employed. Blendinger Manufacturing Company, The freight facilities afforded by the Clemson, Bailey Company and the railroad are commendable and Edward S. Lyons, belt knives; A. Boston is the billing point. There H. Linscott & Company, Mahoney are several locations near the line of & Ring and Samuel Ward, shoe the railroad suitable as sites for stock; R. Guastavino Company, fire manufacturing or business buildings proof tiles; Merrimac Chemical and plenty of help, some highly Company; Woburn Iron Foundry; trained, is available. The Progress Buel & Stevens and Woburn Ma- League of Woburn is actively inter- chine Company, machinery; John ested in all measures tending to J. Grothe, vehicles ; Wellington benefit Woburn or to improve its Sears & Company, waterproof cloth, physical and business conditions. Altogether the manufacturing es- Manufacturers intending removal or tablishments of Woburn give work seeking new locations will find this to many and provide opportunity for organization ready to lend any de- remunerative employment. The sired co-operation. Inquiries as to latest published State Report on the suitable locations for factories or Statistics of Labor shows that in dwellings or as to any available and 1906 the capital devoted to produc- readily adaptable buildings or con- tion in Woburn was ^3,695,147.00; cerning any of the many advantages the value of goods made, 1^5,621,- of Woburn may be addressed to the 339.00, and that $773,407.00 were secretary of the Progress League. 24