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Vol. 4, No.1- 1 July 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; "The History of Boylston 1642-1741";
Tidbits; 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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"The History of Boylston 1642-1741"

The following is from Vol.II of the Historical Series.
This book is no longer available for sale, but there are bound
copies of all the Historical Series books in the Museum's Fuller
Research Library, the Boylston Public Library, and the
Allen County Public Library [Fort Wayne, IN.] There are drawings,
sketches and photos in the book that we cannot include
in this Email.

"The History of Boylston 1642-1741"
A Critical Edition of the Papers of George L. Wright
by William O. Dupuis
Volume II in the Boylston Historical Series
Revised edition 1978

Chapter I
"The Geography and Geology of Boylston"
by George L. Wright
Geographical Information
The town of Boylston is situated approximately seven miles
north-east of the County Seat, Worcester, and thirty-five
miles due west of the State Capitol, Boston.
It has an area of 12,680 acres, with about 2,700 acres
under water. The mean elevation of the town is approximately
500 feet above sea level, and that is the level of the road
from the Old Cemetery to the Post Office [Main Street],
and is taken as the base level of the Town. The uplands are
all above that level, and the lowlands are all below it. The
highest elevations are Barnard Hill, 734 feet, located near
the Shrewsbury line east of the Perry-Hakala place. Another
of 700 feet is in the middle of the East Woods on the old
south boundary of Lancaster about a mile form the east
boundary of the Town. Tower Hill, of 664 feet is northeast
of the Fitzgerald place. Stiles Hill, of 656 feet, is near Straw
Hollow. Diamond Hill, of 600 feet, is located half a mile
southwest of the center of the Town, and Sewall Hill, of
600 feet, extends along the southeastern border of the
Town. When the base level of 500 feet is deducted from
the given elevations it will be seen that they are of rather
moderate height.

Geology of the Town
Boylston is well filled with geological structures and
nature's writings. Several of America's best known
geologists have found much of scientific interest in the
Town. Among them may be mentioned, Edward
Hitchcock, Homer J. Fuller, and William H. Hobbs,
the latter is probably the best known geologist now
living, and onetime Master of Boylston's High School.
Dr. Hitchcock has said that, "The rocks and ledges of
Boylston are ferroginous gneiss which antedates all other
matter on the face of the world." How ancient that may
be is a question still in controversy among the scientists.
Some believe it to go back five billion years, while others
believe it to be only about two billion years. However, to
ordinary mortals who have difficulty in putting themselves
back in the time of their grandparents of only a hundred
years ago, the difference of three billion years will not be
a matter of immediate concern.
Boylston's rocks were rent and thrown up from the earth's
level plain in what is called "Pre-cambrian Times," perhaps
a billion or two years ago, and as a part of the great Appalachian
upheaval. It is quite possible that they stood up fifteen hundred
feet higher than at the present time, for all rock, even the most
resistant, wears away or degrades under the action of water,
frost, oxygen, and carbon dioxide gas. Even though it may
be only a hundredth of an inch in a hundred years, the great
lapse of time would suffice for nature's will to affect the
reduction to what may be observed today.
The fine particles of rock thus weathered away constitute the soil
of Boylston's uplands, and forms the best farm land.
At the time of the Appalachian upheaval, and from time to time
thereafter, great earthquakes and volcanic action have taken
place in and upon the rocks of Boylston, and one may see
today, where the ledges have been bared of soil, indubitable
evidence of such action. Upon examining what looks like
black stripes painted upon the surface of most any large
ledge, one will discover the black stripe to be but the surface
of the ledge by glacial action. The geologists say that the
ledge was cracked by earthquakes, and thereafter volcanic
action forced black basaltic lava, in solution condition, upward
through the crack, where upon becoming cooled it hardened
into rock. Whatever lava overflowed the surface of the ledge
has been swept away by the ice sheets. It is believed that
such cracks and fillings extend down a distance of thirty
miles to still molten magma.
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Tidbits
From the 1930 Annual Town Report, Boylston, MA, page 88
Roll of Honor

Consolidated School
figures in [ ] indicate terms

Mrs. Clara E. March, Grade 8
Evertt C. Harrington [2], Howard Libbey [2], Anita Askalis,
Seranoosh Belezerian, Jennie Button [2], Jean Stuart,
Marion Donaldson [2], Blanche Kelman [2], Nellie Leveris,
Berghoohe Tashjian, Anna Jasper, Mary Keogh

Frances Holmes grades 6 & 7
Lawrence Brigham [2], Stephen Melnick, Roswell Shattuck,
Julia Askalis [2], Svea Gothing, Laura Moore [2], Mary Kelley,
Ingeborg Backholm [2], Edith Johnson [2], Molly Meleski,
Antionette Palermo, Rita Scott, Elizabeth Hubbard

Marion Clark, Grade 4 & 5
Walter Brigham, Francis Ropp, Minnie Moore [2],
Nancy Palermo [2], Esther Boyden [2], Grace Keogh [2]

Ruth Russell, Grades 1, 2, and 3
Chester Wright [2], Stanley Askalis [2], John Seamon

Morningdale School
Helen S. Wright, Grades 4, 5, and 6
Helen Beleckis, Helen Jasper, Florence Swenson, Charles McPhee, Kenneth Scott, Steven Slack [2], James Kelley

Anna M. Almquist, Grades 1,2, and 3
Emil Johnerartis, Stuart Burnett, Edmond Meleski [2], Michael Slik,
John Kelley, Earl McLean
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From the Republican Advocate
Batavia, Genesee Co., NY
May 1 1832

MARRIAGE EXTRAORDINARY.
In Orwigsburgh, on Sunday last, by Henry STAGER, Esq. a marriage was
solemnized between Mr. Frederick HESSER, a revolutionary soldier, and Mrs. Catherine MILLOT, the former aged 70 and the latter 40 years.
The lady was divorced from her former husband during the last court
term, a matter of little inconvenience as it seems.
In our last, we were under the necessity of recording the death, and now
we are called upon to record the marriage, of a revolutionary worthy. The
epithalamium is always more welcome to us than the epicedium. The
difference is as between a groan and a grin. The ages of the parties above
mentioned would, in ordinary cases, have tendered the forms of courtship and subsequent matrimonial consummation, matters too troublesome to be
voluntarily encountered. We trust the lady will excuse the liberty taken in
reference to this subject. We do not vouch for the accuracy of the
statement, because witty dandies affirm that ladies' ages are always dubious and uncertain. Our approbation is due to the weather beaten hero, the snow upon whose head has been unable to extinguish the fire that glows in his veins, and who is striving to devote the remnant of his existence to the benefit of himself and posterity--to the burning shame of all old bachelors!
Unmarried reader, go thou and do likewise.
-Miner's Jour.

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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
-----------------------------------------
NEW HOURS
Last month we announced that the Museum would be open on Tuesday,
Wednesday, and Thursday from 9am to Noon, June 1 to August 31
Sorry folks...the staff can not open on Wednesday,
BUT
We will be open Tuesday and Thursday - 9 am to noon
AND
The FIRST TUESDAY of each month [year round]- 6-8 pm
This will start with Tuesday July 2---TONIGHT
Please stop by and visit.
As always ...we are open by appointment for those who can not make any of our open hours.
-----------------------------------------
COMING UP THIS FALL
Antiques Appraisal Day
Sat., Sept 14 - 11am to 2 pm
at the Townhouse, Main St., Boylston
Donation: $5 per item
**Sorry, coins, stamps, jewelry, and ancient artifacts
will NOT be appraised.
Paul Royka, a nationally known expert, author of two
books on antiques, and an appraiser on the PBS series
'Antiques Roadshow' for 4 seasons will help BHSM to
conduct our first ever Appraisal event --- it's not too early
to start ransacking the attic for those hidden treasures.
-------------------------------------------
Watch for more on our exciting Fall schedule of events!
-------------------------------------------
Visit the gift shop
http://www.ultranet.com/~boyhisoc/gift.htm

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On The Web
Native Ground - Historic Music- to buy and to listen free
http://www.nativeground.com/

Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments
http://www.music.ed.ac.uk/euchmi/

William and Gayle Cook Music Library
http://www.music.indiana.edu/musicref/brassint.htm

Historical Women Composers
http://music.acu.edu/www/iawm/historical/historical.html

Instruments of the Orchestra - If you've never heard some of the instruments in an orchestra, here's your chance.
http://www.wam.umd.edu/~kschwei/ioo_menu.html

History of the flute
http://www.gemeinhardt.com/history/history2.html

NORWEGIAN MUSIC HISTORY
http://www.notam02.no/nmi/min/min-hist.htm

Folk and Traditional Music and Popular Songs, with Lyrics, Midi, Tune Information and History - get your computer speakers turned on for this one!!!
http://www.contemplator.com/folk.html

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Humor - To mark the postage increase!
A woman went to the post office to buy stamps for her Christmas
cards.
"What denomination?" asked the clerk.
"Oh, good heavens! Have we come to this?" said the woman. "Well,
give me 50 Baptist and 50 Catholic ones."

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. 4, No.1 - 1 July 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/