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PotpourrEMAIL

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Vol 3, No.11- 1 May 2002. Circulation: 100 and growing!
(C) 1999 Boylston Historical Society and Museum
7 Central St., PO Box 459, Boylston, MA 01505
boyhisoc@ma.ultranet.com 508-869-2720
Editors: Betty L. Thomas and Judith Haynes
Boylston Historical Society and Museum Web Page:
http://www.ultranet.com/~boyhisoc/
To subscribe or unsubscribe to the PotpourrEmail, or
to submit information to be included in the PotpourrEmail,
e-mail info to: boyhisoc@ma.ultranet.com
CONTENTS. Welcome; Looking for Bannisters; What's in a name?;
Tidbits; Book of the Month; BHS News; On The Web; Humor

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Welcome to our email newsletter! For those of you who are not
members of BHS and don't receive the snailmail newsletter, it is called
The Potpourri. Sooooo, we thought the appropriate name for this version
would be PotpourrEMAIL. This email version is not meant to repeat or
copy the snailmail version, but to complement it, with the addition of
topics of interest to those with computer and web capabilities. If you
have a story to tell, information to impart, a good joke, computer
or web genealogy info, a Boylston genealogy query, or anything that would
be of interest to our readers--please email us at:
boyhisoc@ma.ultranet.com

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STILL Looking for Bannisters!
Betty Thomas is looking for any living descendants of Nathan Bannister.
She is compiling family information, documents, photos and memorabilia of
Nathan's family for a book entitled " The Bannisters of Boylston"

Surnames of a few of the local families who married Bannister women are:
Harlow, Tilton, Reed, Pratt, Barre, Doty, Ward, Knox

The Bannister men married women from the following families:
Whitney, Stone, Champney, Drury, Hastings, Johnson, Howe, Brewer,
Arms, Kendall, Adams, Smith, Maynard, Flagg, Hill, Guertin

Betty would also like to speak with anyone who knew the last
Bannister in Boylston, Bob Bannister.
Contact her with any Bannister info: at BHSM or
at home 508-869-2064 or email:
bettythomas@charter.net

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What's In a Name??

The following is from Vol.III of the Historical Series.
The book is no longer available for sale, but there are bound
copies of all the Historical Series books in the Boylston Public
Library, the Boylston Museum's Fuller Research Library and the
Allen County Public Library [Fort Wayne, IN.] You might
want to take a look at Volume I and III, as there are drawings,
sketches and photos in the book that we cannot include
in this email.

"Bay Path Road in Boylston"
by John A. Peterson, B.S.
Based on records of George L. Wright

For, as Wright has said, " The Bay Path Road from the
Town Farm to Barton's, in its more than two centuries
of neglect has become more or less overgrown with
woods and underbrush so that it is now known to few
people. There are six stone bridges [most collapsed]
which were installed by Middlesex County."
Soon after the bridge, the road curves to the right.
About thirty feet to the left of the curve is a triangular-shaped
stone sunk into the ground. It may mean nothing, but
there is at least one more a little further on. Heading
into basswood brush and mountain laurel, it passes
the junction of the first shortcut [1640]. Then it climbs
a knoll with deep wheel ruts, and into a pine grove.
Records say that settlers marked the road here with
a pine-tree marker [T.] It curves right, and goes
through a barway, down the other side of the hill
dotted with oaks, and over what may have been
another stone bridge [two flat rocks now out of position,]
before turning sharply left.
It's fun to think how travelers managed the next few
hundred yards. The road crosses another bridge into
lowland which can stay soft and even wet late into
springtime. Climbing the drawout couldn't have been
easy either, only to find more low ground where a
map is a good friend once again. Between ledges,
it stays roughed up by nature and time, until making
a sharp left on a hill. Big as life it's there, and decorated
by a man who wanted to - for whatever reason.
The road is open, smooth, and outlined by small fir trees.
It's on the land owned by Bigelow Nurseries. Clayton Fuller,
who works for Bigelow, tells the story that when
Strickland Kneass owned it he discovered the history
of this land, then cleared the road and planted the trees
to improve the pleasure of walks from his house.
Over the hill east of the sharp turn is a water hole,
probable spring fed for it is good for much of the year.
Fuller said that for family gatherings of holidays, Kneass
would bring ginger ale, or whatever, to the spring the
night before so that when the family enjoyed the walk
the next day they wouldn't go thirsty.
The fir trees outline an "S" turn. Keeping left of a
low hedge, the road crosses a plateau, drops a level,
swings right and down a draw to another level before
descending once more to Bennet-Smith Lane in
Spring Garden. Crossing two fields, it passes over
Spring Garden Brook on a stone bridge, climbs the
hill, and turns westerly to the former Baron residence.
After turning the near-left corner, it follows the
Boylston-Shrewsbury Road about two miles to
Meeting House Hill in Shrewsbury. Here, it turned
northwest through the plain strewn with elephantine
boulders, crossing Sewall Brook, that follows to
the north end of Lake Quinsigamond. It finally came
out on the Boylston-Worcester Road in Morningdale,
and on to City Farm Brook on Lincoln Street in
Worcester. Both shortcuts probably made travelling
easier for settlers. They are parallel, and between
the original Path and School Street, and much easier
by foot, and maybe by horse or wagon as well.
Hardest to follow is the first, because where it leaves
the Bay Path and joins again, can be easily missed.
The middle, near Bigelow's back field, is wide open,
thanks again to Kneass. Even though so many
seasons of falling leaves and underbrush have covered
the last shortcut, the wheel ruts hang on. Maybe it's
because it is so obvious at the beginning. Two spots
are hard to trace, but the course is straight enough to
find the path on either side of them. It enters
Bennett-Smith Lane between the Bay Path and School
Street against the west side of a long ridge.
The Marlboro Road [1660] comes west form Northboro
[Church Street] to Straw Hollow, and passes over
Stiles Hill to Five Corners. Within a half mile it turns
into the field east of the large barn [gone,] at Peter
Rahn's, crosses Muddy Brook on a stone bridge
[in bad shape,] and shortly joins the Bay Path near
the barway in the stone wall.
Wright claims, "This was more likely the path
followed by Commissioners sent by the General
Court to lay out Worcester between 1660 and 1670."
This description matches the map compiled in
August 1944 by John F. Bartlett for Mr. Smith. Traces
through the field are gone, but in the woods behind
Rene Vadnais', the road can easily be followed.
The map also shows a road C [collapsed,] and it joins
the Bay Path a couple hundred yards from Bennett-Smith
Lane. Along it are two springs with signs of car at
some time, and a small quarry. For anyone used
to walking, these roads cover a meager area, really.
But walking quietly alone on any day, in any season,
there can come a feeling of a wild land despite
the familiar, and perhaps comforting sound of mechanized
life outside it. It's as if thin walls let in only sounds,
but from the outside - let out nothing; not even the
curiosity in a man' head to wonder what is there,
and go after it. All of nature is there, and the way
it changes by season to mask the land and confuse
the visitor. For, on cloudy days especially, it is
possible to keep an eye on the ground too long
in search of a wheel rut, and until a certain landmark,
or footprint in the snow tells it, you do not know
that you have walked in a circle. The landscape
is eye-catching from the flatland to the rolling hills
and valleys, and once or twice there is a gorge with
sheer rock walls. And signs of wildlife are there -
with sometimes the violence.

But, never out of earshot of a highway.

End of Volume 3

barway - \Bar"way`\, n. A passage into a field or yard,
closed by bars made to take out of the posts.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, � 1996

drawout - we couldn't find a definition for this.
Anyone know what it means? Contact us.

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Tidbits

1941
Boylston Aug 24 - Mrs. Ethel E. [ Morse]
Flagg, 61, wife of Richard A. Flagg of Elmwood
place, died yesterday in Holden Hospital. She
was born in Worcester, daughter of the late
Edmund F. and the late Mary A. [Armstrong]
Morse. She was a member of the Boylston
Congregational Church, Timothy Bigelow
Chapter, D.A.R., and the Worcester Grange.
Besides her husband, she leaves one son, R.
Alden Flagg of Worcester; two sisters, the
Misses Abbie L. and Minnie M. Morse of
Shrewsbury; two brothers, Charles E. Morse
of Worcester and Fred W. Morse of Springfield,
and two grandchildren.
The funeral will be held Tuesday at 2 pm in the
Boylston Congregational Church with Rev. John
E. Morgan, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in
Pine Grove Cemetery, Boylston

no date - from the classifieds
Rev. Stewart - Worcester's best and most reliable
medium, seventh daugher born in a veil, clairvoyant,
card reader, business, love courtship, marriage,
reliable, honest, 765 Main St. at Maple - 5283-W

March 14, 1933
Boylston P.T.A. Concert Tonight
Program Will Be Given In Town Hall
Miss Joy McCallum of Worcester is to be the
reader for the musical program arranged for
the Parent-Teacher association, Wednesday
night in the Town hall, George Robinson of
Worcester will be master of ceremonies and
sing Scotch songs. Harold Southwick of
Holden and Douglas Crossman of Clinton
also will sing. Guests are expected from
West Boylston, Berlin and Worcester.
----------------------------
Morningdale Ladies Benevolent society will
meet Thursday with Mrs. George H. Taylor, Central street.
---------------------------
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Stewart, Cook street,
have recieved news that their daughter,
Miss Ruth L. Stewart, escaped injury at
Santa Monica, Cal, in the earthquake zone.
-----------------------------
Boylston Boy Scouts will meet with
Assistant Scoutmaster Gilbert A. Pratt at
7:30 Thursday night in the church vestry.
----------------------------
Boylston selectmen have made these appointments:
Public weighers, Frank B. Vinton and Eric A. Scott;
superintendent of the hay scales, Frank B. Vinton;
sealer of weights and measures, Herbert A. Brigham;
licensed undertaker, Mrs. Lilllian E. Vickery;
fence viewers, Frank E. Hopkins and Herbert A. Brigham;
field driver, Anders Brandt; poundkeeper, Anders Brandt;
surveyors of boards and shingles, George H. Longley and H.A. Brigham;
surveyors of hoops and staves, H. A. Brigham and George H. Longley;
surveyors of wood and bark, Samuel C. Butterfield,
Herbert L. Stone, Herbert A. Brigham, George H. Longley,
and Munson C. Flagg;
special police, Fred C. Stark, George E. Keough,
Harry A. Lovell, Fred D. Christiansen,
James H. Dean, Arthur E. Nylin, Harold B. French,
and Axel A. Johnson;
inspector of fire apparatus, Thomas G. Slack;
superintendent of streets, Augustus A. Hakala;
chief of fire department, Thomas G. Slack;
dog officer, Matthew Hakala.

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Books of the Month
May is John B. Gough MONTH !
BHSM is the place to get your Gough Books -
all by BHSM Curator, William O. Dupuis

1. "John B. Gough - Temperance Crusader"
documents the life and times of Gough
with details about his home and estate [Hillside]
72 pages plus appendix, index and photos
$10 plus shipping

2. "The Man From Hillside"
Gough's life at home and as a Temperance lecturer.
Written especially for children [or those adults who
want a fast read]
62 pages with photos - $8 plus shipping

3. "Furnace of Affliction"
deals with the many controversies surrounding Gough
and people who sought to destroy his character.
85 pages plus appendix, index and photos
$10 plus shipping

visit the on-line gift shop for more info:
http://www.ultranet.com/~boyhisoc/gift.htm

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BHS News

2001 - 2002 PROGRAMS and EVENTS
All Programs open to the public and
held at the Society (unless otherwise noted).
7 Central St., Boylston
Donations at the door are gratefully accepted!
-------------------------------------------
"Be Our Valentine" Exhibit -
This is a display of Victorian Valentines,
Lace from our collection, and wedding dresses
circa 1950 and 1930
The exhibit will run through September 2002 and is
open during normal open hours and at regular
museum admission.
[Members - free Non-Members - $3]
-----------------------------------------

Monday, May 27, 2002, 10am to 2pm

"Memorial Day Open House" Come and visit!!!
Free Museum admission

---------------------------------------------------------------------
LAST CALL
Nominations for Board of Directors
There are two openings on the Board of Directors.
Each is an elected, three [3] year term.
Nominations are now being taken. Send nominee's name,
address, and phone to:
Boylston Historical Society and Museum
POB 459, Boylston, MA 01505
or email same to:
boyhisoc@ma.ultranet.com
---------------------------------------------------
Visit the gift shop
http://www.ultranet.com/~boyhisoc/gift.htm

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On The Web

The White House
http://www.whitehouse.gov/

The Smithsonian
http://www.smithsonian.org/

U.S. House of Representatives
http://www.house.gov/

U.S. Senate
http://www.senate.gov/

Federal Bureau of Investigation
http://www.fbi.gov/

The Official Tourism Website of Washington, DC
http://www.washington.org/

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Humor -
from the Batavia Times, Batavia, Genesee Co., NY
January 4 1915
TOO GOOD TO THROW AWAY.
A popular society woman announced a "white elephant party." Every guest
was to bring something that she could not find any use for and yet too good
to throw away. The party would have been a great success but for the
unlooked-for development which broke it. Eleven of the nineteen women
brought their husbands.--New York Globe.

PERMISSION TO REPRINT articles from PotpourrEMAIL is granted
unless specifically stated otherwise, PROVIDED: (1) the reprint
is used for non-commercial, educational purposes; and (2) the
following notice appears at the end of the article:
Written by
Previously published by PotpourrEMAIL,
PotpourrEmail, Vol. 3, No.11 - 1 May 2002. Please visit
Boylston Historical Society and Museum's main Web page at
http://www.ultranet.com/~boyhisoc/
This newsletter is distributed monthly, on the first day of the month,
to all Boylston Historical Society members (who have email!), genealogists,
and friends who have a special interest in the history of the town of
Boylston.
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boyhisoc@ma.ultranet.com
508-869-2720
Boylston Historical Society
PO Box 459
Boylston, MA 01505
Web Page: http://www.ultranet.com/~boyhisoc/